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Case TitleCITIZENS UNITED v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2015cv00441
Date Filed2015-03-26
Date Closed2016-04-14
JudgeJudge Christopher R. Cooper
PlaintiffCITIZENS UNITED
Case DescriptionCitizens United submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of State. The first request was for records concerning the vacancy at the Inspector General's Office. The second report was for records concerning a specific Inspector General's report. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Citizens United 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
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
Complaint attachment 9
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2015-03-261COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-4035552) filed by CITIZENS UNITED. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit B, # 4 Exhibit C, # 5 Exhibit D, # 6 Exhibit E, # 7 Summons Department of State, # 8 Summons US Attorney General, # 9 Summons US Attorney)(Berg, Ralph) (Entered: 03/26/2015)
2015-03-262Corporate Disclosure Statement by CITIZENS UNITED. (Berg, Ralph) (Entered: 03/26/2015)
2015-03-26Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (sth, ) (Entered: 03/26/2015)
2015-03-263SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons)(sth, ) (Entered: 03/26/2015)
2015-04-304NOTICE of Appearance by Jennie Leah Kneedler on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Kneedler, Jennie) (Entered: 04/30/2015)
2015-04-305Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Kneedler, Jennie) (Entered: 04/30/2015)
2015-05-07MINUTE ORDER granting 5 Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response to Complaint ; IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant the United States Department of State shall file its Answer or response to the Complaint on or before May 8, 2015. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/7/2015. (tcr) (Entered: 05/07/2015)
2015-05-086ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Kneedler, Jennie) (Entered: 05/08/2015)
2015-05-08MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by May 22, 2015. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/8/2015. (lccrc1, ) (Entered: 05/08/2015)
2015-05-227STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Plaintiff's Proposed Order, # 2 Text of Proposed Order Defendant's Proposed Order)(Berg, Ralph) (Entered: 05/22/2015)
2015-05-28MINUTE ORDER: In light of the joint status report of May 22, 2015, the parties shall meet and confer regarding the feasibility of prioritizing the Defendant's review and production of records of particular individuals named in the FOIA request as designated by the Plaintiff. Defendant shall so prioritize its search and review efforts to the extent feasible. The Defendant shall make an initial release of records responsive to Plaintiff's request on or before July 8, 2015. On or before July 15, 2015, the parties shall file a joint status report in which Defendant shall outline its search, review and production efforts to date and the parties shall propose a schedule, or alternative schedules, for the completion of the production. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/28/2015. (lccrc1, ) (Entered: 05/28/2015)
2015-07-158STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Berg, Ralph) (Entered: 07/15/2015)
2015-07-159STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Kneedler, Jennie) (Entered: 07/15/2015)
2015-07-16MINUTE ORDER: The parties shall appear for a status conference at 10:00 a.m. on August 4, 2015 in Courtroom 27A before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 7/16/2015. (lccrc1, ) (Entered: 07/16/2015)
2015-07-16Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 8/4/2015 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 27A before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (tcr) (Entered: 07/16/2015)
2015-08-04MINUTE ORDER: The August 4, 2015 status conference is hereby VACATED. The Department of State shall make a supplemental release of non-exempt records, or portions of records, responsive to Plaintiffs FOIA requests by September 4, 2015; release of all non-exempt records, or portions of records, responsive to Plaintiffs FOIA requests, other than any responsive records in the approximately 55,000 pages of emails (and attachments to those emails) provided by former Secretary Clinton, shall be completed by October 30, 2015; release of any non-exempt records, or portions of records, responsive to Plaintiffs FOIA requests in the approximately 55,000 pages of emails (and attachments to those emails) provided by former Secretary Clinton shall follow the schedule set forth in Leopold v. Department of State, No. 1:15-cv-00123-RC (D.D.C.). The parties shall submit a proposed dispositive motions briefing schedule at the conclusion of production. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/4/2015. (lccrc1, ) (Entered: 08/04/2015)
2015-09-0210NOTICE Regarding Defendant's Motion for Designation of Coordinating Judge by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Motion for Designation of a Coordinating Judge)(Kneedler, Jennie) (Entered: 09/02/2015)
2015-09-0311MOTION to Stay Pending Resolution of Defendant's Motion for Designation of Coordinating Judge by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Kneedler, Jennie) (Entered: 09/03/2015)
2015-09-0412NOTICE of Scheduling Order in 15-misc-1188 by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Kneedler, Jennie) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-1713NOTICE of Appearance by Theodore B. Olson on behalf of CITIZENS UNITED (Olson, Theodore) (Entered: 09/17/2015)
2015-09-1714NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew D. McGill on behalf of CITIZENS UNITED (McGill, Matthew) (Entered: 09/17/2015)
2015-09-1715Memorandum in opposition to re 11 MOTION to Stay Pending Resolution of Defendant's Motion for Designation of Coordinating Judge filed by CITIZENS UNITED. (Olson, Theodore) (Entered: 09/17/2015)
2015-09-2416REPLY to opposition to motion re 11 MOTION to Stay Pending Resolution of Defendant's Motion for Designation of Coordinating Judge filed by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Kneedler, Jennie) (Entered: 09/24/2015)
2015-10-08MINUTE ORDER denying 11 Motion to Stay: In light of the Order of Chief Judge Roberts of October 8, 2015 in case number 1:15-mc-01188, denying the U.S. Department of State's motion for designation of a coordinating judge, Defendant's motion to stay this case pending resolution of its motion for designation of a coordinating judge is hereby DENIED AS MOOT. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/8/15. (lccrc1, ) (Entered: 10/08/2015)
2016-04-0117STIPULATION of Dismissal by CITIZENS UNITED. (McGill, Matthew) (Entered: 04/01/2016)
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