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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv01849
Date Filed2023-06-26
Date Closed2024-01-03
JudgeJudge Tanya S. Chutkan
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Justice for records concerning an unclassified FBI FD-1023 described in a May 3, 2023 letter from Sen. Grassley and Rep. Comer to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray and communications related to it. Judicial Watch also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and granted Judicial Watch's request for expedited processing. The agency told Judicial Watch that unusual circumstances applied to its request. 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

2023-06-261COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-10163415) 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: 06/26/2023)
2023-06-262LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 06/26/2023)
2023-06-26Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (zsl) (Entered: 06/26/2023)
2023-06-283SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 06/28/2023)
2023-07-064RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/28/2023. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/28/2023.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 7/6/2023., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 7/6/2023 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 07/06/2023)
2023-07-285NOTICE of Appearance by Jeremy Samuel Bloch Newman on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Newman, Jeremy) (Entered: 07/28/2023)
2023-07-286ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Newman, Jeremy) (Entered: 07/28/2023)
2023-07-31MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil procedure appear to be inapplicable. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and propose a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule shall address 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, whether and when either party anticipates filing a dispositive motion, and any other pertinent issues. The parties shall file a joint status report that addresses these issues no later than September 11, 2023. The joint status report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 07/31/2023. (lcss) (Entered: 07/31/2023)
2023-09-117Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Newman, Jeremy) (Entered: 09/11/2023)
2023-09-298Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Newman, Jeremy) (Entered: 09/29/2023)
2023-10-05MINUTE ORDER: The court is in receipt of the parties' Joint Status Reports filed on September 11, 2023 and September 29, 2023. It is ORDERED that the parties shall file a Joint Status Report concerning the FBI FOIA Request on or before November 6, 2023. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/05/2023. (lcd) (Entered: 10/05/2023)
2023-10-05Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report Concerning FBI FOI Request due by 11/6/2023 (mac) (Entered: 10/05/2023)
2023-11-069Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Newman, Jeremy) (Entered: 11/06/2023)
2024-01-0310STIPULATION of Dismissal by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 01/03/2024)
2024-01-03MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 10 Stipulation of Dismissal, this action is hereby DISMISSED with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 01/03/2024. (lcd) (Entered: 01/03/2024)
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