Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv03296
Date Filed2023-11-03
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly
PlaintiffAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE
Case DescriptionAmerican Center for Law and Justice submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning knowledge of efforts by the Biden administration to delegitimatize Israel. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, ACLJ filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-11-031COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-10469693) filed by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons)(Monaghan, John) Modified on 11/3/2023 (zljn). (Attachment 3 replaced on 11/3/2023) (zljn). (Entered: 11/03/2023)
2023-11-032NOTICE of Appearance by John A. Monaghan on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Monaghan, John) (Entered: 11/03/2023)
2023-11-033LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Monaghan, John) (Entered: 11/03/2023)
2023-11-03Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (zljn) (Entered: 11/03/2023)
2023-11-034SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zljn) (Entered: 11/03/2023)
2023-11-065ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 11/6/23. (DM) (Entered: 11/06/2023)
2023-12-146MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bardo, John) (Entered: 12/14/2023)
2023-12-14MINUTE ORDER: The Court is in receipt of Defendant's 6 Motion for Extension of Time to Respond. Defendant requests for a 30-day extension to respond to the complaint, setting the new deadline for January 17, 2024. Defendant explains that the U.S. Attorney's Office has experienced an increase in case volume, which has overwhelmed the Office's "already swollen civil intake, triage, and assignment queues," and "delay[s] certain case assignments to Assistant U.S. Attorneys and initial coordination efforts with agency clients, including in this case." As a result, counsel for Defendant "requires a reasonable period of additional time to discuss this matter with the relevant agency," and explore whether the matter can be resolved without further litigation. Counsel for Defendant states that he attempted to confer with counsel for Plaintiff, but has not yet received a response. Although Plaintiff's position is unclear, upon good cause shown, the Court GRANTS Defendant's 6 Motion for Extension of Time to Respond. Defendant shall file an answer or otherwise respond to the complaint on or before January 17, 2024 . Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on December 14, 2023. (lcckk1) (Entered: 12/14/2023)
2023-12-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant shall file an answer or otherwise respond to the complaint on or before 1/17/2024. (dot) (Entered: 12/15/2023)
2024-01-057RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 11/28/2023. (Monaghan, John) (Entered: 01/05/2024)
2024-01-058RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 11/16/2023. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 12/16/2023. (Monaghan, John) (Entered: 01/05/2024)
2024-01-059RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 11/28/2023 (Monaghan, John) (Entered: 01/05/2024)
2024-01-1710ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Bardo, John) (Entered: 01/17/2024)
2024-01-1711ORDER directing the parties to file a joint status report on or before February 29, 2024 . See Order for more details. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 1/17/2024. (lcckk1) (Entered: 01/17/2024)
2024-01-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/29/2024. (dot) (Entered: 01/22/2024)
2024-02-2912Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 02/29/2024)
2024-02-29MINUTE ORDER: The Court is in receipt of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report. Therein, Defendant explains that it is conducting searches and reviewing records potentially responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request. Defendant anticipates that it will release its first production of records to Plaintiff by late-March 2024. As such, the Court shall ADOPT the parties' proposal. The parties are directed to file a joint status report on or before April 29, 2024 , and every sixty days thereafter, if necessary. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 2/29/2024. (lcckk1) (Entered: 02/29/2024)
2024-02-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/29/2024, and every sixty days thereafter, if necessary.(dot) (Entered: 03/01/2024)
2024-04-2913Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 04/29/2024)
2024-06-2814Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 06/28/2024)
2024-08-2715Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 08/27/2024)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar