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Case TitleWILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP et al v. UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA)
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv01983
Date Filed2020-07-21
Date Closed2021-08-16
JudgeJudge Reggie B. Walton
PlaintiffWILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP
PlaintiffSPARACINO PLLC
Case DescriptionThe law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher submitted eight FOIA requests to U.S. Central Command for records concerning the deaths or injuries of their clients in Iraq. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Willkie Farr & Gallagher filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA)
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

2020-07-211COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA) ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-7367945) filed by WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP, SPARACINO PLLC. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 EXHIBIT 1 - FOIA Request, # 4 EXHIBIT 2 - FOIA Request, # 5 EXHIBIT 3 - FOIA Request, # 6 EXHIBIT 4 - Closure Letter, # 7 EXHIBIT 5 - Additional Requests)(Gottlieb, Michael) (Entered: 07/21/2020)
2020-07-212LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP (Gottlieb, Michael) (Entered: 07/21/2020)
2020-07-22Case Assigned to Judge Reggie B. Walton. (adh, ) (Entered: 07/22/2020)
2020-07-233SUMMONS (1) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA). (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 07/23/2020)
2020-07-284REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE re 1 Complaint, filed by WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP, SPARACINO PLLC. Related document: 1 Complaint, filed by WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP, SPARACINO PLLC. (Attachments: # 1 Summons)(Gottlieb, Michael) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
2020-07-295SUMMONS (2) Issued Electronically as to U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (ztth) (Entered: 07/29/2020)
2020-08-196GENERAL ORDER FOR CIVIL CASES BEFORE THE HONORABLE REGGIE B. WALTON. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on August 19, 2020. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 08/19/2020)
2020-08-217RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General August 7, 2020. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Proof of Service U.S. Attorney General)(Gottlieb, Michael) (Entered: 08/21/2020)
2020-08-218RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA) served on 7/29/2020 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Proof of Service U.S. Central Command J6-RDF (FOIA))(Gottlieb, Michael) (Entered: 08/21/2020)
2020-09-089ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA).(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 09/08/2020)
2020-09-08MINUTE ORDER. To ensure the expeditious resolution of this action, and because this qualifies as an exempted case under Local Civil Rule 16.3(b), it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before September 22, 2020, the parties shall file a joint proposed schedule governing further proceedings. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on September 8, 2020. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 09/08/2020)
2020-09-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/22/2020 (hs) (Entered: 09/08/2020)
2020-09-1010NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Brenda A. Gonzalez on behalf of UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA) Substituting for attorney Jeremy S. Simon (Gonzalez, Brenda) (Entered: 09/10/2020)
2020-09-2211Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA). (Gonzalez, Brenda) (Entered: 09/22/2020)
2020-09-24MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, and for good cause, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on or before October 22, 2020, addressing, inter alia, whether this case can be consolidated with Civ. Action No. 20-2559 and whether the plaintiffs seek to use the requested records in Civ. Action No. 16-2193, a matter currently pending before another member of this Court. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on September 24, 2020. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 09/24/2020)
2020-09-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/22/2020 (hs) (Entered: 09/24/2020)
2020-09-2912AMENDED COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA) filed by WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP, SPARACINO PLLC. (Attachments: # 1 REDLINE COMPLAINT, # 2 Ex. 1 - March 2019 FOIA Requests (Redacted), # 3 Ex. 2 - 2019.3.11 CENTCOM FOIA Acknowledgment, # 4 Ex. 3 - Additional Requests (Redacted), # 5 Ex. 4 - July 2020 FOIA Request)(Gottlieb, Michael) (Entered: 09/29/2020)
2020-10-0813Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA) (Gonzalez Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 10/08/2020)
2020-10-13MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 13 Consent Motion for Extension of Time, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that, on or before November 12, 2020, the defendant shall file its answer or otherwise respond to the plaintiffs' Complaint. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 13, 2020. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 10/13/2020)
2020-10-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer to the complaint due by 11/12/2020, (hs) (Entered: 10/13/2020)
2020-10-2214Joint STATUS REPORT by WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Gottlieb, Michael) (Entered: 10/22/2020)
2020-10-30MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before December 11, 2020, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 30, 2020. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 10/30/2020)
2020-10-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/11/2020 (hs) (Entered: 10/30/2020)
2020-11-1215ANSWER to 12 Amended Complaint, by UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA).(Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 11/12/2020)
2020-12-1116Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA). (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 12/11/2020)
2020-12-21MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before February 11, 2021, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on December 21, 2020. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2020-12-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/11/2021 (hs) (Entered: 12/22/2020)
2021-02-1117Joint STATUS REPORT by SPARACINO PLLC, WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Gottlieb, Michael) (Entered: 02/11/2021)
2021-02-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 17 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before April 12, 2021, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on February 11, 2021. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 02/11/2021)
2021-02-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/12/2021 (hs) (Entered: 02/12/2021)
2021-04-1218Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA). (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 04/12/2021)
2021-04-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 18 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before May 12, 2021, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on April 14, 2021. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 04/14/2021)
2021-04-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/12/2021 (hs) (Entered: 04/15/2021)
2021-05-1219Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA). (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 05/12/2021)
2021-05-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before June 14, 2021, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on May 14, 2021. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 05/14/2021)
2021-05-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/14/2021 (hs) (Entered: 05/17/2021)
2021-06-1420Joint MOTION to Stay by UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA). (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 06/14/2021)
2021-06-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 20 Joint Motion to Stay Proceedings, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is DENIED. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before July 28, 2021, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on June 16, 2021. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 06/16/2021)
2021-06-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/28/2021 (hs) (Entered: 06/17/2021)
2021-07-2821Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND J6-RDF (FOIA). (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 07/28/2021)
2021-07-29MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 21 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on August 19, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., the parties shall appear before the Court for a status conference, via teleconference, by calling 1-877-873-8017 and entering the Court's access code (8583213) followed by the pound key (#). Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on July 29, 2021. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 07/29/2021)
2021-07-30Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 8/19/2021 at 09:00 AM by Telephonic/VTC before Judge Reggie B. Walton. (hs) (Entered: 07/30/2021)
2021-08-1222STIPULATION of Dismissal by WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP. (Gottlieb, Michael) (Entered: 08/12/2021)
2021-08-16MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 22 Stipulation of Dismissal, it is hereby ORDERED that this case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. It is further ORDERED that this case is CLOSED. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on August 16, 2021. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 08/16/2021)
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