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Case TitleHARPER v. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv00252
Date Filed2020-01-30
Date Closed2021-08-10
JudgeJudge Christopher R. Cooper
PlaintiffDAVID HARPER
601 Pioneer Mountain Loop
Jerome, ID 83338
Case DescriptionDavid Harper submitted two FOIA requests to the Bureau of Land Management for records. His first FOIA request asked for records concerning disciplinary actions related to him from June 2017 to the present. His second FOIA request was sent to the BLM Idaho Field Office asking for records related to a decision in his administrative grievance. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. In response to his request to the BLM Idaho Field Office, the agency located 121 pages, which were transferred to the Office of the Inspector General for review. OIG denied records under Exemption 5 (privileges). After hearing nothing further from the agency, Harper filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantDEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2020-01-301COMPLAINT against DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6782638) filed by DAVID HARPER. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(Naylor, Lauren) (Entered: 01/30/2020)
2020-01-31Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (adh, ) (Entered: 01/31/2020)
2020-01-312SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 01/31/2020)
2020-02-203RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 02/06/2020. (Naylor, Lauren) (Entered: 02/20/2020)
2020-02-204RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR served on 2/6/2020 (Naylor, Lauren) (Entered: 02/20/2020)
2020-02-205ENTERED IN ERROR. . . . .RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the District of Columbia Attorney General. Date of Service Upon District of Columbia Attorney General 2/6/2020. Answer due for ALL D.C. DEFENDANTS by 2/27/2020. (Naylor, Lauren) Modified on 2/21/2020 (ztd). (Entered: 02/20/2020)
2020-02-21NOTICE OF ERROR re 5 Summons Returned Executed as to DC Attorney General; emailed to lauren@wilkenfeldlaw.com, cc'd 1 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Incorrect event used, 2. Please refile document, 3. Incorrect selection made. When filing select, Summons Returned Executed as to the U.S. Attorney. (ztd, ) (Entered: 02/21/2020)
2020-03-096NOTICE of Appearance by Derek S. Hammond on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (Hammond, Derek) (Entered: 03/09/2020)
2020-03-097ANSWER to Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.(Hammond, Derek) (Entered: 03/09/2020)
2020-03-10MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by March 25, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/10/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 03/10/2020)
2020-03-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 3/25/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 03/10/2020)
2020-03-258Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hammond, Derek) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-03-26MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further status report by April 23, 2020, providing the status of the Agency's production and any other agreements reached by the parties. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/26/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 03/26/2020)
2020-03-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 4/23/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 03/26/2020)
2020-04-229MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report by DAVID HARPER (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Naylor, Lauren) (Entered: 04/22/2020)
2020-04-22MINUTE ORDER granting 9 Motion for Extension of Time: The parties are ordered to file a Joint Status Report by May 23, 2020. In the meantime, the agency shall continue to process Plaintiff's request as it would in the normal course. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 4/22/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 04/22/2020)
2020-04-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/23/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 04/23/2020)
2020-04-2310MOTION to Withdraw as Attorney by DAVID HARPER (Naylor, Lauren) (Entered: 04/23/2020)
2020-04-23MINUTE ORDER granting 10 Motion to Withdraw as Attorney. Attorney Lauren E. Naylor terminated. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 4/23/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 04/23/2020)
2020-04-2811NOTICE by DAVID HARPER (ztd) (Entered: 04/30/2020)
2020-05-2212Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hammond, Derek) (Entered: 05/22/2020)
2020-05-26MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, the parties are ORDERED to file a further status report by July 22, 2020. If any disputes remain summary judgment briefing will proceed as follows: Defendant's Vaughn Index is due August 5, 2020; Defendant's motion for summary judgment is due Sept. 1, 2020; Plaintiff's combined cross-motion for summary judgment and opposition is due October 1, 2020; Defendant's combined opposition and reply is due October 22, 2020; and Plaintiff's final reply is due November 5, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/26/20. (lccrc1) (Entered: 05/26/2020)
2020-05-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 7/22/2020 Summary Judgment motions due by 9/1/2020. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/1/2020. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/22/2020.Replies due by 11/5/2020. Vaughn Index due by 8/5/2020. (lsj) (Entered: 05/27/2020)
2020-07-2213Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hammond, Derek) (Entered: 07/22/2020)
2020-07-2214Joint MOTION to Vacate Briefing Schedule by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hammond, Derek) (Entered: 07/22/2020)
2020-07-22MINUTE ORDER granting 14 Motion to Vacate: The summary judgment briefing schedule is hereby VACATED. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties submit a further joint status report by September 22, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 7/22/20. (lccrc1) (Entered: 07/22/2020)
2020-09-2215Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hammond, Derek) (Entered: 09/22/2020)
2020-09-23MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a further Joint Status Report by November 20, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 9/23/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 09/23/2020)
2020-11-2016Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hammond, Derek) (Entered: 11/20/2020)
2020-11-23MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a further Joint Status Report by January 20, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 11/23/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 11/23/2020)
2020-12-0917NOTICE of Appearance by Randy Neal on behalf of DAVID HARPER (Neal, Randy) (Entered: 12/09/2020)
2021-01-2018Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hammond, Derek) (Entered: 01/20/2021)
2021-01-22MINUTE ORDER: The parties shall appear for a video status conference on February 2, 2021, at 10 AM. Instructions for videoconference access will be communicated to the parties separately. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/22/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 01/22/2021)
2021-01-22Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 2/2/2021 at 10:00 AM by VTC before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (lsj) (Entered: 01/22/2021)
2021-02-02MINUTE ORDER: For the reasons discussed at today's status conference, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a joint status report by April 5, 2021; it is further ORDERED that the forthcoming report shall include an update on whether any issues remain and, if so, propose a summary judgment briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/2/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 02/02/2021)
2021-02-02Minute Entry for video Status Conference held before Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/2/2021. Forthcoming Order. (Court Reporter: Lisa Moreira) (lsj) (Entered: 02/02/2021)
2021-03-2319NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Dedra Seibel Curteman on behalf of All Defendants (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 03/23/2021)
2021-04-0520Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 04/05/2021)
2021-04-08MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 20 Joint Status Report, this case is hereby STAYED until May 5, 2021, at which point the parties shall file a joint status report informing the Court of any issues remaining for the Court's resolution. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 4/8/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 04/08/2021)
2021-05-0521Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 05/05/2021)
2021-05-06MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 21 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further joint status report by June 7, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/6/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 05/06/2021)
2021-06-0722Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 06/07/2021)
2021-06-1823MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 22 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further joint status report by July 7, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/18/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 06/18/2021)
2021-07-0724Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 07/07/2021)
2021-07-14MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 24 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file a further joint status report by August 9, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 7/14/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 07/14/2021)
2021-08-0925STIPULATION of Dismissal by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 08/09/2021)
2021-08-11MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 25 Stipulation of Dismissal, this case is hereby dismissed with prejudice. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/11/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 08/11/2021)
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