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Case TitleCITIZENS UNITED v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2015cv01031
Date Filed2015-07-01
Date Closed2016-06-09
JudgeJudge Emmet G. Sullivan
PlaintiffCITIZENS UNITED
Case DescriptionCitizens United submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of State for records concerning the Piper Global Law Firm. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after it failed to respond further, 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
Complaint attachment 10
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2015-07-011COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-4158519) filed by CITIZENS UNITED. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Summons Attorney General, # 8 Summons State Department, # 9 Summons U.S. Attorney, # 10 Civil Cover Sheet)(Berg, Ralph) (Entered: 07/01/2015)
2015-07-012Corporate Disclosure Statement by CITIZENS UNITED. (Berg, Ralph) (Entered: 07/01/2015)
2015-07-01Case Assigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. (sth) (Entered: 07/01/2015)
2015-07-013SUMMONS (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: 07/01/2015)
2015-08-104ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 08/10/2015)
2015-08-145NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Elisabeth Layton on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney Benton G. Peterson (Layton, Elisabeth) (Entered: 08/14/2015)
2015-08-246ORDER FOR MEET AND CONFER REPORT. Attorney Meet and Confer Conference by 9/15/2015. Meet & Confer Statement due by 9/29/2015. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 08/24/15. (mac) (Entered: 08/24/2015)
2015-09-027NOTICE Regarding Defendant's Motion For Designation Of A Coordinating Judge by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Motion for Designation of Coordinating Judge and Memorandum in Support)(Layton, Elisabeth) (Entered: 09/02/2015)
2015-09-048MOTION to Stay Motion for Partial Stay Pending Resolution Of Motion For Designation Of Coordinating Judge by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Layton, Elisabeth) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-049NOTICE of Court Order in Miscellaneous Case Number 15-1188 by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Notice to Counsel/Party Order entered in Misc. No. 15-1188(D.D.C. Sept. 4, 2015))(Layton, Elisabeth) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-11MINUTE ORDER denying 8 the Government's Motion to Stay Pending Resolution of its Motion for Designation of Coordinating Judge. "The power to stay proceedings is... inherent in every court to control the disposition of the causes on its docket with economy of time and effort for itself, for counsel, and for litigants." Fonville v. Dist. of Columbia, 766 F. Supp. 2d 171, 172-73 (D.D.C. 2011) (quoting Air Line Pilots Ass'n v. Miller, 523 U.S. 866, 879 n. 6 (1998)). In light of the upcoming meet and confer deadlines, neither judicial economy nor the interests of justice will be served by staying this matter at this time. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on September 11, 2015. (lcegs4) (Entered: 09/11/2015)
2015-09-2910MEET AND CONFER STATEMENT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Defendant's Proposed Order, # 2 Text of Proposed Order Plaintiff's Proposed Order)(Layton, Elisabeth) (Entered: 09/29/2015)
2015-10-02MINUTE ORDER. In light of the increased demands on the State Department's FOIA staff and the nature of the searches already agreed to be completed in this case, which extend beyond the narrow pool of documents produced by Ms. Abedin and Ms. Mills, the Court hereby adopts the State Department's proposed scheduling order, as follows: (1) all searches shall be done by November 10, 2015, with an initial production of responsive documents no later than October 30, 2015; and (2) no later than November 13, 2015, the parties shall submit a joint status report proposing a final production and briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on October 2, 2015. (lcegs4) (Entered: 10/02/2015)
2015-10-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/13/2015. (mac) (Entered: 10/02/2015)
2015-11-0511NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew D. McGill on behalf of CITIZENS UNITED (McGill, Matthew) (Entered: 11/05/2015)
2015-11-1312Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Layton, Elisabeth) (Entered: 11/13/2015)
2015-12-06MINUTE ORDER directing the Defendant to complete production no later than February 1, 2016. Rolling production shall occur on December 15, 2015 and January 15, 2016. Plaintiff shall inform Defendant of any challenges it has to exerted exemptions no later than February 5, 2016. The parties shall comply with the following summary judgment briefing schedule: Defendant shall file its summary judgment motion and Vaughn index or declaration no later than March 4, 2016; Plaintiff shall file its opposition and cross motion for summary judgment, if any, no later than April 1, 2016; Defendant shall file its reply and any opposition to Plaintiff's cross motion no later than April 15, 2016; Plaintiff shall file any reply no later than April 22, 2016. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on December 6, 2015. (lcegs4) (Entered: 12/06/2015)
2015-12-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant Summary Judgment Motion and Vaughn Index or Declaration due by 3/4/16; Plaintiff Opposition and Cross Motion for Summary Judgment due 4/ 1/16; Defendant Reply and Any Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross Motion due by 4/15/16. Plaintiff shall file any reply due by 4/22/16. (mac) (Entered: 12/07/2015)
2016-03-0413Consent MOTION to Amend/Correct Order,,, Schedule by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Layton, Elisabeth) (Entered: 03/04/2016)
2016-03-07MINUTE ORDER granting the parties' Joint Motion to Modify the Scheduling Order. State shall complete the additional searches agreed upon no later than March 28, 2016. The parties shall comply with the following Summary Judgment briefing schedule: Defendant shall file its summary judgment motion and its Vaughn index no later than May 12, 2016; Plaintiff shall file its combined opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment no later than June 13, 2016; Defendant shall file its combined reply and opposition to any cross-motion no later than July 13, 2016; Plaintiff shall file its reply no later than July 27, 2016. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on March 7, 2016. (lcegs4) (Entered: 03/07/2016)
2016-03-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant Summary Judgment Motion and Vaughn Index due by 5/12/2016. Plaintiff Combined Opposition and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment due by 6/13/2016. Defendant Shall File Its Combined Reply And Opposition To Any Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment due by 7/13/2016. Plaintiff Reply due by 7/27/2016. (mac) (Entered: 03/07/2016)
2016-05-1214Joint MOTION to Amend/Correct Order on Motion to Amend/Correct,, Set/Reset Deadlines, Joint Motion to Amend Schedule by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Layton, Elisabeth) (Entered: 05/12/2016)
2016-06-0815STIPULATION of Dismissal Without Prejudice by CITIZENS UNITED. (McGill, Matthew) (Entered: 06/08/2016)
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