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Case TitleAMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv00880
Date Filed2022-03-31
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Beryl A. Howell
PlaintiffAMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionAmerican Accountability Foundation submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning emails from specific individuals pertaining to Family Endeavors, which had obtained a contract to provide housing for migrants on the southern border. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, AAF filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DefendantU.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 22cv881
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2022-03-311COMPLAINT against AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9142730) filed by AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Burnham, Charles) (Entered: 03/31/2022)
2022-03-312MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Blake W. Meadows, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-9142736. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Burnham, Charles) (Entered: 03/31/2022)
2022-04-01Case Assigned to Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. (zsb) (Entered: 04/01/2022)
2022-04-043STANDING ORDER. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 4, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 04/04/2022)
2022-04-04MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING plaintiff, upon consideration of plaintiff's 2 Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Blake W. Meadows, to file a notice, by April 7, 2022, indicating the docket number(s) of the case(s) in which Mr. Meadows has been admitted pro hac vice in this Court within the last two years, as asserted in paragraph 5 of his [2-1] Declaration. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 7, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 04/04/2022)
2022-04-05Set/Reset Deadlines: Response to Order of the Court due by 4/7/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 04/05/2022)
2022-04-05SUMMONS Not Issued as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (znmw) (Entered: 04/05/2022)
2022-04-074NOTICE of Amended Declaration in Support of Pro Has Motion by AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION re Order, (Burnham, Charles) (Entered: 04/07/2022)
2022-04-08MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING plaintiff's 2 Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Blake W. Meadows. Mr. Meadows may enter an appearance pro hac vice for the purpose of representing plaintiff in this action. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 8, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 04/08/2022)
2022-04-08Cases Consolidated. Case 22-881 have been consolidated with case 22-880, pursuant to a Minute Order entered 4/8/2022. From this date forward, all pleadings shall be filed ONLY in the lead/earlier case, Civil Action No. 22-880.(zeg) (Entered: 04/13/2022)
2022-04-145NOTICE of Appearance by Blake Meadows on behalf of AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION (Meadows, Blake) (Entered: 04/14/2022)
2022-04-146REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION.(Meadows, Blake) (Entered: 04/14/2022)
2022-04-197SUMMONS (5) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zeg) (Entered: 04/19/2022)
2022-04-268RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT served on 4/22/2022 (Meadows, Blake) (Entered: 04/26/2022)
2022-04-299RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the District of Columbia Attorney General. Date of Service Upon District of Columbia Attorney General 4/28/2022. Answer due for ALL D.C. DEFENDANTS by 5/19/2022. (Meadows, Blake) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-05-3110NOTICE of Appearance by Brenda A. Gonzalez Horowitz on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Gonzalez Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 05/31/2022)
2022-05-3111ANSWER to Complaint (for case originally filed as Civil Action No. 22-0881) by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.(Gonzalez Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 05/31/2022)
2022-07-27MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING plaintiff TO SHOW CAUSE, by August 5, 2022, why this action should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.23. Defendant Department of Health and Human Services's 11 Answer to the Complaint was filed on May 31, 2022, but the parties have not filed the Joint Meet and Confer Report required under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f), D.D.C. LCVR 16.3(d), and this Court's 3 Standing Order. Additionally, it appears that service has not been perfected on defendants Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, given that no proof of service has been filed showing service to the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Attorneys Office in this District, or the Attorney General. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1)(A). Service was to be completed by June 29, 2022. See id. R. 4(m). Failure to comply with this order may result in this action being dismissed for failure to prosecute. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on July 27, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 07/27/2022)
2022-07-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff's response to Show Cause due by 8/5/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 07/28/2022)
2022-07-2912RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 4/21/2022 (Meadows, Blake) (Entered: 07/29/2022)
2022-08-0513Joint STATUS REPORT AND SCHEDULING ORDER by AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION. (Meadows, Blake) (Entered: 08/05/2022)
2022-08-0514STATUS REPORT TO THE COURT SHOWING CAUSE by AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION. (Meadows, Blake) (Entered: 08/05/2022)
2022-08-05MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report and plaintiff's 14 Status Report filed in response to the Court's July 27, 2022 Order to Show Cause, the parties to file, by October 4, 2022, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 5, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 08/05/2022)
2022-08-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/4/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 08/08/2022)
2022-09-0615ANSWER to Complaint (for Civil Action No. 22-0880) by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT.(Gonzalez Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 09/06/2022)
2022-09-2016Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Gonzalez Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 09/20/2022)
2022-09-21MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by November 21, 2022, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on September 21, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 09/21/2022)
2022-09-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/21/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 09/22/2022)
2022-11-2117Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Gonzalez Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 11/21/2022)
2022-11-22MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING the government's 17 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report, and DIRECTING the parties to file a Joint Status Report by November 29, 2022. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on November 22, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 11/22/2022)
