Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleCENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv03068
Date Filed2019-10-15
Date Closed2024-03-08
JudgeJudge Ana C. Reyes
PlaintiffCENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Case DescriptionThe Center for Reproductive Rights submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of Health and Human Services. The first request asked for records concerning the budget for the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, part of the Office of Civil Rights. The second FOIA request asked for records concerning plans to expend settlement funds received as a result of HIPAA violation enforcement. The agency acknowledged receipt of both requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, the Center for Reproductive Rights filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees, Adequacy - Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Vaughn index

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-10-151COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6447433) filed by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet, # 6 Summons)(Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 10/15/2019)
2019-10-17Case assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss. (zmc) (Entered: 10/17/2019)
2019-10-172SUMMONS (1) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmc) (Entered: 10/17/2019)
2019-10-183LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS (Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 10/18/2019)
2019-11-134MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Alice Buttrick, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-6560162. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Alice Buttrick, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
2019-11-14MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Plaintiff's Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice 4 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Alice Buttrick is hereby granted leave to appear pro hac vice in this case. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCrR 44.5(a). Click for Instructions . Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 11/14/19. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 11/14/2019)
2019-11-155ENTERED IN ERROR. . . . .NOTICE of Appearance by Kalpana Kotagal on behalf of CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS (Kotagal, Kalpana) Modified on 11/19/2019 (ztd). (Entered: 11/15/2019)
2019-11-156ENTERED IN ERROR. . . . .NOTICE of Filing Proof of Service by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Declaration of Service)(Kotagal, Kalpana) Modified on 11/19/2019 (ztd). (Entered: 11/15/2019)
2019-11-187NOTICE of Appearance by Marina Utgoff Braswell on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Braswell, Marina) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2019-11-188ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.(Braswell, Marina) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2019-11-19NOTICE OF ERROR re 5 Notice of Appearance; emailed to kkotagal@cohenmilstein.com, cc'd 4 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Incorrect header/caption/case number, 2. Invalid attorney signature, 3. Please refile document, 4. Alice Buttrick must use her own credentials to enter her appearance. The case number is also incorrect on the document. (ztd, ) (Entered: 11/19/2019)
2019-11-19NOTICE OF ERROR re 6 Notice (Other); emailed to kkotagal@cohenmilstein.com, cc'd 4 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Incorrect event used, 2. Please refile document, 3. Refile using the events under Initial Pleadings and Service then select Summons Returned Executed as to U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Attorney. (ztd, ) (Entered: 11/19/2019)
2019-11-209RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/24/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/23/2019. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Service)(Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 11/20/2019)
2019-11-2010NOTICE of Appearance by Alice Buttrick on behalf of CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS (Buttrick, Alice) (Entered: 11/20/2019)
2019-11-25MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to appear for an Initial Scheduling Conference on December 12, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. in Courtroom 21. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall confer in advance of the Initial Scheduling Conference on (1) whether any records can be released, and (2) the proper next steps in this litigation. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 11/25/19. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 11/25/2019)
2019-12-12Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Randolph D. Moss: Initial Scheduling Conference held on 12/12/2019. The parties are encouraged to continue to meet and confer. (Court Reporter: Lisa Griffith.) (kt) (Entered: 12/12/2019)
2019-12-12MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' proposal at the initial scheduling conference, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before February 28, 2020 and that the parties shall thereafter file further joint status reports every two months on the final business day of the month. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 12/12/19. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 12/12/2019)
2020-02-2511NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Brenda A. Gonzalez on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Substituting for attorney Marina Utgoff Braswell (Gonzalez, Brenda) (Entered: 02/25/2020)
2020-02-2812Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Gonzalez, Brenda) (Entered: 02/28/2020)
2020-04-3013Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Gonzalez, Brenda) (Entered: 04/30/2020)
2020-05-12MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report 13 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a further joint status report on or before June 30, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 5/12/20. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 05/12/2020)
2020-06-2914MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- David O. Fisher, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-7280787. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 06/29/2020)
2020-06-3015NOTICE of Appearance by Michael A. Tilghman on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 06/30/2020)
2020-06-3016Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 06/30/2020)
2020-07-1017NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. Attorney Alice Buttrick terminated. (Buttrick, Alice) (Entered: 07/10/2020)
2020-08-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice 14 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. David O. Fisher is hereby granted leave to appear pro hac vice in this case. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCrR 44.5(a). Click for Instructions . Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 8/5/20. (lchw) (Entered: 08/05/2020)
2020-08-1118NOTICE of Appearance by David O. Fisher on behalf of CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS (Fisher, David) (Entered: 08/11/2020)
2020-08-3119Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 08/31/2020)
2020-10-3020Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. (Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 10/30/2020)
2020-12-1721NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. Attorney Brenda A. Gonzalez-Horowitz terminated. (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 12/17/2020)
2020-12-3122Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 12/31/2020)
2021-02-2623Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 02/26/2021)
2021-04-3024Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. (Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 04/30/2021)
2021-06-3025Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 06/30/2021)
2021-08-3126Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. (Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 08/31/2021)
2021-10-01Case directly reassigned to Judge Florence Y. Pan. Judge Randolph D. Moss is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 10/01/2021)
2021-10-1827MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Ryan A. Wheeler, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-8806687. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Dec. of Ryan A. Wheeler, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 10/18/2021)
2021-10-19MINUTE ORDER granting 27 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. It is hereby ORDERED that Ryan A. Wheeler is admitted pro hac vice in this matter as counsel for Plaintiff. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions . Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 10/19/21. (lcaa) (Entered: 10/19/2021)
2021-10-2028NOTICE of Appearance by Ryan Wheeler on behalf of CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS (Wheeler, Ryan) (Entered: 10/20/2021)
2021-10-2929Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 10/29/2021)
2021-12-2930Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. (Fisher, David) (Entered: 12/29/2021)
2022-02-2831Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 02/28/2022)
2022-04-2932NOTICE of Appearance by Dedra Seibel Curteman on behalf of All Defendants (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-04-2933Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-06-3034Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 06/30/2022)
2022-07-0535NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. Attorney Dedra Seibel Curteman terminated. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 07/05/2022)
2022-08-3136Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. (Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 08/31/2022)
2022-09-23Judge Florence Y. Pan has been elevated to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She is therefore no longer assigned to this case, and this matter has been reassigned to the Calendar Committee, which will oversee it until it is assigned to another district judge. Any questions should be directed to Judge Pan's former deputy clerk, Samantha Calloway, at 202-354-3163 or samantha_calloway@dcd.uscourts.gov. (ztnr) (Entered: 09/23/2022)
2022-10-3137NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kartik Narayan Venguswamy on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Substituting for attorney Michael A. Tilghman (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 10/31/2022)
2022-10-3138Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 10/31/2022)
2022-12-2839NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. Attorney David O. Fisher terminated. (Fisher, David) (Entered: 12/28/2022)
2022-12-2940Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 12/29/2022)
2023-02-24Case directly reassigned to District Judge Ana C. Reyes. Circuit Judge Florence Y Pan is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 02/24/2023)
2023-02-2741WITHDRAWN PURSUANT TO COURT ORDER DATED 3/1/2023....... STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Venguswamy, Kartik) Modified on 3/2/2023 (zcdw). (Entered: 02/27/2023)
2023-02-2842Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 02/28/2023)
2023-02-2843Consent MOTION to Withdraw 41 Status Report by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 02/28/2023)
2023-03-01MINUTE ORDER. UPON CONSIDERATION of Defendant's motion to withdraw its previous status report 41 , it is hereby ORDERED that Defendant's motion 43 is GRANTED; and it is further ORDERED that Defendant's Status Report 41 is WITHDRAWN. The Court appreciates the parties' cooperation in handling this issue. Signed by Judge Ana C. Reyes on 3/1/2023. (lcsj) (Entered: 03/01/2023)
2023-04-2844Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 04/28/2023)
2023-06-3045Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. (Wheeler, Ryan) (Entered: 06/30/2023)
2023-08-0246NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. Attorney Kalpana Kotagal terminated. (Kotagal, Kalpana) (Entered: 08/02/2023)
2023-08-03RESOLVED...NOTICE of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status re 46 NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. Attorney Kalpana Kotagal terminated. (Kotagal, Kalpana). Your attorney renewal/government certification has not been received. As a result, your membership with the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is not in good standing, and you are not permitted to file. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.9, you must immediately correct your membership status by following the appropriate instructions on this page of our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-renewal. Please be advised that the presiding judge in this case has been notified that you are currently not in good standing to file in this court. Renewal Due by 8/10/2023. (zmrl) Modified on 8/16/2023 (zmrl). (Entered: 08/03/2023)
2023-08-3147Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 08/31/2023)
2023-10-3148Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 10/31/2023)
2024-01-0949Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 01/09/2024)
2024-02-2150STIPULATION of Dismissal by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 02/21/2024)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar