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Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv01596
Date Filed2020-06-17
Date Closed2024-08-15
JudgeJudge Timothy J. Kelly
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation for communications concerning non-disclosure agreements. American Oversight also requested expedited processing. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests. After hearing nothing further from the agencies, American Oversight filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DefendantDEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DefendantFEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DefendantU.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION
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

2020-06-171COMPLAINT against FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-7239764) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons USAO, # 3 Summons AG, # 4 Summons DHS, # 5 Summons FEMA, # 6 Summons DOD, # 7 Summons DFC)(Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 06/17/2020)
2020-06-172LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 06/17/2020)
2020-06-18Case assigned to Judge Timothy J. Kelly. (zmc) (Entered: 06/18/2020)
2020-06-183SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmc) (Entered: 06/18/2020)
2020-07-164NOTICE of Appearance by Kari E. D'Ottavio on behalf of FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION (D'Ottavio, Kari) (Entered: 07/16/2020)
2020-07-165Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint by FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(D'Ottavio, Kari) (Entered: 07/16/2020)
2020-07-16MINUTE ORDER granting, for good cause shown, Defendants' 5 Consent Motion for Extension of Time. It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants shall respond to Plaintiff's 1 Complaint by August 5, 2020. Signed by Judge Timothy J. Kelly on 7/16/2020. (lctjk1) (Entered: 07/16/2020)
2020-08-056ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F)(D'Ottavio, Kari) (Entered: 08/05/2020)
2020-08-05MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet, confer, and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by September 8, 2020. Signed by Judge Timothy J. Kelly on 8/5/2020. (lctjk1) Modified to change deadline date on 8/6/2020 (zkh). (Entered: 08/05/2020)
2020-08-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 9/8/2020. (zkh) (Entered: 08/06/2020)
2020-09-087NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Michael Leon Drezner on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Kari D'Ottavio (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 09/08/2020)
2020-09-088Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 09/08/2020)
2020-09-09MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by October 9, 2020, and every forty-five days thereafter, until the Court orders otherwise. Signed by Judge Timothy J. Kelly on 9/9/2020. (lctjk1) (Entered: 09/09/2020)
2020-10-099Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 10/09/2020)
2020-11-2310Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 11/23/2020)
2021-01-0711Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 01/07/2021)
2021-02-0512Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 02/05/2021)
2021-03-0513Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 03/05/2021)
2021-03-10MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a further joint status report by May 7, 2021, and every sixty days thereafter, until the Court orders otherwise. Signed by Judge Timothy J. Kelly on 3/10/2021. (lctjk1) (Entered: 03/10/2021)
2021-05-0714Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 05/07/2021)
2021-07-0915Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 07/09/2021)
2021-09-0716Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 09/07/2021)
2021-11-0817Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 11/08/2021)
2022-01-0718Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 01/07/2022)
2022-03-0819Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 03/08/2022)
2022-05-0920Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 05/09/2022)
2022-07-0821Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 07/08/2022)
2022-09-0622Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 09/06/2022)
2022-10-2823Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 10/28/2022)
2022-12-3024Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 12/30/2022)
2023-03-0325Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 03/03/2023)
2023-05-0226Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 05/02/2023)
2023-06-3027Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 06/30/2023)
2023-08-2928Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 08/29/2023)
2023-10-2729Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 10/27/2023)
2023-12-2130Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 12/21/2023)
2024-01-1031NOTICE of Appearance by Dorothy M. Canevari on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION (Canevari, Dorothy) (Entered: 01/10/2024)
2024-02-1632Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION. (Canevari, Dorothy) (Entered: 02/16/2024)
2024-04-1633Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 04/16/2024)
2024-05-2334Consent MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Daniel Martinez, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-10918896. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 05/23/2024)
2024-05-24MINUTE ORDER granting Plaintiff's 34 Consent Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. It is hereby ORDERED that Attorney Daniel Martinez is admitted pro hac vice to appear in this matter on behalf of Plaintiff. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions . Signed by Judge Timothy J. Kelly on 5/24/2024. (lctjk1) (Entered: 05/24/2024)
2024-05-2435NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Havlir Martinez on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Martinez, Daniel) (Entered: 05/24/2024)
2024-06-1736Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Martinez, Daniel) (Entered: 06/17/2024)
2024-08-1537STIPULATION of Dismissal by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Martinez, Daniel) (Entered: 08/15/2024)
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