Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleTOBIAS v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv00696
Date Filed2022-03-14
Date Closed2025-03-07
JudgeJudge Royce C. Lamberth
PlaintiffJIMMY TOBIAS
Case DescriptionJournalist Jimmy Tobias submitted nine FOIA requests to the Department of Interior for records concerning appointment calendars for various Biden agency appointees. The agency acknowledged the receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Tobias filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DefendantU.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2022-03-141COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9101929) filed by JIMMY TOBIAS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1-6, # 2 Exhibit 7-12, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 03/14/2022)
2022-03-142NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of JIMMY TOBIAS (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 03/14/2022)
2022-03-14Case Assigned to Judge Royce C. Lamberth. (zsb) (Entered: 03/14/2022)
2022-03-143NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Loevy on behalf of JIMMY TOBIAS (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 03/14/2022)
2022-03-174SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (zjf) (Additional attachment(s) added on 3/17/2022: # 1 Notice and Consent) (zjf). (Entered: 03/17/2022)
2022-05-025NOTICE of Appearance by Douglas C. Dreier on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-05-026ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.(Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-05-177ORDER: Meet & Confer Statement due by 6/2/2022. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 5/17/2022. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 05/17/2022)
2022-06-028Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 06/02/2022)
2022-06-13MINUTE ORDER: In 8 Joint Status Report, parties propose to submit further joint status reports every 90 days with the next one due by 8/31/2022. That request is GRANTED. It is hereby ORDERED that parties' next Joint Status Report is due by 8/31/2022 and that further status reports be filed every 90 days. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 6/13/2022. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 06/13/2022)
2022-08-319Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 08/31/2022)
2022-11-0310RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR served on 3/31/2022 (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 11/03/2022)
2022-11-0311RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE served on 3/30/2022 (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 11/03/2022)
2022-11-0312RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 3/31/22. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 11/03/2022)
2022-11-0313RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/31/2022. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/30/2022. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 11/03/2022)
2022-11-2914Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 11/29/2022)
2023-02-2715Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 02/27/2023)
2023-03-02MINUTE ORDER: The parties are ORDERED to file a further joint status report by 5/29/2023. SO ORDERED by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 3/2/2023. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 03/02/2023)
2023-03-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/29/2023. (zsmc) (Entered: 03/02/2023)
2023-03-0916NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of JIMMY TOBIAS (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 03/09/2023)
2023-05-2517Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 05/25/2023)
2023-05-26MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit their next joint status report within 90 days from 5/29/2023. SO ORDERED by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 5/25/2023. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 05/26/2023)
2023-08-2818Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 08/28/2023)
2023-11-2219Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 11/22/2023)
2024-02-2020Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 02/20/2024)
2024-05-2021Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 05/20/2024)
2024-08-1922Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 08/19/2024)
2024-11-1823Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 11/18/2024)
2024-11-2524ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Status Report 23 of November 18, 2024, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall, within 14 days of the issuance of this order, meet and confer and propose a dispositive motion briefing schedule, providing for receipt of all briefs, responses, and replies no later than February 17, 2025; and it is further ORDERED that the Court's Minute Order of May 26, 2023 be MODIFIED as follows: the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before January 6, 2025, and every thirty days thereafter until otherwise directed by the Court. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 11/25/2024. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 11/25/2024)
2024-12-0925Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 12/09/2024)
2024-12-1326ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Status Report 25 , this Court's Order 24 of November 25, 2024, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendants shall file their dispositive motion on or before January 27, 2025; and it is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file his dispositive cross-motion and reply on or before February 10, 2025; and it is further ORDERED that the defendants shall file their response and reply on or before February 21, 2025; and it is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file his reply on or before March 3, 2025. The Court will not look favorably upon any motions to extend the deadlines set forth in this Order. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 12/13/2024. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 12/13/2024)
2025-01-0627Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 01/06/2025)
2025-01-1528Joint MOTION to Vacate 26 Order,,,, Set Deadlines,,, (Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule) by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 01/15/2025)
2025-02-0529Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 02/05/2025)
2025-03-0730STIPULATION of Dismissal by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 03/07/2025)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar