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Case TitleREAL CLEAR INVESTIGATIONS, LLC et al v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv01422
Date Filed2020-05-29
Date Closed2020-10-15
JudgeJudge Dabney L. Friedrich
PlaintiffREAL CLEAR INVESTIGATIONS, LLC
PlaintiffERIC FELTEN
Case DescriptionReporter Eric Felten of Real Clear Investigations, submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning any memos written by Christopher Steele and any agency records referring to the Steele memorandum. Felten also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency denied Felten's request for expedited processing. Felten filed an administrative appeal of the agency's denial of his request for expedited processing. The agency denied the appeal. Felten then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Expedited processing, Public Interest Fee Waiver, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2020-05-291COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-7173395) filed by REAL CLEAR INVESTIGATIONS, LLC, ERIC FELTEN. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons for US Attorney's Office, # 3 Summons for the Attorney General, # 4 Summons for the agency, the State Department, # 5 Summons for State Department Legal Adviser)(Bader, Hans) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-05-292LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by REAL CLEAR INVESTIGATIONS, LLC (Bader, Hans) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-05-293ERRATA to signature page of Complaint and to electronic signature on LCvR 26.1 Corporate Disclosure Statement by ERIC FELTEN, REAL CLEAR INVESTIGATIONS, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Errata to Complaint signature page, # 2 Errata to LCvR 26.1 Corporate Disclosure Statement signature)(Bader, Hans) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-05-29Case Assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. (adh, ) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-05-294SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-06-225RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/4/2020. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/4/2020.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 6/2/2020., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 6/3/2020 (Bader, Hans) (Entered: 06/22/2020)
2020-07-066ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 07/06/2020)
2020-07-06MINUTE ORDER requiring the parties to MEET AND CONFER and file a joint status report proposing a schedule for further proceedings. The status report should address the status of the plaintiff's FOIA request, including the anticipated number of documents responsive to the request and the anticipated date(s) for release of the requested documents. The parties shall file the joint status report on or before August 3, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on July 6, 2020. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 07/06/2020)
2020-07-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 8/3/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 07/07/2020)
2020-07-077STANDARD ORDER for Civil Cases. See text for details. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on July 7, 2020. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 07/07/2020)
2020-08-038Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 08/03/2020)
2020-08-03MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer to determine whether they can narrow the issues in dispute, and the parties shall file another joint status report on or before September 3, 2020. In addition, if the parties are unable to resolve their differences and briefing is necessary, the defendant shall file a motion for summary judgment, including any Vaughn index, on or before September 25, 2020; the plaintiff shall file any opposition and any cross-motion for summary judgment on or before October 9, 2020; the defendant shall file any reply and any opposition on or before October 23, 2020; and the plaintiff shall file any reply on or before October 30, 2020. Absent consent of the parties or extraordinary circumstances, the Court is not inclined to grant any extensions of these deadlines. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on August 3, 2020. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 08/03/2020)
2020-08-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Cross Motions due by 10/9/2020. Response to Cross Motions due by 10/23/2020. Reply to Cross Motions due by 10/20/2020. Status Report due by 9/3/2020 Summary Judgment motions due by 9/25/2020. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/9/2020. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/23/2020. (zjch) (Entered: 08/04/2020)
2020-09-039Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 09/03/2020)
2020-09-2110Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Motion for Summary Judgment and for Corresponding Adjustment to Related Deadlines by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 09/21/2020)
2020-09-21MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 10 Consent Motion for Extension of Time, it is ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Accordingly, the following schedule shall govern further proceedings: the defendant shall file a motion for summary judgment, including any Vaughn index, on or before October 5, 2020; the plaintiffs shall file any opposition and any cross-motion for summary judgment on or before October 19, 2020; the defendant shall file any reply and any opposition on or before November 2, 2020; and the plaintiffs shall file any reply on or before November 9, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on September 21, 2020. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 09/21/2020)
2020-09-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Cross Motions due by 10/19/2020. Response to Cross Motions due by 11/2/2020. Reply to Cross Motions due by 11/9/2020. Summary Judgment motions due by 10/5/2020. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/19/2020. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 11/2/2020. (zjch) (Entered: 09/21/2020)
2020-10-0111Consent MOTION to Vacate Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 10/01/2020)
2020-10-02MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 11 Consent Motion to Vacate Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule, it is ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Accordingly, the deadlines set forth in the Court's September 21, 2020 Minute Order are VACATED. And it is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on or before November 2, 2020, if a stipulation of dismissal is not filed before then. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 2, 2020. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 10/02/2020)
2020-10-1512STIPULATION of Dismissal by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 10/15/2020)
2020-10-15MINUTE ORDER dismissing this case with prejudice in light of the parties' 12 Stipulation of Dismissal. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a). The Clerk of Court is directed to close this case. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 15, 2020. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 10/15/2020)
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