2022-11-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/29/2022. (hmc) (Entered: 11/23/2022)
2022-11-2918Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Gonzalez Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 11/29/2022)
2022-11-30MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 18 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by January 6, 2023, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on November 30, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 11/30/2022)
2023-01-0619Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Gonzalez Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 01/06/2023)
2023-01-09MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by March 7, 2023, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on January 9, 2023. (lcbah3) (Entered: 01/09/2023)
2023-01-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/7/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 01/10/2023)
2023-03-0720Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Gonzalez Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 03/07/2023)
2023-03-07MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by May 5, 2023, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on March 7, 2023. (lcbah3) (Entered: 03/07/2023)
2023-03-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/5/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 03/08/2023)
2023-03-1721NOTICE of Change of Address by Blake Meadows (Meadows, Blake) (Entered: 03/17/2023)
2023-05-0522Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Gonzalez Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 05/05/2023)
2023-05-08MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 22 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by July 7, 2023, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on May 8, 2023. (lcbah3) (Entered: 05/08/2023)
2023-05-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/7/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 05/09/2023)
2023-05-0923NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by B. Kathryn Debrason on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT Substituting for attorney Brenda Gonzlez Horowitz (Debrason, B. Kathryn) (Entered: 05/09/2023)
2023-07-0724Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Debrason, B. Kathryn) (Entered: 07/07/2023)
2023-07-10MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 24 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by September 5, 2023, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on July 10, 2023. (lcbah3) (Entered: 07/10/2023)
2023-07-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/5/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 07/11/2023)
2023-09-0525Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Debrason, B.) (Entered: 09/05/2023)
2023-09-06MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 25 Joint Status Report, the parties to file a joint status report by November 17, 2023, advising the Court of the status of this matter, including how many pages Defendants have left to process and/or produce and, if possible, a schedule for the remaining productions. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on September 6, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 09/06/2023)
2023-09-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/17/2023 (mac) (Entered: 09/06/2023)
2023-09-06ENTERED IN ERROR.....Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff Opposition To Defendant's 5 Motion To Dismiss due by 9/11/2023. (mac) (Entered: 09/06/2023)
2023-11-1526NOTICE of Appearance by Tabitha Bartholomew on behalf of All Defendants (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 11/15/2023)
2023-11-1527Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 11/15/2023)
2023-11-17MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING defendants' 27 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report, and DIRECTING the parties to file, by December 1, 2023, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on November 17, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 11/17/2023)
2023-11-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 12/1/2023. (mac) (Entered: 11/17/2023)
2023-12-0128Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 12/01/2023)
2023-12-01MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 28 Joint Status Report, to file, by January 19, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on December 1, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 12/01/2023)
2023-12-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 1/19/2024 (mac) (Entered: 12/04/2023)
2024-01-1929Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 01/19/2024)
2024-01-22MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 29 Joint Status Report, to file, by March 22, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on January 22, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 01/22/2024)
2024-01-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 3/22/2024 (mac) (Entered: 01/23/2024)
2024-03-2230Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Debrason, B.) (Entered: 03/22/2024)
2024-03-26MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 30 Joint Status Report, to file, by May 21, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on March 26, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 03/26/2024)
2024-03-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 5/21/2024 (mac) (Entered: 03/27/2024)
2024-04-1831NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Dedra Seibel Curteman on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT Substituting for attorney B. Kathryn Debrason (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 04/18/2024)
2024-04-2332NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. Attorney Tabitha Bartholomew terminated. (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 04/23/2024)
2024-05-28MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties to submit jointly, by June 4, 2024, a full explanation why they failed to submit their Joint Status Report, which was due on May 21, 2024, see Min. Order (Mar. 26, 2024), and further CAUTIONING the parties that failure to comply with this order may result in this action being dismissed for failure to prosecute, pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.23. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on May 28, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 05/28/2024)
2024-05-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 5/21/2024. (mac) (Entered: 05/30/2024)
2024-06-0333Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 06/03/2024)
2024-06-03MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 33 Joint Status Report, to file, by August 6, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on June 3, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 06/03/2024)
2024-06-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/6/2024 (mac) (Entered: 06/04/2024)
2024-08-0634Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 08/06/2024)
2024-08-07MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 34 Joint Status Report, to file, by October 7, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 7, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/07/2024)
2024-08-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 10/7/2024. (mac) (Entered: 08/08/2024)
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