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Case TitleAmerican Civil Liberties Union et al v. Department of Defense et al
DistrictSouthern District of New York
CityFoley Square
Case Number1:2017cv09972
Date Filed2017-12-21
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Edgardo Ramos
PlaintiffAmerican Civil Liberties Union
PlaintiffAmerican Civil Liberties Union Foundation
Case DescriptionThe American Civil Liberties Union submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and the Department of State for records concerning the Trump administration's rules governing the use of lethal force abroad, known as "Principles, Standards, and Procedures." The ACLU also requested expedited processing and a fee waiver. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the request and some indicated that the request would be put on their complex track for processing. However, after hearing nothing further from any of the agencies, the ACLU filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Public Interest Fee Waiver

DefendantDepartment of Defense
DefendantDepartment of Justice
DefendantDepartment of State
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Opinion/Order [25]
Opinion/Order [39]
Opinion/Order [40]
FOIA Project Annotation: U.S. District Court Judge Edgardo Ramos of the Southern District of New York has opened the slightly cracked door that was first breached by the D.C. Circuit's decision in ACLU v. CIA, 710 F.3d 422 (D.C. Cir. 2013) in which the D.C. Circuit found that it was no longer plausible for the CIA to claim that it had no interest in the use of drones in targeted killings, rejecting the CIA's Glomar defense neither confirming nor denying the existence of records and requiring instead that the agency process the request. Ramos' decision opened that door marginally further by rejecting the Defense Department's Glomar defense in responding to requests from the ACLU and the New York Times for records concerning the 2017 decision by the Trump administration to relax the restriction contained in a 2013 revision in the Obama administration's covert operations procedures because the revision had been disclosed by the U.S. Army's investigatory report of a 2017 incident in Niger in which four U.S. soldiers were killed in an ambush. However, while the template set out in ACLU v. CIA will probably continue to expand, requiring agencies to admit to the existence of records that are often commonly known by the media and researchers is something of a pyrrhic victory since those records probably remain subject to exemption claims. Ramos' ruling came in a case brought by the ACLU and the New York Times for records concerning the updated policies on covert operations. The 2013 revision by the Obama administration, known as a Presidential Policy Guidance, was dated May 22, 2013. A redacted version of the policy revision was released to the ACLU as part of 2016 FOIA litigation. Explaining the Obama PPG, Ramos indicated that it "prioritized capturing suspects and limiting lethal operations. . .It directed that these operations only be attempted when the United States has identified and located the target with near certainty, and when there is a near certainty that non-combatants will not be harmed." Further, the Obama guidance required that such operations go through a multi-step interagency review, including the National Security Council, before being approved by the President. In October 2017, the New York Times reported that Trump issued Principles, Standards and Procedures, relaxing the Obama guidance by making it simpler to approve such operations. As a result, the ACLU filed a FOIA request for the Trump PSP. In June 2019, the Defense Department disclosed a redacted version of its investigation report of the October 2017 ambush in Niger, which killed four U.S. soldiers and four Nigerien partners. In discussing whether U.S. forces involved in the Niger operation followed White House policy, the report indicated that "On 3 October 2017, the Executive Policy governing direct action against terrorists on the continent of Africa was codified in the 'U.S. Policy Standards and Procedures for the use of force in counterterrorism operations outside the United States and areas of active hostilities.'" As a result of the investigation report, the ACLU asked DOD to confirm the existence of the updated guidance. Several months later, the New York Times also filed suit based on its October 2019 FOIA request for the updated guidance. Because of their similarity, the ACLU and Times litigation was consolidated and assigned to Ramos. The government argued that its Glomar response remained tenable even after the disclosure of the existence of the updated guidance in the Army investigation report, while the ACLU and the New York Times contended that the Army report on the Niger ambush had waived the government's ability to sustain its Glomar defense. Ramos explained that "the Court finds the information at issue, when viewed on its own, was properly withheld under Exemption 1. But the Niger ambush report 'shifted the factual groundwork' on which the Court examines the propriety of the FOIA Exemptions. Although disclosure of the report does not qualify as an 'official disclosure' that would waive the agencies' ability to invoke Exemption 1, it does make the continued use of that exemption illogical and implausible." The ACLU and the New York Times argued that the public affidavit submitted by Ellen Knight, then-Senior Director of Records Access and Information Security Management at the NSC, did not provide enough information to justify the government's Glomar response. Ramos indicated that "alone, this public declaration would be insufficient to show that the agencies' invocation of Exemption 1 was logical and plausible." But after reviewing the classified sections he noted that "the agencies have shown that potential harm to the national security could result if the existence of updates to the PPG are disclosed is logical and plausible." However, Ramos rejected the government's claim that the records were also protected under Exemption 3, citing the protection for sources and methods in the National Security Act. Ramos pointed out that "although the Court is aware of a 'broad sweep' of the Act in protecting intelligence sources and methods, it is the burden of the agencies to educate the Court on the connection between those concepts within the context of the case. . . [T]he Court credits the potential harm to national security of disclosure, but it does not see â€" through its review of the classified and unclassified Knight Declaration â€" the connection between that harm and the disclosure of intelligence sources and methods protected by the National Security Act." In the Second Circuit, the official disclosure doctrine is based on the test articulated in Wilson v. CIA, 586 F.3d 171 (2nd Cir. 2009), finding that an official disclosure occurs only if the information deemed to have been officially disclosed is as specific as the information previously disclosed, matches the information previously disclosed, and was made public though an official documented disclosure. Applying the Wilson test here, Ramos noted that "the record discussed in the Niger ambush report specifically discloses that the PSP supersedes previous guidance regarding the use of direct action by U.S. forces, and is therefore responsive to the ACLU's request. An interpretation that suggests otherwise would require purposeful distortion of the report's plain meaning. The information in the report is as specific as and matches the information the ACLU and the Times seek here." Ramos found the disclosure ancillary to the purposes of the report. He noted that "the purpose of the disclosure in the Niger ambush report was to communicate the findings and recommendations coming from an investigation into the Niger ambush, not to discuss changes to the direct-action rules created by the Obama administration." He observed that "finding a Defense Department report by a major general and approved by the head of a U.S. combatant command is not 'official' approaches being a distinction without a difference." Her explained that "to allow an ancillary disclosure such as this one to force the Defense Department to waive an exemption could turn future FOIA suits into a game of 'gotcha,' allowing the decision of one subset of an organization to lead to the release of information potentially harmful to national security." Because Ramos found that the disclosure in the Niger ambush report was not an official disclosure that waived the government's ability to Exemption 1, he indicated that an Exemption 1 claim now was untenable. He pointed out that "although the Court has found that the Defense Department did not intend to make an official disclosure regarding updates to the Obama Guidance, the reference to updated guidance regarding direct action against suspected terrorists is a necessary and explicit part of the report's findings and recommendations. Put simply, the Niger ambush report has credibly and conclusively established that the Obama Guidance has been superseded. No 'increment of doubt' remains."
