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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv03275
Date Filed2022-10-26
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Trevor N. McFadden
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Secret Service for records concerning communications between the agency and the FBI related to the search of former President Trump's residence at Mar-a-Lago for presidential records. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After a search, the agency told Judicial Watch that it found no responsive records. Judicial Watch filed an administrative appeal of the no records response. After hearing nothing further from the agency, 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 HOMELAND SECURITY
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

2022-10-261COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9628262) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Department of Homeland Security, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney)(Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 10/26/2022)
2022-10-262LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 10/26/2022)
2022-10-27Case Assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (zmrl) (Entered: 10/27/2022)
2022-10-273SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmrl) (Entered: 10/27/2022)
2022-10-274STANDING ORDER Establishing Procedures for Cases Before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. The parties are hereby ORDERED to read and comply with the directives in the attached standing order. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/27/2022. (lctnm2) (Entered: 10/27/2022)
2022-11-145RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 11/1/2022. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 12/1/2022.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 11/7/2022., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 11/7/2022 (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit Brooke Paz)(Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 11/14/2022)
2022-12-016NOTICE of Appearance by Andrew James Rising on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 12/01/2022)
2022-12-017ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 12/01/2022)
2022-12-01MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court are a Complaint and an Answer in this FOIA case. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report proposing a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule should address, among other things, 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, and a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if required. The parties shall file the schedule on or before January 30, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 12/1/2022. (lctnm2) (Entered: 12/01/2022)
2022-12-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/30/2023. (hmc) (Entered: 12/01/2022)
2023-01-308Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 01/30/2023)
2023-01-30MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the 8 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another Joint Status Report on or before April 7, 2023 updating the Court on the progress of their resolution efforts and, if necessary, proposing a schedule for this matter. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 1/30/2023. (lctnm2) (Entered: 01/30/2023)
2023-01-31Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/7/2023. (hmc) (Entered: 01/31/2023)
2023-04-079Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 04/07/2023)
2023-04-07MINUTE ORDER. After considering the 9 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another JSR by June 2, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 4/7/2023. (lctnm2) (Entered: 04/07/2023)
2023-06-0210NOTICE of Appearance by Paul J. Orfanedes on behalf of JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 06/02/2023)
2023-06-0211Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 06/02/2023)
2023-06-05MINUTE ORDER. After considering the 11 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another JSR by August 1, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 6/5/2023. (lctnm2) (Entered: 06/05/2023)
2023-06-05Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/1/2023. (hmc) (Entered: 06/05/2023)
2023-08-0112Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 08/01/2023)
2023-08-01MINUTE ORDER. After considering the 12 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another JSR by October 2, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 8/1/2023. (lctnm2) (Entered: 08/01/2023)
2023-09-2913Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 09/29/2023)
2023-10-02MINUTE ORDER: After considering the 13 Joint Status Report, the Court ORDERS the parties to file another JSR by December 1, 2023, updating the Court on the progress of their resolution efforts. If the parties resolve all issues before then, they shall promptly inform the Court. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/2/2023. (lctnm2) (Entered: 10/02/2023)
2023-12-0114Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 12/01/2023)
2023-12-02MINUTE ORDER: After considering the 14 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another JSR by January 30, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 12/1/2023. (lctnm2) (Entered: 12/02/2023)
2024-01-3015Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 01/30/2024)
2024-01-30MINUTE ORDER: After considering the 15 Joint Status Report, the Court ORDERS the parties to file another JSR by April 1, 2024, updating the Court on the progress of their resolution efforts. The Court FURTHER ORDERS that after all productions are complete and before parties propose a briefing schedule for summary judgment motions they shall meet in-person to discuss the sufficiency of Defendant's productions. Any request for a briefing schedule must certify this meeting has occurred and that despite good-faith negotiations, no resolution between the parties is possible. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 1/30/2024. (lctnm2) (Entered: 01/30/2024)
2024-04-0116Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 04/01/2024)
2024-04-01MINUTE ORDER: After considering the 16 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another JSR by May 31, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 4/1/2024. (lctnm2) (Entered: 04/01/2024)
2024-05-3117Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 05/31/2024)
2024-05-31MINUTE ORDER: After considering the 17 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another JSR by July 30, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 5/31/2024. (lctnm2) (Entered: 05/31/2024)
2024-07-3018Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 07/30/2024)
2024-07-30MINUTE ORDER: After considering the 18 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another JSR by September 30, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 7/30/2024. (lctnm2) (Entered: 07/30/2024)
2024-09-2619Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 09/26/2024)
2024-09-26MINUTE ORDER: After considering the 19 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another JSR by November 25, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 9/26/2024. (Entered: 09/26/2024)
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