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Case TitleLEOPOLD et al v. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2017cv02175
Date Filed2017-10-19
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Rudolph Contreras
PlaintiffJASON LEOPOLD
PlaintiffBUZZFEED, INC.
Case DescriptionReporter Jason Leopold submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security for emails sent between former Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly and former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. Leopold also requested a fee waiver and inclusion in the news media fee category. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and conditionally granted Leopold a fee waiver. Leopold submitted a second FOIA request for emails, meeting minutes, and phone logs for Kelly during the time he was Secretary. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told Leopold it was too broad to process. Leopold filed an administrative appeal of that decision. The agency acknowledged receipt of Leopold's appeal. After hearing nothing further from the agency as to either of his requests, Leopold filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantDEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2017-10-191COMPLAINT against DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5167291) filed by JASON LEOPOLD, BUZZFEED, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Light, Jeffrey) (Entered: 10/19/2017)
2017-10-192LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by BUZZFEED, INC. (Light, Jeffrey) (Entered: 10/19/2017)
2017-10-203ERRATA by BUZZFEED, INC. 2 LCvR 7.1 Certificate of Disclosure - Corporate Affiliations/Financial Interests filed by BUZZFEED, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Corrected LCvR 7.1 disclosure statement)(Light, Jeffrey) (Entered: 10/20/2017)
2017-10-20Case Assigned to Judge Rudolph Contreras. (md) (Entered: 10/20/2017)
2017-10-204SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice of Consent) (md) (Entered: 10/20/2017)
2017-11-285RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/31/2017. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/30/2017.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/31/2017. (Light, Jeffrey) (Entered: 11/28/2017)
2017-11-306ANSWER to Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(Lee, Jason) (Entered: 11/30/2017)
2017-11-30MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet, confer, and jointly submit a proposed briefing schedule on or before December 14, 2017. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 11/30/2017.(lcrc3) (Entered: 11/30/2017)
2017-12-147NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Matthew Charles Skurnik on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Substituting for attorney Jason Lee (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 12/14/2017)
2017-12-148PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE (Joint Proposed Schedule) by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 12/14/2017)
2017-12-149MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 8 the parties' Jointly Proposed Schedule, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet, confer, and submit a joint status report once every 90 days, with the first report due by February 12, 2018. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 12/14/2017. (lcrc3) (Entered: 12/14/2017)
2017-12-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 2/12/2018 (tj) (Entered: 12/15/2017)
2018-02-1210Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 02/12/2018)
2018-05-1411Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 05/14/2018)
2018-08-1312Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 08/13/2018)
2018-11-0913Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 11/09/2018)
2018-12-0614NOTICE of Change of Address by Matthew Charles Skurnik (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 12/06/2018)
2019-02-0715Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 02/07/2019)
2019-05-0816Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 05/08/2019)
2019-08-0617Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 08/06/2019)
2019-11-0418Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 11/04/2019)
2020-02-0319Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 02/03/2020)
2020-05-0420Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 05/04/2020)
2020-08-0321Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 08/03/2020)
2020-11-1622Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 11/16/2020)
2021-02-0123Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 02/01/2021)
2021-05-0324Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 05/03/2021)
2021-08-0225Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 08/02/2021)
2021-11-0126Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 11/01/2021)
2022-01-3127Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 01/31/2022)
2022-05-0228Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-08-0129Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 08/01/2022)
2022-10-3130Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 10/31/2022)
2023-01-3031Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Skurnik, Matthew) (Entered: 01/30/2023)
2023-03-2332NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Alexander N. Ely on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Matthew Skurnik (Ely, Alexander) (Entered: 03/23/2023)
2023-05-0133Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Ely, Alexander) (Entered: 05/01/2023)
2023-08-0134Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Ely, Alexander) (Entered: 08/01/2023)
2023-11-0135Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Ely, Alexander) (Entered: 11/01/2023)
2023-11-01MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 35 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall continue to issue a joint status report once every 90 days, with the next report due on January 30, 2024. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall include in the next status report more detail concerning the agency's efforts to complete the processing of records at issue in this case, which began in 2017. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 11/1/2023. (lcrc3) (Entered: 11/01/2023)
2024-01-3036Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Ely, Alexander) (Entered: 01/30/2024)
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