Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleGUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv03135
Date Filed2019-10-18
Date Closed2023-09-11
JudgeJudge Trevor N. McFadden
PlaintiffGUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC.
Case DescriptionGun Owners of America submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Justice for records concerning what was meant by "additional information" the agency could use to further identify website visitors. After hearing nothing from the agency, Gun Owners of America contacted DOJ. The agency told Gun Owners of America that although its request had been misplaced it had now been located. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Gun Owners of America filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Opinion/Order [38]
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-10-181COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6462612) filed by GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit B, # 4 Exhibit C, # 5 Summons to the Attorney General, # 6 Summons to the Justice Dept, # 7 Summons to the US Attorney)(Olson, Robert) (Entered: 10/18/2019)
2019-10-182LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC (Olson, Robert) (Entered: 10/18/2019)
2019-10-21Case assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (zmc) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-10-213STANDING ORDER Establishing Procedures for Cases Before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. The parties are hereby ORDERED to read and comply with the directives in the attached standing order. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/21/2019. (lctnm2) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-10-214SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmc) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-11-225NOTICE of Appearance by Darrell C. Valdez on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 11/22/2019)
2019-11-226ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 11/22/2019)
2019-11-22MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court are a complaint and an answer in this FOIA case. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report proposing a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule should address, among other things, the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff, whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case, whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case, and a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if required. The parties shall file the report on or before December 13, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 11/22/2019. (lctnm2) (Entered: 11/22/2019)
2019-11-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/13/2019. (hmc) (Entered: 11/25/2019)
2019-12-127Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 12/12/2019)
2019-12-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 7 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report on or before February 28, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 12/12/2019. (lctnm2) (Entered: 12/12/2019)
2019-12-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/28/2020. (hmc) (Entered: 12/12/2019)
2020-02-288Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 02/28/2020)
2020-02-28MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 8 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file their next Joint Status Report on or before April 20, 2020. The status report should propose a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if necessary. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 2/28/2020. (lctnm2) (Entered: 02/28/2020)
2020-02-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/20/2020. (hmc) (Entered: 02/28/2020)
2020-04-209Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 04/20/2020)
2020-04-20MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 9 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file their next Joint Status Report on or before June 9, 2020. The status report should propose a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if necessary. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 4/20/2020. (lctnm2) (Entered: 04/20/2020)
2020-04-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/9/2020. (hmc) (Entered: 04/20/2020)
2020-06-0810Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 06/08/2020)
2020-06-08MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file their next Joint Status Report on or before August 10, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 6/8/2020. (lctnm2) (Entered: 06/08/2020)
2020-06-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/10/2020. (hmc) (Entered: 06/08/2020)
2020-08-1011Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 08/10/2020)
2020-08-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file their next Joint Status Report on or before September 10, 2020. The report should include a proposed briefing schedule, if necessary. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 8/10/2020. (lctnm2) (Entered: 08/10/2020)
2020-08-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/10/2020. (hmc) (Entered: 08/10/2020)
2020-09-1012Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 09/10/2020)
2020-09-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further Joint Status Report on or before December 10, 2020. If the parties reach a settlement before December 10, 2020, then they shall promptly inform the Court. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 9/11/2020. (lctnm2) (Entered: 09/11/2020)
2020-09-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/10/2020. (hmc) (Entered: 09/11/2020)
2020-12-1013Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 12/10/2020)
2020-12-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 13 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report on or before December 18, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 12/11/2020. (lctnm2) (Entered: 12/11/2020)
2020-12-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/18/2020. (hmc) (Entered: 12/11/2020)
2020-12-1814Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 12/18/2020)
2020-12-21MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ordered that the parties shall appear for a telephonic status conference on December 23, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. Dial-in information will be emailed to counsel. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 12/21/2020. (lctnm2) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2020-12-21Set/Reset Hearings: Telephonic Status Conference set for 12/23/2020 at 10:00 AM before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (hmc) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2020-12-23Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Trevor N. McFadden: Telephonic Status Conference held on 12/23/2020. Joint Status Report due by 2/22/2021, and every 60 days thereafter. (Court Reporter: Crystal Pilgrim.) (hmc) (Entered: 12/23/2020)
