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Case TitleSouthern Environmental Law Center v. Tennessee Valley Authority (JRG3)
DistrictEastern District of Tennessee
CityKnoxville
Case Number3:2024cv00110
Date Filed2024-03-07
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeDistrict Judge J Ronnie Greer
PlaintiffSouthern Environmental Law Center
Case DescriptionSouthern Environmental Law Center submitted a FOIA request to the Tennessee Valley Authority for records concerning communications with various companies related to possible energy or gas infrastructure projects. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told SELC that it was processing the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, SELC filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantTennessee Valley Authority
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
Complaint attachment 9
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2024-03-071COMPLAINT against Tennessee Valley Authority ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ATNEDC-5617148.), filed by Southern Environmental Law Center. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1_7.7.23 Initial FOIA Request, # 2 Exhibit 2_7.20.23 Email from TVA to T. Bussey, # 3 Exhibit 3_8.4.23 Interim Response Letter, # 4 Exhibit 4_November 2023 Email Correspondence Between TVA and T. Bussey, # 5 Exhibit 5_12.13.23 Email from T. Bussey to TVA, # 6 Civil Cover Sheet, # 7 Summons TVA CEO J. Lyash, # 8 Summons US Attorney F. Hamilton, # 9 Summons US Attorney General M. Garland)(Buppert, Gregory) (Entered: 03/07/2024)
2024-03-072Certificate of Corporate Interest by Southern Environmental Law Center. (Buppert, Gregory) (Entered: 03/07/2024)
2024-03-08District Judge J Ronnie Greer and Magistrate Judge Jill E McCook added. (ABF) (Entered: 03/08/2024)
2024-03-083NOTICE of Deficiency (Pro Hac) to Christina Libre: Attorney is not admitted (See LR 83.5). This matter will be referred to a magistrate judge if a pro hac motion is not filed within 15 days of this Notice. A form motion can be found here: https://www.tned.uscourts.gov/forms/motion-admission-pro-hac-vice (c/m to Christina Libre, Southern Environmental Law Center (Charlottesville), 120 Garrett Street, Suite 400, Charlottesville, VA 22902) (ABF) (Entered: 03/08/2024)
2024-03-084Summons Issued as to Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Summons U.S. Attorney, # 2 Summons U.S. Attorney General)(ABF) (Entered: 03/08/2024)
2024-03-085Order Governing Depositions. Signed by District Judge J Ronnie Greer on 3/8/24. (ABF) (Entered: 03/08/2024)
2024-03-086Order Governing Motions To Dismiss. Signed by District Judge J Ronnie Greer on 3/8/24. (ABF) (Entered: 03/08/2024)
2024-03-087Order Governing Sealing Confidential Information. Signed by District Judge J Ronnie Greer on 3/8/24. (ABF) (Entered: 03/08/2024)
2024-03-118ORDER OF RECUSAL.Signed by Magistrate Judge Jill E McCook on 3/11/24. (ABF) (Entered: 03/11/2024)
2024-03-149MOTION for Christina Libre to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee $ 90 Paid, Receipt #300003443.) by Southern Environmental Law Center. (ABF) (Entered: 03/15/2024)
2024-03-15Clerk's Verification of PHV Requirements is complete regarding document: 9 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee $ 90.) filed by Southern Environmental Law Center (ABF) (Entered: 03/15/2024)
2024-03-1810ORDER REASSIGNING CASE. Magistrate Judge Jill E McCook no longer assigned to case Case reassigned to Magistrate Judge Debra C Poplin for all further proceedings. Signed by District Judge Travis R McDonough on 3/18/2024. (AWS) Modified on 3/18/2024 Mailed to Christina Libre. (AWS) (Entered: 03/18/2024)
2024-03-1911ORDER granting 9 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. You MUST register as an E-Filer here: https://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/pscof/regWizard.jsf . Signed by Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin on 03/19/2024. This entry constitutes the complete Order of the Court. (HSN) Modified on 3/20/2024 to indicate c/m to Christina Libre, Southern Environmental Law Center (Charlottesville), 120 Garrett Street, Suite 400, Charlottesville, VA 22902 (ABF). (Entered: 03/19/2024)
2024-03-2512AFFIDAVIT of Service for Complaint served on Jeffrey J. Lyash, Chief Executive Officer, Tennessee Valley Authority on March 13, 2024, filed by Southern Environmental Law Center. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail Return for TVA CEO J. Lyash)(Libre, Christina) (Entered: 03/25/2024)
2024-03-2513AFFIDAVIT of Service for Complaint served on Francis M. (Trey) Hamilton III, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Tennessee on March 13, 2024, filed by Southern Environmental Law Center. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail Return for U.S. Attorney F. Hamilton)(Libre, Christina) (Entered: 03/25/2024)
2024-03-2614AFFIDAVIT of Service for Complaint served on Merrick Garland, Attorney General of the United States on March 15, 2024, filed by Southern Environmental Law Center. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail Return for Attorney General of the United States, Merrick Garland)(Libre, Christina) (Entered: 03/26/2024)
2024-04-1515ANSWER to 1 Complaint,, by Tennessee Valley Authority. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit April 12, 2024 TVA Response)(Chin, Steven) (Entered: 04/15/2024)
2024-04-1516MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by Tennessee Valley Authority. (Chin, Steven) (Entered: 04/15/2024)
2024-04-1517ORDER: The parties are ordered to confer and return the attached form within the time provided.Signed by District Judge J Ronnie Greer on 4/15/24. (Attachments: # 1 Other Notice of Consent/Non-Consent) (ABF) (Entered: 04/15/2024)
2024-04-1518MEMORANDUM in Support of Motion re 16 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction filed by Tennessee Valley Authority. (Chin, Steven) (Entered: 04/15/2024)
2024-04-1919NOTICE of Appearance by David D Ayliffe on behalf of Tennessee Valley Authority (Ayliffe, David) (Entered: 04/19/2024)
2024-04-1920NOTICE of Appearance by Sydney D Nenni on behalf of Tennessee Valley Authority (Nenni, Sydney) (Entered: 04/19/2024)
2024-05-0621RESPONSE in Opposition re 16 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction filed by Southern Environmental Law Center. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1_TVA April 12, 2024 FOIA Disclosures)(Libre, Christina) (Entered: 05/06/2024)
2024-05-1322REPLY to Response to Motion re 16 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction filed by Tennessee Valley Authority. (Chin, Steven) (Entered: 05/13/2024)
2024-05-2823NOTICE OF NONCONSENT by Southern Environmental Law Center (Libre, Christina) (Entered: 05/28/2024)
2024-05-2824ORDER.Signed by District Judge J Ronnie Greer on May 28, 2024. (SAC) (Entered: 05/28/2024)
2024-06-0525REPORT of Rule 26(f) Planning Meeting. (Libre, Christina) (Entered: 06/05/2024)
2024-07-0326LOCAL RULE 7.1(d) SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF to 16 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction In support of SELC's Response in Opposition to TVA's Motion to Dismiss by Southern Environmental Law Center filed by Southern Environmental Law Center. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Memorandum Opinion and Order in 3:24-cv-00095)(Libre, Christina) (Entered: 07/03/2024)
2024-07-1027RESPONSE TO LOCAL RULE 7.1(d) SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF to 26 Local Rule 7.1(d) Supplemental Brief, by Tennessee Valley Authority filed by Tennessee Valley Authority. (Chin, Steven) (Entered: 07/10/2024)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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