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Case TitleCHINESE AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE ALLIANCE v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv02001
Date Filed2022-07-11
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Tanya S. Chutkan
PlaintiffCHINESE AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE ALLIANCE
Case DescriptionThe Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Justice for records concerning the implementation of the China Initiative involving prosecution of anti-Asian crimes. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told CALDA that its request qualified for the complex track for processing. After hearing nothing further from the agency CALDA filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DefendantFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
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

2022-07-111COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9361510) filed by CHINESE AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1- Request, # 2 Exhibit 2- Response, # 3 Exhibit 3- May 3, 2022 ECD, # 4 Exhibit 4- DOJ ECD Response, # 5 Exhibit 5- June 21, 2022 ECD, # 6 Civil Cover Sheet, # 7 Summons to DOJ, # 8 Summons to FBI, # 9 Summons to USAG, # 10 Summons to USAO)(Sorenson, C.) (Entered: 07/11/2022)
2022-07-12Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (zsb) (Entered: 07/12/2022)
2022-07-142SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsss) (Entered: 07/14/2022)
2022-07-313NOTICE of Appearance by Stephanie R. Johnson on behalf of FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 07/31/2022)
2022-08-124Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 08/12/2022)
2022-08-15MINUTE ORDER: Granting Consent 4 Motion for Extension of Deadlines. Defendants shall answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint by September 16, 2022. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 8/15/22. (DJS) (Entered: 08/15/2022)
2022-08-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 9/16/2022. (tb) (Entered: 08/19/2022)
2022-09-155Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 09/15/2022)
2022-09-21MINUTE ORDER: Defendants' 5 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to Answer Complaint is GRANTED. Defendants' Answer is now due 9/30/2022. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 09/21/2022. (lcwk) (Entered: 09/21/2022)
2022-09-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 9/30/2022. (tb) (Entered: 09/27/2022)
2022-09-306ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 09/30/2022)
2022-10-03MINUTE ORDER: No later than 10/17/22 the parties shall meet, confer, and file their joint Report of the Parties' Planning Meeting, pursuant to Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Local Civil Rule 16.3. The Report shall include a proposed Scheduling Order in the format found on Judge Chutkan's court webpage, along with any proposed changes which shall be highlighted. On the same day that the parties file their Rule 26 Report and proposed Scheduling Order, the parties shall also email a Word version of the proposed order to Chambers. When proposing deadlines, the parties shall avoid proposing a schedule that contains submission of simultaneous dispositive cross-motions. In addition to the requirements under the Federal and Local Rules, the parties' Report shall contain a succinct summary of the case and the statutory basis for all causes of action and defenses. Separate Reports will be stricken, sua sponte. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/03/2022. (lcwk) (Entered: 10/03/2022)
2022-10-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Meet & Confer Report due by 10/17/2022. (tb) (Entered: 10/04/2022)
2022-10-147Amended ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 10/14/2022)
2022-10-178Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 10/17/2022)
2022-10-18MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Joint Status Report 8 , the court hereby defers the entry of a briefing schedule at this time and instead orders the parties to submit a joint status report updating the Court on the status of modifying the original FOIA request and Defendants' response to Plaintiff's FOIA request by no later than December 13, 2022. Should the parties anticipate requesting any court action or changes to the status quo, the report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/18/2022. (lcrd) (Entered: 10/18/2022)
2022-10-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Response due by 12/13/2022. (tb) (Entered: 10/19/2022)
2022-10-20MINUTE ORDER: On the same day parties submit the joint status report updating the Court on the status of modifying the original FOIA request and Defendants' response to Plaintiff's FOIA request, parties shall also submit a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/20/2022. (lcsr) (Entered: 10/20/2022)
2022-10-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report and Proposed Order are due by 12/13/2022. (jth) (Entered: 10/20/2022)
2022-11-049RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/21/2022. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/20/2022. (Sorenson, C.) (Entered: 11/04/2022)
2022-11-0410RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 07/21/2022., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION served on 7/25/2022; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 7/21/2022 (See Docket Entry 9 to view document) (zjm) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
2022-11-08NOTICE OF ERROR re 9 Summons Returned Executed in FOIA as to U.S. Attorney; emailed to petesorenson@gmail.com, cc'd 6 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Notice of Corrected Docket Entry: Your entry has been modified as a courtesy. Please note the appropriate reminders for future filings; do not refile document, 2. Please note the following for future filings; do not refile document , 3. DO NOT REFILE: Counsel reminded to file a return of service for each individual party served. (zjm, ) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
2022-12-1311Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 12/13/2022)
2022-12-14MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Joint Status Report 11 , the court hereby defers the entry of a briefing schedule at this time and instead orders the parties to submit a joint status report updating the Court on the status of modifying the original FOIA request and Defendants' response to Plaintiff's FOIA request by no later than February 13, 2023. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 12/14/2022. (lcsr) (Entered: 12/14/2022)
2022-12-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Response due by 2/13/2023. (tb) (Entered: 12/20/2022)
2023-02-1312Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 02/13/2023)
2023-02-28MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Joint Status Report 12 , the court hereby defers the entry of a briefing schedule at this time and instead orders the parties to submit a joint status report updating the Court on the status of modifying the original FOIA request and Defendants' response to Plaintiff's FOIA request by no later than April 14, 2023. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 2/28/23. (lcsr) (Entered: 02/28/2023)
2023-03-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Response due by 4/14/2023. (tb) (Entered: 03/01/2023)
2023-04-1413Joint STATUS REPORT by CHINESE AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Sorenson, C.) (Entered: 04/14/2023)
2023-04-24MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Joint Status Report 13 , the court hereby defers the entry of a briefing schedule at this time and instead orders the parties to submit a joint status report updating the Court on the status of modifying the original FOIA request and Defendants' response to Plaintiff's FOIA request by no later than June 14, 2023. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 4/24/23. (lcsr) (Entered: 04/24/2023)
2023-04-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Response due by 6/14/2023. (tb) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-06-1414Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 06/14/2023)
2023-06-29MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Joint Status Report 14 , the court hereby defers the entry of a briefing schedule at this time. The parties shall file another Joint Status Report by August 14, 2023, and every 30 days thereafter, advising the court on the status of modifying the original FOIA request and Defendants' response to Plaintiff's FOIA request. To the extent that the parties propose a change in deadlines or other court action, the Report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 6/29/23. (lcsr) (Entered: 06/29/2023)
2023-06-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/14/2023. (smc) (Entered: 06/29/2023)
2023-08-1115Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 08/11/2023)
2023-09-1316Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 09/13/2023)
2023-10-1317Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 10/13/2023)
2023-10-16MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Joint Status Report 17 , the court hereby defers the entry of a briefing schedule at this time. The parties shall file another Joint Status Report by January 12, 2024, and every 60 days thereafter, advising the court on the status of OIP's consultation process and Defendants' outstanding response, if any, to Plaintiff's FOIA request. To the extent that the parties propose a change in deadlines or other court action, the Report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/16/2023. (lca) (Entered: 10/16/2023)
2023-10-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/12/2024. (ztl) (Entered: 11/13/2023)
2024-01-1218Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 01/12/2024)
2024-03-1119Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 03/11/2024)
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