Issues: Determination - Glomar response, Exemption 1 - Harm to national security
Opinion/Order [48]
Opinion/Order [52]
User-contributed Documents
 014 Govt Answer to Complaint
023 Pl Letter to Judge Ramos
024 Govt Letter to Judge Ramos
030 Knight Decl
031 Govt Memo Supporting MSJ
033 Pl Memo in Support of Cross MPSJ
034 Hogle Decl
034-10 Hogle Decl- Exhibit 4
034-3 Hogle Decl- Exhibit 2.2
034-4 Hogle Decl- Exhibit 2.3
034-5 Hogle Decl- Exhibit 2.4
034-6 Hogle Decl- Exhibit 2.5
034-7 Hogle Decl- Exhibit 2.6
034-8 Hogle Decl- Exhibit 2.7
034-9 Hogle Decl- Exhibit 3
035 Govt Reply Memo in Support of MSJ
036 Pl Reply Memo in Support of Cross PMSJ
037 Govt Letter to Judge Ramos
038 Pl Letter to Judge Ramos
042 Order Granting Letter Motion for Extension of Time
044 Memo Endorsement Approving Proposed Schedule
053 Endorsed Pl Letter Providing Status Update Timeline
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2017-12-211COMPLAINT against Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State. (Filing Fee $ 400.00, Receipt Number 0208-14502653)Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit October 30, 2017 FOIA Request)(Shamsi, Hina) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-212CIVIL COVER SHEET filed. (Shamsi, Hina) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-213REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Department of Defense, re: 1 Complaint,. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Shamsi, Hina) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-214REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Department of Justice, re: 1 Complaint,. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Shamsi, Hina) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-215REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Department of State, re: 1 Complaint,. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Shamsi, Hina) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-216RULE 7.1 CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. No Corporate Parent. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation.(Shamsi, Hina) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-217NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Brett Max Kaufman on behalf of American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Kaufman, Brett) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-218NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Anna Natalia Diakun on behalf of American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Diakun, Anna) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-22CASE OPENING INITIAL ASSIGNMENT NOTICE: The above-entitled action is assigned to Judge Edgardo Ramos. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned District Judge, located at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/judges/District . Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. Please download and review the ECF Rules and Instructions, located at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/ecf_filing.php . (pc) (Entered: 12/22/2017)
2017-12-22Magistrate Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox is so designated. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1) parties are notified that they may consent to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. Parties who wish to consent may access the necessary form at the following link: http://nysd.uscourts.gov/forms.php . (pc) (Entered: 12/22/2017)
2017-12-22Case Designated ECF. (pc) (Entered: 12/22/2017)
2017-12-229ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to Department of State. (pc) (Entered: 12/22/2017)
2017-12-2210ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to Department of Defense. (pc) (Entered: 12/22/2017)
2017-12-2211ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to Department of Justice. (pc) (Entered: 12/22/2017)
2018-01-2312NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Sarah Sheive Normand on behalf of Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State. (Normand, Sarah) (Entered: 01/23/2018)
2018-02-0113NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Elizabeth J Shapiro on behalf of Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State. (Shapiro, Elizabeth) (Entered: 02/01/2018)
2018-02-0114ANSWER to 1 Complaint,. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State.(Normand, Sarah) (Entered: 02/01/2018)
2018-04-0415AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE (FOIA CASE). Department of Defense served on 12/29/2017, answer due 1/29/2018. Service was made by Mail. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union; American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Diakun, Anna) (Entered: 04/04/2018)
2018-04-0416ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SERVICE (FOIA CASE). Department of Justice served on 12/29/2017, answer due 1/29/2018. Service was made by Mail. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union; American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Diakun, Anna) (Entered: 04/04/2018)
2018-04-0417AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE (FOIA CASE). Department of State served on 12/29/2017, answer due 1/29/2018. Service was made by Mail. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union; American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Diakun, Anna) (Entered: 04/04/2018)
2018-04-0418AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE of Summons served on Jefferson B. Sessions, III, Attorney General of the United States on 12/29/2017. Service was made by Mail. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Diakun, Anna) (Entered: 04/04/2018)
2018-04-0419AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE of Summons served on United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York on 12/29/2017. Service was made by Mail. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Diakun, Anna) (Entered: 04/04/2018)
2018-12-2720STANDING ORDER M10-468: The United States Attorney's Office shall notify the Court immediately upon the restoration of Department of Justice funding. (As further set forth in this Order.) (Signed by Judge Colleen McMahon on 12/27/2018) (mro) (Entered: 01/02/2019)
2018-12-27Case Stayed (mro) (Entered: 01/14/2019)
2019-09-2721FILING ERROR - DEFICIENT DOCKET ENTRY - MOTION for Anna Diakun to Withdraw as Attorney . Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Anna Diakun, # 2 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(Diakun, Anna) Modified on 12/12/2019 (db). (Entered: 09/27/2019)
2019-09-3022ORDER TERMINATING APPEARANCE OF ANNA DIAKUN granting 21 Motion to Withdraw as Attorney. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the appearance of Anna Diakun in this matter is terminated; IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT the Clerk of Court shall remove Anna Diakun from the docket sheet in this matter. IT IS SO ORDERED. (Attorney Anna Natalia Diakun terminated.) (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 9/30/19) (yv) (Entered: 09/30/2019)
2020-01-0823LETTER addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from Brett Max Kaufman dated January 8, 2020 re: Anticipated Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation.(Kaufman, Brett) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
2020-01-1324LETTER addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from AUSA Sarah S. Normand dated January 13, 2020 re: the ACLU's January 8, 2020 letter requesting a pre-motion conference. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State.(Normand, Sarah) (Entered: 01/13/2020)
2020-01-1525ORDER re: (8 in 1:20-cv-00043-ER) Letter filed by The New York Times Company, (23 in 1:17-cv-09972-ER) Letter filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. For the reasons set forth above, the Court sets the following consolidated briefing schedule for both actions: motions due February 12, 2020; oppositions due March 11, 2020; and replies due March 25, 2020. Furthermore, in light of this briefing schedule, the request for a pre-motion conference filed in 17 Civ. 9972, Doc. 23, is DENIED as moot. It is SO ORDERED. (Motions due by 2/12/2020., Responses due by 3/11/2020, Replies due by 3/25/2020.) (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 1/15/2020) (kv) (Entered: 01/15/2020)
2020-01-3026LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time and Clarification and Modification of the Court's Order dated January 15, 2020 addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from AUSA Steven J. Kochevar dated January 30, 2020. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State.(Kochevar, Steven) (Entered: 01/30/2020)
2020-02-0427ORDER granting 26 Letter Motion for Extension of Time. The proposed briefing schedule is hereby approved. The government's consolidated motion for summary judgment in both cases is due February 26, 2020. Plaintiffs ACLU's and NYT's respective oppositions and cross-motions for summary judgment are due March 25, 2020. The government's reply in support of its motion for summary judgment and opposition to plaintiffs cross-motions is due April 15, 2020.ACLU's and NYT's replies in support of their cross-motions are due May 6, 2020. (HEREBY ORDERED by Judge Edgardo Ramos)(Text Only Order) (jar) (Entered: 02/04/2020)
2020-02-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Motions due by 2/26/2020. Cross Motions due by 3/25/2020. Responses due by 4/15/2020. Replies due by 5/6/2020. (jar) (Entered: 02/04/2020)
2020-02-2628MOTION for Summary Judgment . Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State..(Kochevar, Steven) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-2629NOTICE of Lodging of Classified Submission. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State..(Kochevar, Steven) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-2630DECLARATION of Ellen J. Knight (Redacted) in Support re: 28 MOTION for Summary Judgment .. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State..(Kochevar, Steven) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-2631MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 28 MOTION for Summary Judgment . . Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State..(Kochevar, Steven) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-03-2532CROSS MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment . Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. Responses due by 4/15/2020.