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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv01947
Date Filed2020-07-20
Date Closed2023-11-07
JudgeJudge Ana C. Reyes
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted FOIA requests to the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for records concerning a January 5, 2017 White House meeting with then President Obama and Vice President Biden that included the FBI and ONDI. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agencies, Judicial Watch filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DefendantOFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
DefendantU.S. OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
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

2020-07-201COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-7359655) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Dep't of Justice, # 3 Summons Office of Director of Nat'l Intelligence, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 5 Summons U.S. Attorney's Office)(Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 07/20/2020)
2020-07-202LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 07/20/2020)
2020-07-21Case assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (zmc) (Entered: 07/21/2020)
2020-07-213SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmc) (Entered: 07/21/2020)
2020-08-024RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/31/2020. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/30/2020. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of David Rothstein)(Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 08/02/2020)
2020-08-025RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 07/31/20. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of David Rothstein)(Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 08/02/2020)
2020-08-026RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 7/31/2020 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of David Rothstein)(Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 08/02/2020)
2020-08-027RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE served on 7/31/2020 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of David Rothstein)(Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 08/02/2020)
2020-08-268NOTICE of Appearance by Kathleene A. Molen on behalf of All Defendants (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 08/26/2020)
2020-08-269Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 08/26/2020)
2020-08-26MINUTE ORDER: Granting 9 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to Answer. Defendants shall answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint by September 30, 2020. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 8/26/2020. (DJS) (Entered: 08/26/2020)
2020-08-26Set/Reset Deadline: Defendants shall answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint by 9/30/2020. (jth) (Entered: 08/26/2020)
2020-09-3010ANSWER to Complaint by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F)(Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 09/30/2020)
2020-10-01MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil procedure appear to be inapplicable. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and propose a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule shall address 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, whether and when either party anticipates filing a dispositive motion, and any other pertinent issues. The parties shall file a joint status report that addresses these issues no later than 11/16/2020. The joint status report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/1/2020. (DJS) (Entered: 10/01/2020)
2020-10-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/16/2020. (tb) (Entered: 10/02/2020)
2020-11-1611Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 11/16/2020)
2020-12-15MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ordered that the parties shall file another joint report and proposed order by 12/16/2020. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 12/15/2020. (DJS) (Entered: 12/15/2020)
2020-12-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Report due by 12/16/2020. (tb) (Entered: 12/15/2020)
2020-12-1612Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 12/16/2020)
2021-01-15MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' joint status report 12 , it is hereby ordered that the parties shall file another joint report by 1/19/21 and every 30 days thereafter. To the extent the report contains a proposed briefing or production schedule, it shall be accompanied by proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 1/15/21. (DJS) (Entered: 01/15/2021)
2021-01-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/19/2021. (tb) (Entered: 01/19/2021)
2021-01-1913Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 01/19/2021)
2021-02-1914Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-03-1915Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 03/19/2021)
2021-04-1916Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 04/19/2021)
2021-05-1917Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 05/19/2021)
2021-06-2118Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 06/21/2021)
2021-07-2119Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 07/21/2021)
2021-08-2020Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 08/20/2021)
2021-09-2021Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 09/20/2021)
2021-10-01Case new judge to Judge Florence Y. Pan. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan is no longer assigned to the case. (rj) (Entered: 10/01/2021)
2021-10-2022Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 10/20/2021)
2021-11-0423NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Sean Michael Tepe on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Kathleene Molen (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 11/04/2021)
2021-11-1924Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 11/19/2021)
2021-11-22MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 24 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before February 7, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 11/22/2021. (lcsw) (Entered: 11/22/2021)
2021-11-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/7/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 11/23/2021)
2022-02-0725Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 02/07/2022)
2022-02-08MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 25 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before April 8, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 2/8/2022. (lcsw) (Entered: 02/08/2022)
2022-02-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/8/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 02/08/2022)
2022-04-0826Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 04/08/2022)
2022-04-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 26 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before June 7, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 4/12/2022. (lcsw) (Entered: 04/12/2022)
2022-04-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/7/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 04/12/2022)
2022-06-0727Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 06/07/2022)
2022-06-07NOTICE OF ERROR re 27 Status Report; emailed to porfanedes@judicialwatch.org, cc'd 4 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Please note the following for future filings; do not refile document , 2. Counsel is directed to correct judges initials to FYB for future filings. (zjf, ) (Entered: 06/07/2022)
2022-06-07MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 27 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before August 12, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 6/7/2022. (lcsw) (Entered: 06/07/2022)
2022-06-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/12/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 06/07/2022)
2022-08-1128Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 08/11/2022)
2022-08-15MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 28 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before October 11, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 8/15/2022. (znl) (Entered: 08/15/2022)
2022-08-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/11/2022. (smc) (Entered: 08/15/2022)
2022-09-23Judge Florence Y. Pan has been elevated to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She is therefore no longer assigned to this case, and this matter has been reassigned to the Calendar Committee, which will oversee it until it is assigned to another district judge. Any questions should be directed to Judge Pan's former deputy clerk, Samantha Calloway, at 202-354-3163 or samantha_calloway@dcd.uscourts.gov. (ztnr) (Entered: 09/23/2022)
2022-10-1029Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 10/10/2022)
2022-10-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 29 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before December 9, 2022. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on October 12, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 10/12/2022)
2022-10-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/9/2022. (smc) (Entered: 10/12/2022)
2022-12-0930Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 12/09/2022)
2023-02-0731Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 02/07/2023)
2023-02-08MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 31 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before May 8, 2023. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on February 8, 2023. (lcbah3) (Entered: 02/08/2023)
2023-02-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/8/2023. (zsmc) (Entered: 02/09/2023)
2023-02-24Case directly reassigned to District Judge Ana C. Reyes. Circuit Judge Florence Y Pan is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 02/24/2023)
2023-05-0832Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 05/08/2023)
2023-05-1033NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by B. Kathryn Debrason on behalf of OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Sean M. Tepe (Debrason, B. Kathryn) (Entered: 05/10/2023)
2023-08-0734Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 08/07/2023)
2023-11-0635NOTICE of Appearance by Tabitha Bartholomew on behalf of All Defendants (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 11/06/2023)
2023-11-0636STIPULATION of Dismissal by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 11/06/2023)
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