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Case TitleFRIENDS OF THE EARTH et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv01714
Date Filed2023-06-13
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Royce C. Lamberth
PlaintiffFRIENDS OF THE EARTH
PlaintiffLUKAS ROSS Program Manager; Climate and Energy Program
Case DescriptionFriends of the Earth previously submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning efforts by Amos Hochstein and the joint Task Force on Energy Security to address the impacts of Russia's war against Ukraine on the energy crisis. FOE also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and eventually granted FOE's request for expedited processing. The agency located 304 pages of responsive records but after hearing nothing further from the agency, FOE filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
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Complaint attachment 11
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Complaint attachment 15
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Complaint attachment 18
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Complaint attachment 21
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Complaint attachment 23
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-06-131COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-10135472) filed by FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, LUKAS ROSS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit 1, part 1 of 3, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit 1, part 2 of 3, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit 1, part 3 of 3, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit 2, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit 3, # 6 Exhibit Exhibit 4, # 7 Exhibit Exhibit 5, # 8 Exhibit Exhibit 6, # 9 Exhibit Exhibit 7, # 10 Exhibit Exhibit 8, # 11 Exhibit Exhibit 9, # 12 Exhibit Exhibit 10, # 13 Exhibit Exhibit 11, # 14 Exhibit Exhibit 12, # 15 Exhibit Exhibit 13, # 16 Exhibit Exhibit 14, # 17 Exhibit Exhibit 15, # 18 Exhibit Exhibit 16, # 19 Exhibit Exhibit 17, # 20 Exhibit Exhibit 18, # 21 Exhibit Exhibit 19, # 22 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 23 Summons Summons)(Lewis, Elizabeth) (Entered: 06/13/2023)
2023-06-132NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, LUKAS ROSS. Case related to Case No. 22-cv-01518. (Lewis, Elizabeth) (Entered: 06/13/2023)
2023-06-14Case Assigned to Judge Royce C. Lamberth. (zrtw) (Entered: 06/14/2023)
2023-06-143SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zrtw) (Entered: 06/14/2023)
2023-07-194Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Escher, Sam) (Entered: 07/19/2023)
2023-07-265ORDER granting Consent Motion 4 for Extension of Time. Defendant's response due by 08/23/2023. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 07/25/2023. (lcrcl1) (Entered: 07/26/2023)
2023-08-236ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Escher, Sam) (Entered: 08/23/2023)
2023-08-247ORDER: Local Rule 16.3(b)(10) exempts parties to a FOIA action from typical scheduling order requirements. Instead, the government has the burden to produce a Vaughn index with a supporting dispositive motion. The Court therefore ORDERS the government to file the index and supporting motion within 30 days. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 8/24/2023. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 08/24/2023)
2023-09-258MOTION to Stay Summary Judgment Briefing for 60-Day Joint Status Reports Instead by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Escher, Sam) (Entered: 09/25/2023)
2023-09-259NOTICE of Appearance by William Stewart Eubanks, II on behalf of FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, LUKAS ROSS (Eubanks, William) (Entered: 09/25/2023)
2023-09-2710ORDER granting Motion 8 to Stay Summary Judgment Briefing. Joint Status Reports are due every 60 days. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 9/27/2023. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 09/27/2023)
2023-09-2911MOTION for Reconsideration re 10 Order on Motion to Stay by FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, LUKAS ROSS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit 1, # 2 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(Lewis, Elizabeth) (Entered: 09/29/2023)
2023-10-1212MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 11 MOTION for Reconsideration re 10 Order on Motion to Stay by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Plaintiffs' Proposed Order, # 2 Defendant's Proposed Order)(Escher, Sam) (Entered: 10/12/2023)
2023-10-1713ORDER granting Motion 12 for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply re Motion 11 for Reconsideration. Defendant must respond to Plaintiffs' motion for reconsideration by 10/27/2023. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 10/16/2023. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 10/17/2023)
2023-10-2714Memorandum in opposition to re 11 Motion for Reconsideration filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 10/27/2023)
2023-11-0315REPLY to opposition to motion re 11 MOTION for Reconsideration re 10 Order on Motion to Stay filed by FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, LUKAS ROSS. (Lewis, Elizabeth) (Entered: 11/03/2023)
2023-11-2716Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 11/27/2023)
2024-01-2617Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 01/26/2024)
2024-02-0118MOTION Status Conference by FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, LUKAS ROSS. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Text of Proposed Order)(Lewis, Elizabeth) Modified event text on 2/7/2024 (zdp). (Entered: 02/01/2024)
2024-02-1519Memorandum in opposition to re 18 Motion for Hearing filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Escher, Sam) (Entered: 02/15/2024)
2024-02-2220REPLY to opposition to motion re 18 MOTION for Hearing filed by FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, LUKAS ROSS. (Eubanks, William) (Entered: 02/22/2024)
2024-03-2621Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 03/26/2024)
2024-05-2922Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 05/29/2024)
2024-07-2923Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 07/29/2024)
2024-09-2424ORDER: Upon consideration of the plaintiffs' Motion 11 for Reconsideration and Motion 18 for a Status Conference, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the Motion for Reconsideration is DENIED; and it is further ORDERED that the Motion for a Status Conference is GRANTED; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall convene for a status conference at 10:00 AM on October 22, 2024 in Courtroom 15. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 09/23/2024. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 09/24/2024)
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