2021-02-2215Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 02/22/2021)
2021-04-2316Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 04/23/2021)
2021-06-2317Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 06/23/2021)
2021-07-2318Interim STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 07/23/2021)
2021-07-26MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 18 Interim Joint Status Report, the parties shall file another Joint Status Report on or before September 21, 2021, and every 60 days thereafter. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 7/26/2021. (lctnm3) (Entered: 07/26/2021)
2021-07-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/21/2021. (hmc) (Entered: 07/26/2021)
2021-09-2119Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 09/21/2021)
2021-11-1920Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 11/19/2021)
2021-11-22MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 20 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby directed to file another Joint Status Report on or before December 17, 2021. The parties are also directed to appear for appear for a Telephonic Status Conference at 2:00 p.m. on December 20, 2021 before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. Dial-in details will be sent to counsel. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 11/22/21. (lctnm2) (Entered: 11/22/2021)
2021-11-22Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 12/17/2021. Telephonic Status Conference set for 12/20/2021 at 2:00 PM before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (hmc) (Entered: 11/22/2021)
2021-12-1721NOTICE of Appearance by Stephen D. Stamboulieh on behalf of GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC. (Stamboulieh, Stephen) (Entered: 12/17/2021)
2021-12-1722Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 12/17/2021)
2021-12-20Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Trevor N. McFadden: Telephonic Status Conference held on 12/20/2021. Joint Status Report due by 2/28/2022, and every 60 days thereafter. (Court Reporter: Liz Saint-Loth.) (hmc) (Entered: 12/20/2021)
2022-02-2823Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 02/28/2022)
2022-04-2924ENTERED IN ERROR.....Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) Modified on 4/29/2022. Counsel has refiled the corrected document. (zeg). (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-04-2925Joint STATUS REPORT (Corrected Copy) by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-06-2826Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 06/28/2022)
2022-08-2927Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 08/29/2022)
2022-08-3028NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kartik Narayan Venguswamy on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Darrell C. Valdez (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 08/30/2022)
2022-10-2829Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 10/28/2022)
2022-12-2730Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 12/27/2022)
2022-12-28MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the 30 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to appear for an in-person status conference at 10:00 A.M. on January 27, 2023. The hearing will be in-person before Judge Trevor N. McFadden in Courtroom 2. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 12/28/2022. (lctnm2) (Entered: 12/28/2022)
2022-12-28Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 1/27/2023 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 2- In Person before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (hmc) (Entered: 12/28/2022)
2023-01-27Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Trevor N. McFadden: Status Conference held on 1/27/2023. Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment due by 3/17/2023. Plaintiff's Cross-Motion and Opposition due by 4/14/2023. Defendant's Opposition and Reply due by 5/5/2023. Plaintiff's Reply due by 5/26/2023. (Court Reporter: Lisa Edwards.) (hmc) (Entered: 01/27/2023)
2023-03-1631Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Move for Summary Judgment by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 03/16/2023)
2023-03-17MINUTE ORDER granting 31 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to Move for Summary Judgment. Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment shall now be due by March 31, 2023. Plaintiff's Cross-Motion and Opposition shall be due by April 28, 2023. Defendant's Opposition and Reply shall be due by May 19, 2023. Plaintiff's Reply shall be due by June 9, 2023. Further extensions will be disfavored. The parties are admonished to abide by the Court's order that any extension requests be filed four business days before the first affected date. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 3/3/2023. (lctnm2) (Entered: 03/17/2023)
2023-03-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Summary judgment motion due by 3/31/2023; cross-motion and opposition to summary judgment motion due by 4/28/2023; opposition to cross-motion and reply to opposition to summary judgment motion due by 5/19/2023; reply to opposition to cross-motion due by 6/9/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 03/17/2023)
2023-03-3132MOTION for Summary Judgment by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Bender Decl., # 2 Exhibit Exhibits to Declaration)(Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 03/31/2023)
2023-04-2433Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment , MOTION for Discovery by GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Stamboulieh, Stephen) (Entered: 04/24/2023)
2023-04-2434Memorandum in opposition to re 32 Motion for Summary Judgment filed by GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Stamboulieh, Stephen) (Entered: 04/24/2023)
2023-05-0535REPLY to opposition to motion re 32 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 05/05/2023)
2023-05-0536Memorandum in opposition to re 33 Motion for Summary Judgment, Motion for Discovery filed by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 05/05/2023)
2023-06-0737REPLY to opposition to motion re 32 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit June 2021 Email, # 2 Exhibit August 2021 Email)(Stamboulieh, Stephen) (Entered: 06/07/2023)
2023-09-0838MEMORANDUM OPINION re 32 Motion for Summary Judgment, 33 Cross Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion for Discovery. See attached Opinion for details. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 9/8/2023. (lctnm2) (Entered: 09/08/2023)
2023-09-0839ORDER granting 32 Motion for Summary Judgment, denying 33 Cross Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion for Discovery. The Clerk of Court shall close this case. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 9/8/2023. (lctnm2) (Entered: 09/08/2023)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar