Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleBIRD v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv00699
Date Filed2023-03-15
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Amir H. Ali
PlaintiffKAI BIRD
Case DescriptionAuthor Kai Bird submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning Roy Cohn. Bird pointed out that the FBI had previously released 7848 heavily redacted records on Cohn which were available online, but there were believed to be a 4,000-page file on Cohn. He asked for an unredacted version of the 748 pages as well as disclosure of all other records on Cohn. Bird also requested inclusion in the media fee category. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told Bird that it would not provide a more unredacted version of the 748-paage available online. It also divided Bird's request into separate requests and told him that the requests qualified for unusual circumstances. Bird filed an administrative appeal but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Bird filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
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
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-03-151COMPLAINT against FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9928407) filed by KAI BIRD. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Civil Cover Sheet, # 7 Summons)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 03/15/2023)
2023-03-16Case Assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (zsl) (Entered: 03/16/2023)
2023-03-162SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsl) (Entered: 03/16/2023)
2023-03-303RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/27/2023. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/26/2023.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION served on 3/27/2023; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 3/27/2023, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 3/27/23. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 03/30/2023)
2023-04-264NOTICE of Appearance by Marsha Wellknown Yee on behalf of All Defendants (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 04/26/2023)
2023-04-265Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendants' Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 04/26/2023)
2023-04-276NOTICE of Appearance by Adam Alexander Marshall on behalf of KAI BIRD (Marshall, Adam) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-04-277NOTICE of Appearance by Shawn Musgrave on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Musgrave, Shawn) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-04-27MINUTE ORDER granting 5 Motion for Extension of Time. Defendants shall file their response to Plaintiff's complaint on or before May 9, 2023. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/27/2023. (lcapm1) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-04-278NOTICE of Appearance by Gunita Singh on behalf of KAI BIRD (Singh, Gunita) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-05-099ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 05/09/2023)
2023-05-0910ORDER. The parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before May 23, 2023. See the attached Order for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 05/09/2023. (lcapm1) (Entered: 05/09/2023)
2023-05-2311Joint STATUS REPORT by KAI BIRD. (Marshall, Adam) (Entered: 05/23/2023)
2023-05-2312NOTICE of Proposed Order by KAI BIRD re 11 Status Report (Marshall, Adam) (Entered: 05/23/2023)
2023-05-30MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file another Joint Status Report by June 23, 2023, in which Defendants (1) update the court on the number of potentially responsive pages, and (2) explain why they do not expect production to commence until August 24, 2023. The parties shall meet and confer remotely (by telephone or video conference) or in person before submitting the Joint Status Report and shall discuss ways to make the production of records more timely and efficient. The parties shall summarize the results of their meet and confer in the Joint Status Report. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 05/30/2023. (lcapm1) (Entered: 05/30/2023)
2023-06-2213Joint STATUS REPORT by KAI BIRD. (Marshall, Adam) (Entered: 06/22/2023)
2023-06-23MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report by August 2, 2023, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 06/23/2023. (lcapm1) (Entered: 06/23/2023)
2023-08-0214Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 08/02/2023)
2023-08-03MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report by October 12, 2023, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 08/03/2023. (lcapm1) (Entered: 08/03/2023)
2023-10-1215Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 10/12/2023)
2023-10-13MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report by December 12, 2023, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 10/13/2023. (lcapm1) (Entered: 10/13/2023)
2023-12-1116Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 12/11/2023)
2023-12-12MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report by February 28, 2024, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 12/12/2023. (lcapm1) (Entered: 12/12/2023)
