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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv00920
Date Filed2023-04-04
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Jia M. Cobb
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning any investigation of an incident in which Hunter Biden's wife Hallie disposed of a gun in a trash dumpster. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency then denied the request under Exemption 6 (invasion of privacy) and Exemption 7 (law enforcement records). Judicial Watch filed an administrative appeal. 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 JUSTICE
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

2023-04-041COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9975168) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Department of Justice, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/04/2023)
2023-04-042LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/04/2023)
2023-04-04Case Assigned to Judge Jia M. Cobb. (zljn) (Entered: 04/04/2023)
2023-04-053SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zljn) (Entered: 04/05/2023)
2023-04-254RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/12/2023. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/12/2023.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 4/17/2023., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 4/25/2023 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Brooke Paz)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/25/2023)
2023-05-125NOTICE of Appearance by Christian Daniel on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Daniel, Christian) (Entered: 05/12/2023)
2023-05-126ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Daniel, Christian) (Entered: 05/12/2023)
2023-05-16MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS the Parties to confer and submit a joint proposed schedule for further proceedings, which shall include a proposed schedule for the processing and release of responsive records or for briefing dispositive motions, by May 30, 2023. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on May 16, 2023. (lcjmc1) (Entered: 05/16/2023)
2023-05-177Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
2023-05-198VACATED PURSUANT TO MINUTE ORDER FILED ON 7/19/2023.....SCHEDULING ORDER: See document for scheduling order and information concerning case procedures. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on May 19, 2023. (lcjmc1) Modified on 7/20/2023 (zed). (Entered: 05/19/2023)
2023-07-199Consent MOTION to Vacate 8 Scheduling Order, Set Deadlines by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Daniel, Christian) (Entered: 07/19/2023)
2023-07-19MINUTE ORDER granting 9 Consent Motion to Vacate: The Court ORDERS that the Court's May 19, 2023 Scheduling Order, ECF 8, is VACATED. The Court further ORDERS the Parties to submit a joint proposed schedule for further proceedings by August 4, 2023. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on July 19, 2023. (lcjmc1) (Entered: 07/19/2023)
2023-08-0110Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Proposed Schedule by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Daniel, Christian) (Entered: 08/01/2023)
2023-08-03MINUTE ORDER granting 10 Motion for Extension of Time: The Court ORDERS that Defendant's Motion is GRANTED. The Parties shall meet and confer by August 18, 2023, and submit a joint proposed schedule for further proceedings by August 25, 2023. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on August 3, 2023. (lcjmc1) (Entered: 08/03/2023)
2023-08-2511Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Daniel, Christian) (Entered: 08/25/2023)
2023-08-28MINUTE ORDER: As the Parties have not agreed on a document production schedule, the Court hereby ORDERS that the Parties shall appear for a status conference on September 6, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. before Judge Jia M. Cobb. The status conference will be on the record and conducted via video. The Court's Deputy Clerk will provide the information necessary to access the conference. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on August 28, 2023. (lcjmc1) (Entered: 08/28/2023)
2023-09-06Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Jia M. Cobb: Status Conference held on 9/6/2023. Defendant's status report due by 10/6/2023. Status Conference set for 10/13/2023 at 10:00 AM before Judge Jia M. Cobb via Zoom. Defendant's summary judgment motion due by 1/31/2024. Plainttif's cross motion and response to motion for summary judgment due by 2/28/2024. Defendant's response to cross motion and reply to motion for summary judgment due by 3/13/2024. Plaintiff's reply to cross motion due by 3/20/2024. (Court Reporter Tim Miller) (zgf) (Entered: 09/06/2023)
2023-09-06MINUTE ORDER re 11 Joint Status Report: It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants shall submit a status report by October 6, 2023, providing the specific basis for its position that it cannot the reveal the number of pages that the FBI is processing for this matter. It is further ORDERED that, should Plaintiff wish to respond to Defendant's status report, such response will be due October 12, 2023 at 10 AM. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on September 6, 2023. (lcjmc1) (Entered: 09/06/2023)
2023-10-0612STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Michael G. Seidel, # 2 Exhibit to Declaration of Michael G. Seidel)(Daniel, Christian) (Entered: 10/06/2023)
2023-10-13Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Jia M. Cobb: Status Conference held on 10/13/2023. Joint Status Report due by 10/27/2023. Court Reporter Stacy Johns. (zcll) (Entered: 10/13/2023)
2023-10-2513Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Daniel, Christian) (Entered: 10/25/2023)
2023-10-26MINUTE ORDER re 13 Joint Status Report: The Court has reviewed the Parties' Joint Status Report and does not find a reason to change the previously ordered briefing schedule. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that Plaintiff's request to move up the briefing deadlines is DENIED. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on October 26, 2023. (lcjmc1) (Entered: 10/26/2023)
2024-01-3114MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Michael G. Seidel, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Daniel, Christian) (Entered: 01/31/2024)
2024-02-2815STIPULATION of Dismissal with Prejudice by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 02/28/2024)
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