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Case TitleEDDINGTON v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv03477
Date Filed2019-11-18
Date Closed2022-06-16
JudgeJudge Jia M. Cobb
PlaintiffPATRICK EDDINGTON
Case DescriptionPatrick Eddington, a researcher at the Cato Institute, submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning various entities, including two Russian nationals. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and assigned a tracking number to search for records concerning Lavabit. The FBI then told Eddington that his request was too vague to conduct a search. Eddington filed an administrative appeal, asking for expedited processing. The agency denied Eddington's request for expedited processing for his appeal and later denied the appeal entirely. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Eddington filed suit.
Complaint issues: Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
DefendantU.S. 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
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-11-181COMPLAINT against FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6571653) filed by PATRICK EDDINGTON. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Civil Cover Sheet, # 7 Summons)(Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2019-11-182NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Hart Burday on behalf of PATRICK EDDINGTON (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2019-11-19Case assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zmc) (Entered: 11/19/2019)
2019-11-203SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmc) (Entered: 11/20/2019)
2019-12-164NOTICE of Appearance by Alan Burch on behalf of All Defendants (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 12/16/2019)
2019-12-175RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION served on 12/2/2019 (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 12/17/2019)
2019-12-176RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 12/2/2019 (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 12/17/2019)
2019-12-177RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 12/2/2019. (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 12/17/2019)
2019-12-178RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 12/2/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 1/1/2020. (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 12/17/2019)
2020-01-029ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Burch, Alan) (Entered: 01/02/2020)
2020-01-15MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this Freedom of Information Act case are a Complaint and an Answer. According to Local Civil Rule 16.3, the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) are inapplicable. It is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before January 30, 2020. The Joint Status Report shall address: (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force , 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); and whether the Parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. The Court also expects the Parties to discuss whether the processing of documents responsive to Plaintiff's request can be prioritized and whether Plaintiff's request can be narrowed. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 15, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 01/15/2020)
2020-01-3010Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 01/30/2020)
2020-02-03MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 10 Joint Status Report, is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before March 16, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on February 3, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 02/03/2020)
2020-02-03Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 3/16/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 02/04/2020)
2020-03-1611Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 03/16/2020)
2020-03-19MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 11 Joint Status Report, is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before April 30, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on March 19, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 03/19/2020)
2020-03-19Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 4/30/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 03/22/2020)
2020-04-3012Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 04/30/2020)
2020-05-05MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 12 Joint Status Report, is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before June 1, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on May 5, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 05/05/2020)
2020-05-05Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 6/1/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 05/05/2020)
2020-06-0113Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 06/01/2020)
2020-09-2314NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kristin Brudy-Everett on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Alan Burch (Brudy-Everett, Kristin) (Entered: 09/23/2020)
2020-09-28MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it hereby ORDERED that the Parties' shall file an additional Joint Status Report by November 1, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 28, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 09/28/2020)
2020-09-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/1/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 09/29/2020)
2020-11-0215Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Brudy-Everett, Kristin) (Entered: 11/02/2020)
2020-11-18MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by November 30, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on November 18, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 11/18/2020)
2020-11-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/30/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 11/18/2020)
2020-11-2516Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Brudy-Everett, Kristin) (Entered: 11/25/2020)
2020-12-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by March 5, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on December 1, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 12/01/2020)
2020-12-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/5/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 12/02/2020)
2021-03-0517Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Brudy-Everett, Kristin) (Entered: 03/05/2021)
2021-03-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 17 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by April 5, 2021 . Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on March 11, 2021. (lccjn3) (Entered: 03/11/2021)
2021-03-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/5/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 03/16/2021)
2021-04-0518Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Brudy-Everett, Kristin) (Entered: 04/05/2021)
2021-04-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 18 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties submit an additional Joint Status Report by June 4, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on April 12, 2021. (lccjn3) (Entered: 04/12/2021)
2021-04-1219NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. Attorney Alan Burch terminated. (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 04/12/2021)
2021-04-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/4/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 04/12/2021)
2021-06-0420Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Brudy-Everett, Kristin) (Entered: 06/04/2021)
2021-06-21MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 20 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties file another Joint Status Report by August 4, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 21, 2021. (lccjn3) (Entered: 06/21/2021)
2021-06-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/4/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 06/22/2021)
2021-07-0821NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Jeremy S. Simon on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Kristin Brudy-Everett (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 07/08/2021)
2021-08-0422Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 08/04/2021)
2021-08-05MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 22 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by September 16, 2021 , and every thirty days thereafter until this matter is resolved. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 5, 2021. (lccjn3) (Entered: 08/05/2021)
2021-08-05Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/16/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 08/06/2021)
2021-09-1623Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 09/16/2021)
2021-10-1824Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 10/18/2021)
2021-11-16Case directly reassigned to Judge Jia M. Cobb. Judge Carl J. Nichols is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 11/16/2021)
2021-11-1725Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 11/17/2021)
2021-12-1726Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 12/17/2021)
2022-01-1827Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 01/18/2022)
2022-01-18MINUTE ORDER re 27 Status Report filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: The Court has reviewed the Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another Joint Status Report by February 18, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on January 18, 2022. (lcjmc3) (Entered: 01/18/2022)
2022-01-2128NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of PATRICK EDDINGTON (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 01/21/2022)
2022-01-2129MOTION to Withdraw as Attorney by PATRICK EDDINGTON. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 01/21/2022)
2022-01-24MINUTE ORDER granting 29 Motion to Withdraw as Attorney: The Motion to Withdraw Appearance of Joshua Hart Burday is hereby GRANTED. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on January 24, 2022. (lcjmc3) (Entered: 01/24/2022)
2022-02-1730Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 02/17/2022)
2022-02-17MINUTE ORDER re 30 Status Report filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: The Court has reviewed the Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another Joint Status Report by March 18, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on February 17, 2022. (lcjmc3) (Entered: 02/17/2022)
2022-03-1731NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Loevy on behalf of PATRICK EDDINGTON (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 03/17/2022)
2022-03-1832Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 03/18/2022)
2022-03-18MINUTE ORDER re 32 Status Report filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: The Court has reviewed the Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another Joint Status Report by April 19, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on March 18, 2022. (lcjmc3) (Entered: 03/18/2022)
2022-04-1933Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 04/19/2022)
2022-04-20MINUTE ORDER re 33 Status Report filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: The Court has reviewed the Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another Joint Status Report by May 18, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on April 20, 2022. (lcjmc3) (Entered: 04/20/2022)
2022-05-1834Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 05/18/2022)
2022-05-19MINUTE ORDER re 34 Joint Status Report by Defendants: The Court has reviewed the Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another Joint Status Report by June 17, 2022. It is further ORDERED that the Parties shall file status reports every 90 days thereafter until further order of the Court. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on May 19, 2022. (lcjmc3) (Entered: 05/19/2022)
2022-06-1635STIPULATION of Dismissal by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 06/16/2022)
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