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Case TitlePROJECT FOR PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, INC. et al v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv00659
Date Filed2021-03-11
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffPROJECT FOR PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, INC.
PlaintiffDEMAND PROGRESS EDUCATION FUND, A PROJECT OF NEW VENTURE FUND
Case DescriptionThe Project for Privacy and Surveillance Accountability and the Demand Progress Education Fund submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Justice for records concerning surveillance policies. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, PPSA filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-03-111COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8298113) filed by PROJECT FOR PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, INC., Demand Progress Education Fund, a Project of New Venture Fund. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet, # 6 Summons U.S. Department of Justice, # 7 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 8 Summons U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia)(Schaerr, Gene) (Entered: 03/11/2021)
2021-03-12Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (adh, ) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-03-122SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-04-073LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMAND PROGRESS EDUCATION FUND, A PROJECT OF NEW VENTURE FUND, PROJECT FOR PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, INC. (Schaerr, Gene) Modified docket event/text on 4/8/2021 (eg). (Entered: 04/07/2021)
2021-04-124RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/9/2021. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/9/2021. (Schaerr, Gene) (Entered: 04/12/2021)
2021-04-125RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 4/9/2021. (Schaerr, Gene) (Entered: 04/12/2021)
2021-04-126RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 4/9/2021 (Schaerr, Gene) (Entered: 04/12/2021)
2021-05-047Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to Answer or Otherwise Respond to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 05/04/2021)
2021-05-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of Defendant's Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time, it is hereby ORDERED that the Motion is GRANTED. Defendant shall respond to Plaintiffs' Complaint by June 9, 2021 . Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on May 10, 2021. (lccjn3) (Entered: 05/10/2021)
2021-05-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 6/9/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 05/10/2021)
2021-06-098ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 06/09/2021)
2021-06-22MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this Freedom of Information Act case are a Complaint and an Answer. According to Local Civil Rule 16.3, the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) are inapplicable. It is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before July 22, 2021 . The Joint Status Report shall address: (1) the status of Plaintiffs' FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiffs' FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiffs; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force , 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); (5) the possibility of prioritizing documents responsive to Plaintiffs' requests and any discussions regarding whether Plaintiffs' requests can be narrowed; and (6) whether the Parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 22, 2021. (lccjn3) (Entered: 06/22/2021)
2021-06-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/22/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 06/22/2021)
2021-07-229Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 07/22/2021)
2021-08-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 9 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties file another Joint Status Report by September 8, 2021, and every 30 days thereafter until this matter is resolved. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 10, 2021. (lccjn3) (Entered: 08/10/2021)
2021-08-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/8/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 08/11/2021)
2021-09-0810Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 09/08/2021)
2021-10-0411NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Douglas C. Dreier on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Jeremy S. Simon (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 10/04/2021)
2021-10-0712Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 10/07/2021)
2021-11-0913Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 11/09/2021)
2021-12-0914Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 12/09/2021)
2022-01-1015Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 01/10/2022)
2022-02-0916Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 02/09/2022)
2022-03-1117Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 03/11/2022)
2022-04-1118Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 04/11/2022)
2022-05-1119Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 05/11/2022)
2022-06-1020Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 06/10/2022)
2022-07-1121Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 07/11/2022)
2022-08-1022Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 08/10/2022)
2022-09-0923Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 09/09/2022)
2022-10-1124Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 10/11/2022)
2022-10-1225NOTICE of Appearance by Brian J. Field on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Field, Brian) (Entered: 10/12/2022)
2022-11-1026Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 11/10/2022)
2022-12-1227Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 12/12/2022)
2022-12-1928NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by John Bardo on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Douglas Dreier (Bardo, John) (Entered: 12/19/2022)
2023-01-1129Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 01/11/2023)
2023-02-1030Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 02/10/2023)
2023-03-1331Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 03/13/2023)
2023-04-1232Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 04/12/2023)
2023-05-1233Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 05/12/2023)
2023-06-1234Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 06/12/2023)
2023-07-1235Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 07/12/2023)
2023-08-1136Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 08/11/2023)
2023-09-1137Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 09/11/2023)
2023-09-25MINUTE ORDER. In light of the duplicative report filed in 37 Joint STATUS REPORT, it is hereby ORDERED that parties shall file an updated joint status report by October 5, 2023. So ordered by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 09/25/2023. (lccjn3) (Entered: 09/25/2023)
2023-09-2538ERRATA Regarding ECF No. 37 by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE re Status Report Order. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Bardo, John) (Entered: 09/25/2023)
2023-10-1139Joint MOTION to Modify the Joint Status Report Schedule and Joint Status Report by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bardo, John) (Entered: 10/11/2023)
2023-10-1140JOINT STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (See docket entry 39 to view document). (mg) (Entered: 10/13/2023)
2023-11-27MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties 39 Motion to Modify Joint Status Report Schedule, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall file their next Joint Status Report on December 11, 2023, and every sixty days thereafter until production is complete. So Ordered by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 11/27/2023. (lccjn3) (Entered: 11/27/2023)
2023-12-1141Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 12/11/2023)
2024-02-0942Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 02/09/2024)
2024-04-0943Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 04/09/2024)
2024-06-1044Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Plaintiff's proposed order)(Bardo, John) (Entered: 06/10/2024)
2024-08-0945RULE 26b4 STATEMENT. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 08/09/2024)
2024-08-0946Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 08/09/2024)
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