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Case TitleFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv00944
Date Filed2023-04-06
Date Closed2024-06-03
JudgeJudge Amy Berman Jackson
PlaintiffFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE
Case DescriptionFunctional Government Initiative submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Transportation for records concerning communications to or from anyone in the executive branch concerning whether the Secretary of Transportation or other senior officials planned to visit the East Palestine, Ohio where toxic materials had spilled because of a train derailment. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, FGI filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-04-061COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9980997) filed by FUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Summons to the Attorney General, # 4 Summons to Dept of Transportation, # 5 Summons to the U.S. Attorney)(Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 04/06/2023)
2023-04-07Case Assigned to Judge Amy Berman Jackson. (zrtw) (Entered: 04/07/2023)
2023-04-072SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zrtw) (Entered: 04/07/2023)
2023-05-223Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer or Otherwise Respond by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 05/22/2023)
2023-05-22MINUTE ORDER granting 3 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer or Otherwise Respond to Complaint. Defendant must answer or otherwise respond to the 1 complaint by June 8, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 05/22/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 05/22/2023)
2023-06-084ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.(Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 06/08/2023)
2023-06-095ORDER. Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of Local Civil Rule 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure appear to be inapplicable. Defendant shall file a dispositive motion or, in the alternative, a report setting forth the schedule for the completion of its production of documents to plaintiff, on or before July 7, 2023. See Order for details. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 06/09/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 06/09/2023)
2023-07-076Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 07/07/2023)
2023-07-07MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 6 joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties must submit another status report by September 5, 2023. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 07/07/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 07/07/2023)
2023-09-057Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 09/05/2023)
2023-09-05MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 7 joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties must submit another status report by November 6, 2023. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 09/05/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 09/05/2023)
2023-10-238NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kaitlin Kerry Eckrote on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Substituting for attorney Sean M. Tepe (Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 10/23/2023)
2023-11-069Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 11/06/2023)
2023-11-08MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 9 joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties must submit another status report by December 6, 2023. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/8/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 11/08/2023)
2023-12-0610Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 12/06/2023)
2023-12-06MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 10 joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties must submit another status report by January 5, 2024. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 12/6/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 12/06/2023)
2024-01-0511Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 01/05/2024)
2024-01-10MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 11 joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties must submit another status report by February 5, 2024. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 1/10/2024. (lcabj2) (Entered: 01/10/2024)
2024-02-0512Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 02/05/2024)
2024-02-05MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 12 joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties must submit another status report by March 21, 2024. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 2/5/2024. (lcabj2) (Entered: 02/05/2024)
2024-03-2113Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 03/21/2024)
2024-03-22MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 13 joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties must submit another status report by April 22, 2024. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 3/22/2024. (lcabj2) (Entered: 03/22/2024)
2024-04-1714Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 04/17/2024)
2024-04-17MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 14 joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties must submit another status report by June 3, 2024. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 4/17/2024. (lcabj2) (Entered: 04/17/2024)
2024-05-1615STIPULATION of Dismissal by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 05/16/2024)
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