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Case TitleCITIZENS UNITED v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv02443
Date Filed2022-08-17
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Christopher R. Cooper
PlaintiffCITIZENS UNITED
Case DescriptionCitizens United submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Interior for records concerning communications between the agency's White House Liaison and the White House pertaining to the Hatch Act. Citizens United submitted the same request to three offices, the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Office of the Solicitor. The agency acknowledged receipt of all four requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Citizens United filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Vaughn index, Adequacy - Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2022-08-171COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9448845) filed by CITIZENS UNITED. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Summons to the Attorney General, # 4 Summons to the U.S. Attorney, # 5 Summons to the DOI)(Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
2022-08-172LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CITIZENS UNITED (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
2022-08-18Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (znmg) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
2022-08-183SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmg) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
2022-10-134NOTICE of Appearance by Stephanie R. Johnson on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 10/13/2022)
2022-10-145Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to RESPOND TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 10/14/2022)
2022-10-17MINUTE ORDER granting Defendant's 5 Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Plaintiff's Complaint. Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the complaint by November 18, 2022. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/17/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 10/17/2022)
2022-11-186ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.(Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 11/18/2022)
2022-11-21MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by December 5, 2022. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 11/21/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 11/21/2022)
2022-12-057Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 12/05/2022)
2022-12-06MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 7 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by January 31, 2023. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 12/6/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 12/06/2022)
2023-01-318Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 01/31/2023)
2023-02-02MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by February 28, 2023. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/2/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 02/02/2023)
2023-02-289Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 02/28/2023)
2023-02-28MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 9 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by March 30, 2023. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/28/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 02/28/2023)
2023-03-3010Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 03/30/2023)
2023-03-31MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by May 15, 2023. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/31/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 03/31/2023)
2023-05-1511Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 05/15/2023)
2023-05-22MINUTE ORDER: The Court is unable to meaningfully assess the parties' request for a stay in their 11 Joint Status Report because the report does not identity the purportedly overlapping records and issues in this case and the two other pending cases noted in the report, or explain how resolution of those cases will affect the need for further litigation in this one. The Court therefore directs the parties to file a further joint status report by May 26, 2023 providing additional details on their request. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/22/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 05/22/2023)
2023-05-2612Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 05/26/2023)
2023-06-01MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, the Court will hold this case in abeyance pending a decision on the pending summary judgment motion in America First Legal Foundation v. U.S. Department of Agriculture , Case No. 22-cv-3029 (D.D.C.) (BAH). The parties are directed to file a joint status report setting forth a plan for further proceedings within fourteen days of a decision in that case, or earlier, if any developments so warrant. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/1/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 06/01/2023)
2023-08-0113Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 08/01/2023)
2023-08-04MINUTE ORDER: The parties' August 1, 2023 joint status indicates that "Plaintiff remains interested in the documents responsive to its FOIA request but are currently being withheld, including, but not limited to , DOIs response to EO 14019." (Emphasis added). The parties are directed to file a further status report by August 13, 2023 indicating why extending the current stay is warranted if the agency would have to process records not limited to the materials at issue in America First Legal Foundation regardless of the outcome of the appeal in that case. So Ordered. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/4/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 08/04/2023)
2023-08-1114Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 08/11/2023)
2023-08-14MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 13 and 14 Joint Status Reports, the Court will hold this case in abeyance pending the D.C. Circuit's decision in America First Legal Foundation , No. 23-5173. The parties are directed to file a joint status report within fourteen days of a decision in that case, or earlier, if any developments so warrant. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/14/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 08/14/2023)
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