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Case TitleUS RIGHT TO KNOW v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv01130
Date Filed2022-04-25
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Jia M. Cobb
PlaintiffUS RIGHT TO KNOW
Case DescriptionUS Right to Know submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning the federal government's investigation of the origins of COVID-19. USRTK also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told USRTK that unusual circumstances would prevent it from responding in a timely manner. After hearing nothing further from the agency, USRTK filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, 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
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2022-04-251COMPLAINT against STATE DEPARTMENT ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9191673) filed by U.S. RIGHT TO KNOW. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons US Attorney General, # 3 Summons US Attorney's Office, # 4 Summons Dept of State, # 5 Exhibit A (FOIA Request), # 6 Exhibit B (Acknowledgement Letter), # 7 Exhibit C (Correspondence))(Hardin, Matthew) (Entered: 04/25/2022)
2022-04-26Case Assigned to Judge Jia M. Cobb. (zsb) (Entered: 04/26/2022)
2022-04-272SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsb) (Entered: 04/27/2022)
2022-05-203NOTICE of Appearance by April Denise Seabrook on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 05/20/2022)
2022-05-214Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 05/21/2022)
2022-05-24MINUTE ORDER granting 4 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Answer: The Court GRANTS 4 Defendant's Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Answer. Defendant's Answer is now due by June 17, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on May 24, 2022. (lcjmc3) (Entered: 05/24/2022)
2022-06-175ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Seabrook, April) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
2022-06-21MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the Parties confer and submit a joint proposed schedule for further proceedings, which shall include a proposed schedule for the processing and release of responsive records or for briefing dispositive motions, by July 5, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on June 21, 2022. (lcjmc1) (Entered: 06/21/2022)
2022-07-056Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 07/05/2022)
2022-07-07MINUTE ORDER re 6 Joint Status Report by United States Department of State:The Court has reviewed the Parties' Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another joint status report by August 5, 2022. It is further ORDERED that the Parties shall file joint status reports every 90 days thereafter until further order of the Court. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on July 7, 2022. (lcjmc3) (Entered: 07/07/2022)
2022-08-057Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 08/05/2022)
2022-08-108NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Stephanie R. Johnson on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney April Denise Seabrook (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 08/10/2022)
2022-08-15MINUTE ORDER re 7 Joint Status Report: Plaintiff has requested that the Court amend its order currently requiring the Parties to file status reports every 90 days to require more frequent reports. Upon consideration of the Parties' arguments, the Court does not believe it is necessary to require the Parties to file more frequent joint reports. However, nothing in the Court's order prevents any Party from bringing matters to the Court's attention or seeking the Court's intervention between status report deadlines. Plaintiff also requested a status hearing. Having resolved the issue regarding Plaintiff's request for more frequent status reports, the Court does not believe a status hearing is necessary. However, if Plaintiff believes that there are issues the Court needs to resolve it can make a request for a status hearing that identifies the specific issues to be addressed. Accordingly, the next status report is due by November 7, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on August 15, 2022. (lcjmc3) (Entered: 08/15/2022)
2022-08-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 11/7/2022. (zgdf) (Entered: 08/16/2022)
2022-11-079Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 11/07/2022)
2023-02-0610Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 02/06/2023)
2023-05-0811Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 05/08/2023)
2023-08-0712Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 08/07/2023)
2023-11-0613ENTERED IN ERROR.....Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) Modified on 11/7/2023 at the request of counsel (zjm). (Entered: 11/06/2023)
2023-11-0614Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 11/06/2023)
2024-02-0515Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 02/05/2024)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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