(Kaufman, Brett) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-03-2533MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 32 CROSS MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment ., 28 MOTION for Summary Judgment . . Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation..(Kaufman, Brett) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-03-2534DECLARATION of Charles Hogle in Support re: 32 CROSS MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment ., 28 MOTION for Summary Judgment .. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Attachments: # 1 Ex. 1 (ACLU FOIA Request), # 2 Ex. 2.1 (DOD Report Part 1), # 3 Ex. 2.2 (DOD Report Part 2), # 4 Ex. 2.3 (DOD Report Part 3), # 5 Ex. 2.4 (DOD Report 4), # 6 Ex. 2.5 (DOD Report Part 5), # 7 Ex. 2.6 (DOD Report Part 6), # 8 Ex. 2.7 (DOD Report Part 7), # 9 Ex. 3 (ACLU Letter Re: Report), # 10 Ex. 4 (Gov't Response Re: Report)).(Kaufman, Brett) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-04-1535REPLY MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 28 MOTION for Summary Judgment . and in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Cross Motion for Partial Summary Judgment . Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State..(Kochevar, Steven) (Entered: 04/15/2020)
2020-05-0636REPLY MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 32 CROSS MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment . and in Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment . Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation..(Kaufman, Brett) (Entered: 05/06/2020)
2020-08-1937LETTER addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from AUSA Steven J. Kochevar dated August 19, 2020 re: Recent Decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State..(Kochevar, Steven) (Entered: 08/19/2020)
2020-08-2638LETTER addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from Brett Max Kaufman dated August 26, 2020 re: Government's August 19, 2020 Letter. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation..(Kaufman, Brett) (Entered: 08/26/2020)
2020-09-2939ORDER granting 32 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment; denying 28 Motion for Summary Judgment. For the reasons set forth in a Memorandum Opinion to be filed separately, the defendants' motions for summary judgment are DENIED and the plaintiffs' cross-motions for summary judgment are GRANTED. The defendants are ORDERED to confirm or deny the existence of records responsive to the plaintiffs' FOIA requests. The parties are further directed to submit, by November 1, 2020, a schedule for the defendants' compliance with this Order and the further disposition of this case. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate the following motions: Docs. 28 and 32 in 17 Civ. 9972, and Docs. 13 and 17 in 20 Civ. 43. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 9/29/2020) (mro) (Entered: 09/29/2020)
2020-10-0540MEMORANDUM OPINION: For these reasons, the Court finds that the Defense Department never properly invoked Exemption 3 and that its invocation of Exemption 1 was rendered illogical and implausible by the release of the Niger ambush report. Accordingly, the agencies' motion for summary judgment was DENIED, and the cross-motions of both the ACLU and the Times were GRANTED. The instructions within the Court's Order of September 29, 2020, Doc. 39, remain in effect. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 10/5/2020) (mro) (Entered: 10/06/2020)
2020-10-2041LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time to File Schedule for Defendants' Compliance with September 29 Order and Disposition of Case addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from AUSA Sarah S. Normand dated October 20, 2020. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State..(Normand, Sarah) (Entered: 10/20/2020)
2020-10-2042ORDER granting 41 Letter Motion for Extension of Time. Defendant's request to extend the deadline to comply with the Court's September 29, 2020 Order until December 4, 2020 is granted. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 10/20/2020) (mro) (Entered: 10/20/2020)
2020-12-0443LETTER addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from AUSA Sarah S. Normand dated December 4, 2020 re: Proposed Schedule for Resolution of Cases. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State..(Normand, Sarah) (Entered: 12/04/2020)
2020-12-0744MEMO ENDORSEMENT: on re: (27 in 1:20-cv-00043-ER) Letter filed by Department of Defense, (43 in 1:17-cv-09972-ER) Letter filed by Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Justice. ENDORSEMENT: The Proposed schedule are APPROVED. SO ORDERED., ( Cross Motions due by 2/16/2021., Motions due by 1/19/2021., Responses due by 3/16/2021, Replies due by 4/6/2021.) (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 12/07/2020) (ama) (Entered: 12/07/2020)
2021-01-1545LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time for defendants to file second consolidated motion for summary judgment addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from AUSA Sarah S. Normand. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order).(Normand, Sarah) (Entered: 01/15/2021)
2021-01-1546REVISED SCHEDULING ORDER granting 45 LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time for defendants to file second consolidated motion for summary judgment. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the schedule set forth in the Court's December 7, 2020 Order is amended as follows: Government's consolidated motion for summary judgment due: February 22, 2021. Plaintiffs' oppositions and cross-motions due: March 22, 2021. Government's consolidated opposition and reply due: April 19, 2021. Plaintiffs' replies due: May 10, 2021. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 1/15/2021) (jca) (Entered: 01/15/2021)
2021-01-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Cross Motions due by 3/22/2021. Motions due by 2/22/2021. Responses due by 4/19/2021, Replies due by 5/10/2021. (jca) (Entered: 01/15/2021)
2021-02-1847LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time to File Second Motion for Summary Judgment addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from AUSA Sarah S. Normand dated February 18, 2021. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order).(Normand, Sarah) (Entered: 02/18/2021)
2021-02-1948REVISED SCHEDULING ORDER granting 47 Letter Motion for Extension of Time to File. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the schedule set forth in the Court's January 15, 2021 Order is amended as follows: Government's consolidated motion due: April 23, 2021. Plaintiffs' oppositions and cross-motions due: May 21, 2021. Government's consolidated opposition and reply due: June 18, 2021. Plaintiffs' replies due: July 9, 2021. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 2/19/2021) (mro) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-02-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Cross Motions due by 5/21/2021. Motions due by 4/23/2021. Responses due by 6/18/2021 Replies due by 7/9/2021. (mro) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-04-2149LETTER MOTION to Substitute Attorney. Old Attorney: AUSA Steven J. Kochevar, New Attorney: AUSA Sarah S. Normand addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from AUSA Steven J. Kochevar dated April 21, 2021. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State..(Kochevar, Steven) (Entered: 04/21/2021)
2021-04-2250ORDER granting 49 Letter Motion to Substitute Attorney. AUSA Steven Kochevar's request is granted. The clerk of court is respectfully directed to remove AUSA Kochevar as attorney of record and toterminate the motion, Doc. 49. Attorney Steven John Kochevar terminated (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 4/22/2021) (cf) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
2021-04-2251LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time , Adjournment of the Briefing Schedule and Entry of a Revised Schedule, addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from AUSA Sarah S. Normand and Attorney Elizabeth Shapiro dated April 22, 2021. Document filed by Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order).(Normand, Sarah) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
2021-04-2252REVISED SCHEDULING ORDER: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the briefing schedule set forth in the Court's February 19, 2021 Order is adjourned. The government will produce a redacted version of the document sought in the plaintiffs' FOIA requests by April 30, 2021. The parties will meet and confer and submit a status report by May 28, 2021. To the extent any issues remain to be litigated, the status report will include a proposed briefing schedule. (As further set forth in this Order.) (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 4/22/2021) (cf) Modified on 4/22/2021 (cf). (Entered: 04/22/2021)
2021-05-2753ENDORSED LETTER addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from David McCraw dated 5/27/2021 re: I am counsel for Plaintiff The New York Times Company in Case No. 20- cv-00043, brought pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). I write on behalf of the parties in both of the above-referenced actions to respectfully provide a status update pursuant to the Courts order dated April 22, 2021. No. 17-cv-09972, Dkt. 52; No. 20-cv-00043, Dkt. 36.. ENDORSEMENT: The request is granted. Parties are directed to submit a further status report by July 30, 2021.. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 5/27/2021) (nb) (Entered: 05/27/2021)
2021-08-2654MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: (41 in 1:20-cv-00043-ER) Letter filed by The New York Times Company. ENDORSEMENT: The request is granted. Parties are directed to submit a further status report by September 30, 2021. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 8/26/2021) (cf) (Entered: 08/26/2021)
2021-09-3055STIPULATION OF VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL It is hereby stipulated and agreed by and between the parties and/or their respective counsel(s) that the above-captioned action is voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice against the defendant(s) Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State pursuant to Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. Proposed document to be reviewed and processed by Clerk's Office staff (No action required by chambers). ..(Kaufman, Brett) (Entered: 09/30/2021)
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