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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2014cv01733
Date Filed2014-10-16
Date Closed2016-02-11
JudgeJudge Amy Berman Jackson
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records produced by the Diplomatic Security Command Center between September 10 and September 13, 2012 related to the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. 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 STATE
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

2014-10-161COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-3873882) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons State Dept., # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney General)(Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 10/16/2014)
2014-10-162LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 10/16/2014)
2014-10-16Case Assigned to Judge Amy Berman Jackson. (rd) (Entered: 10/17/2014)
2014-10-173SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Consent Form, # 2 Notice of Consent)(rd) (Entered: 10/17/2014)
2014-10-234RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/21/2014. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/20/2014.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/21/2014., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 10/21/2014 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of C. Rotaru)(Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 10/23/2014)
2014-11-205NOTICE of Appearance by Megan Anne Crowley on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 11/20/2014)
2014-11-206ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit FOIA Request Letter)(Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 11/20/2014)
2014-11-217ORDER that defendant file on or before December 19, 2014 a dispositive motion or, in the alternative, a report setting forth the schedule for document production to plaintiff. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/21/2014. (lcabj2) (Entered: 11/21/2014)
2014-11-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Dispositive Motion or, in the alternative, a report setting forth the schedule for production of documents to plaintiff is due by 12/19/2014. (jth) (Entered: 11/24/2014)
2014-12-198STATUS REPORT SETTING FORTH SCHEDULE OF PRODUCTION by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 12/19/2014)
2014-12-22MINUTE ORDER. In light of 8 defendant's status report, it is ORDERED that defendant shall file another status report on the status of defendant's production on February 3, 2015. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 12/22/2014. (lcabj2) (Entered: 12/22/2014)
2014-12-29Set/Reset Deadline: Defendant shall file another Report on the Status of Defendant's production on 2/3/2015. (jth) (Entered: 12/29/2014)
2015-02-039STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 02/03/2015)
2015-02-04MINUTE ORDER. In light of 9 defendant's status report, it is ORDERED that defendant shall make four additional productions to plaintiff on March 16, 2015; May 11, 2015; July 6, 2015; and August 31, 2015. It is FURTHER ORDERED that defendant shall file a status report on May 1, 2015 concerning the progress of searches referred to other agencies for potentially responsive documents. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 2/4/2015. (lcabj2) (Entered: 02/04/2015)
2015-02-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's additional productions to Plaintiff due by 3/16/2015; 5/11/2015; 7/6/2015; and 8/31/2015. Defendant's Status Report due by 5/1/2015. (tg, ) (Entered: 02/04/2015)
2015-04-2310STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 04/23/2015)
2015-04-24MINUTE ORDER. In light of 10 defendant's status report, it is ORDERED that defendant shall file another report on the status of the production of responsive documents to plaintiff on June 15, 2015. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 4/24/2015. (lcabj2) (Entered: 04/24/2015)
2015-04-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant shall file another Report on the Status of the Production of Responsive Documents to Plaintiff on 6/15/2015. (jth) (Entered: 04/24/2015)
2015-05-1811STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 05/18/2015)
2015-05-19MINUTE ORDER. In light of 11 defendant's status report, it is ORDERED that defendant shall file on June 15, 2015 an additional status report on the status of the production to plaintiff of responsive documents from other agencies; that defendant shall provide a draft Vaughn Index to plaintiff on or before August 31, 2015; and that the parties shall file either a joint briefing schedule for the parties' motions for summary judgment, or a status report, on or before September 21, 2015. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 5/19/2015. (lcabj2) (Entered: 05/19/2015)
2015-05-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant shall file an additional status report on the status of the production to plaintiff of responsive documents from other agencies on 6/15/2015; Defendant shall provide a draft Vaughn Index to plaintiff by 8/31/2015; the parties shall file either a joint briefing schedule for motions for summary judgment, or a status report, by 9/21/2015.(jth) (Entered: 05/19/2015)
2015-06-1512STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 06/15/2015)
2015-06-17MINUTE ORDER. In light of 12 defendant's status report, it is ORDERED that, in addition to complying with the schedule set by the Court's May 19, 2015 Minute Order, defendant shall file a report on the status of the production of documents that have been referred to other agencies on September 1, 2015. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 6/17/2015. (lcabj2) (Entered: 06/17/2015)
2015-06-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant shall file a Report on the Status of the production of documents that have been referred to other agencies on 9/1/2015. (jth) (Entered: 06/17/2015)
2015-09-0113STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 09/01/2015)
2015-09-0114MOTION for Extension of Time by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (See Docket Entry 13 to view document). (znmw) (Entered: 09/02/2015)
2015-09-0215RESPONSE re 14 MOTION for Extension of Time to filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 09/02/2015)
2015-09-04MINUTE ORDER granting 14 Motion for Extension of Time. Notwitstanding 15 plaintiff's opposition, it is ORDERED that 14 defendant's motion is granted and that the parties shall either file a joint briefing schedule or a report on the status of the production to plaintiff of responsive documents from other agencies by October 21, 2015. If defendant seeks another extension of this deadline, it must provide more specific information concerning the referrals to the non-party agencies and the volume of material involved. It is FURTHER ORDERED that defendant shall provide plaintiff with the one responsive, non-exempt document in its possession that has not yet been produced by September 15, 2015. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 9/4/2015. (lcabj2) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-04Set/Reset Deadlines: The parties shall either file a joint proposed briefing schedule or a Report on the Status of the production to plaintiff of responsive documents from other agencies by 10/21/2015. (jth) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-10-2116Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 10/21/2015)
2015-10-22MINUTE ORDER. In light of 16 the parties' joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file either a further status report or a joint briefing schedule on or before November 20, 2015. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 10/22/2015. (lcabj2) (Entered: 10/22/2015)
2015-10-23Set/Reset Deadlines: The parties shall either file a further Status Report or a Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule by 11/20/2015. (jth) (Entered: 10/23/2015)
2015-11-2017Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 11/20/2015)
2015-11-23MINUTE ORDER. In light of 17 the parties' joint status report, it is ORDERED that defendant shall provide plaintiff with a supplemental Vaughn index on or before December 4, 2015, and the parties shall file either a further status report or a joint briefing schedule on December 21, 2015. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/23/2015. (lcabj2) (Entered: 11/23/2015)
2015-11-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant shall provide Plaintiff with a Supplemental Vaughn index by 12/4/2015; the parties shall file either a further Status Report or a Joint Briefing Schedule on 12/21/2015. (jth) (Entered: 11/23/2015)
2015-12-2118Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 12/21/2015)
2015-12-21MINUTE ORDER. In light of 18 the parties' joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file either a further joint status report or a joint proposal for a briefing schedule on or before January 22, 2016. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 12/21/2015. (lcabj2) (Entered: 12/21/2015)
2015-12-22Set/Reset Deadlines: The parties shall file either a further Joint Status Report or a Joint Proposal for a Briefing Schedule by 1/22/2016. (jth) (Entered: 12/22/2015)
2016-01-2119Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Crowley, Megan) (Entered: 01/21/2016)
2016-01-22MINUTE ORDER. In light of 19 the parties' joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file either a further joint status report or a joint proposal for a briefing schedule on or before February 11, 2016. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 1/22/2016. (lcabj2) (Entered: 01/22/2016)
2016-01-22Set/Reset Deadlines: The parties shall file either a further Joint Status Report or a Joint Proposal for a Briefing Schedule by 2/11/2016. (jth) (Entered: 01/22/2016)
2016-02-1120STIPULATION of Dismissal With Prejudice by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 02/11/2016)
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