2024-01-1017NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to KAI BIRD. Attorney Shawn Musgrave terminated. (Musgrave, Shawn) (Entered: 01/10/2024)
2024-02-1018NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Diana Viggiano Valdivia on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Marsha Wellknown Yee (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 02/10/2024)
2024-02-2819Joint STATUS REPORT by KAI BIRD. (Marshall, Adam) (Entered: 02/28/2024)
2024-02-29MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before May 28, 2024, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 2/29/2024. (lcapm1) (Entered: 02/29/2024)
2024-02-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/28/2024. (hmc) (Entered: 02/29/2024)
2024-03-1220NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kimberly Stratton on behalf of FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Diana Valdivia (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 03/12/2024)
2024-05-2821Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 05/28/2024)
2024-05-29MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before July 29, 2024, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 5/29/2024. (lcapm1) (Entered: 05/29/2024)
2024-05-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report from the parties due by 7/29/2024. (zakb) (Entered: 05/30/2024)
2024-07-2522Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 07/25/2024)
2024-07-26MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before September 27, 2024, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 7/26/24. (lcapm2) (Entered: 07/26/2024)
2024-07-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 9/27/2024 (zakb) (Entered: 07/29/2024)
2024-09-2723Joint STATUS REPORT by KAI BIRD. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 09/27/2024)
2024-09-2724MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before November 22, 2024, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 9/27/2024. (lcapm1) (Entered: 09/27/2024)
2024-10-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/22/2024 (zakb) (Entered: 10/02/2024)
2024-11-2225Joint STATUS REPORT by KAI BIRD. (Marshall, Adam) (Entered: 11/22/2024)
2024-11-22MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before January 21, 2025, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 11/22/2024. (lcapm1) (Entered: 11/22/2024)
2024-11-27Case directly reassigned to Judge Amir H. Ali. Judge Amit P. Mehta is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 11/27/2024)
2024-12-1926NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to KAI BIRD. Attorney KatieLynn Boyd Townsend terminated. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 12/19/2024)
2025-01-2127Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 01/21/2025)
2025-01-2128ERRATA to correct Plaintiff's Attorney Information by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 01/21/2025)
2025-01-22MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 28 January 21, 2025, joint status report. The parties shall file their next joint status report by March 24, 2025. Signed by Judge Amir H. Ali on 1/22/2025. (lcaha3) (Entered: 01/22/2025)
2025-01-26Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 3/24/2025. (zcdw) (Entered: 01/26/2025)
2025-03-2429Joint STATUS REPORT by KAI BIRD. (Singh, Gunita) (Entered: 03/24/2025)
2025-03-27MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 29 joint status report. The parties shall file another joint status report by May 23, 2025. Signed by Judge Amir H. Ali on 3/27/2025. (lcaha3) (Entered: 03/27/2025)
2025-05-2330Joint STATUS REPORT by KAI BIRD. (Singh, Gunita) (Entered: 05/23/2025)
2025-06-04MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 30 joint status report. The report indicates that 330 potentially responsive pages remain to be reviewed. The parties shall file their next joint status report by July 22, 2025. The next joint status report shall confirm whether Plaintiff has reviewed the production. To the extent there are outstanding issues, the parties shall meet and confer to discuss resolution. If disagreements still remain after meeting and conferring, the parties' joint status report shall identify the disagreements and state the parties' respective positions on each. Signed by Judge Amir H. Ali on 6/4/2025. (lcaha3) (Entered: 06/04/2025)
2025-07-2231Joint STATUS REPORT by KAI BIRD. (Marshall, Adam) (Entered: 07/22/2025)
2025-07-22MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 31 joint status report. The report indicates that the parties are actively discussing whether they can resolve this case without further litigation. The parties shall file another joint status report by September 5, 2025, unless a stipulation of dismissal has already been filed by that date. Signed by Judge Amir H. Ali on 7/22/2025. (lcaha3) (Entered: 07/22/2025)
2025-09-0532Joint STATUS REPORT by KAI BIRD. (Marshall, Adam) (Entered: 09/05/2025)
2025-10-06MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 32 joint status report. The parties shall file another joint status report by October 20, 2025. Signed by Judge Amir H. Ali on 10/6/2025. (lcaha3) (Entered: 10/06/2025)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar