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Case TitlePROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST v. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv00340
Date Filed2023-02-07
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Royce C. Lamberth
PlaintiffPROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST
Case DescriptionProtect the Public's Trust submitted a FOIA request to the IRS for records concerning communications between Commissioner Charles Rettig and a number of identified individuals, including Sam Bankman-Fried. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency told PPT the request was too broad for a search. PPT told the IRS that it believed the request was not too broad. The agency then closed the request for failure to provide information that would enable a search. PPT believed it had exhausted its administrative and filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantINTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
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
Opinion/Order [19]
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-02-071COMPLAINT against INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9842907) filed by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A - FOIA Request, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit B - Interim Response Letter, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit C - Response to Interim Response Letter, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit D - Jan. 12 Letter, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit E - Jan. 13 Letter, # 6 Exhibit Exhibit F - IRS Final Response, # 7 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 8 Summons Summons - US Attorney's Office, # 9 Summons Summons - US Attorney General, # 10 Summons Summons - IRS Chief Counsel)(Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 02/07/2023)
2023-02-07Case Assigned to Judge Royce C. Lamberth. (zsl) (Entered: 02/07/2023)
2023-02-072SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsl) (Entered: 02/07/2023)
2023-03-093ANSWER to Complaint by INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.(Bruce, Elisabeth) (Entered: 03/09/2023)
2023-03-104ORDER: Local Rule 16.3(b)(10) exempts parties to a FOIA action from typical scheduling order requirements. Instead, the government has the burden to produce a Vaughn index with a supporting dispositive motion. The Court therefore ORDERS the government to file the index and supporting motion within 30 days. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 3/10/2023. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 03/10/2023)
2023-03-295ENTERED IN ERROR.....Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Dispositive Motion by INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bruce, Elisabeth) Modified on 3/30/2023 (znmw). (Entered: 03/29/2023)
2023-03-30NOTICE OF ERROR regarding 5 Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Dispositive Motion . The following error(s) need correction: Title on document does not match document/event. Please refile. (znmw) (Entered: 03/30/2023)
2023-03-306Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Dispositive Motion by INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bruce, Elisabeth) (Entered: 03/30/2023)
2023-04-037ORDER granting 6 Motion for Extension of Time. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 4/3/2023. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 04/03/2023)
2023-05-088Second MOTION for Extension of Time to File Dispositive Motion by INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bruce, Elisabeth) (Entered: 05/08/2023)
2023-05-119ORDER granting 8 Motion for Extension of Time. Dispositive Motion due by 5/31/2023. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 5/10/2023. (lcrcl2) Modified on 5/11/2023 (zsmc). (Entered: 05/11/2023)
2023-05-2610Joint MOTION to Modify Schedule by INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. (Bruce, Elisabeth) (Entered: 05/26/2023)
2023-05-3111ORDER granting Motion 10 to Modify Schedule. Dispositive motion deadline vacated. Proposed joint briefing schedule due by 06/30/2023. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 05/31/2023. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 05/31/2023)
2023-06-3012PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE (Joint) by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST. (Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 06/30/2023)
2023-07-06MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties' Proposed Briefing Schedule 12 is ADOPTED. Plaintiff's Motion is due by 8/4/2023. Defendant's Response is due by 8/25/2023. Plaintiff's Reply is due by 9/8/2023. SO ORDERED by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 7/6/2023. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 07/06/2023)
2023-07-1213NOTICE by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST (Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 07/12/2023)
2023-07-1214LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST (Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 07/12/2023)
2023-08-0415MOTION for Attorney Fees by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support Memorandum in Support of Motion, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit A - Fee Spreadsheet, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit B - Declaration of Gary Lawkowski, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit C - Declaration of Erin Potter, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit D - Declaration of Jonathan Shaw, # 6 Exhibit Exhibit E - Declaration of Glynis Gilio, # 7 Exhibit Exhibit F - Laffey Matrix, # 8 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 08/04/2023)
2023-08-2416RESPONSE re 15 MOTION for Attorney Fees filed by INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. (Bruce, Elisabeth) (Entered: 08/24/2023)
2023-09-0817REPLY to opposition to motion re 15 MOTION for Attorney Fees filed by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST. (Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 09/08/2023)
2024-02-0818ENTERED IN ERROR.....SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST, and U.S. Attorney (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zjm) Modified on 2/8/2024 entered in incorrect case (zjm). (Entered: 02/08/2024)
2024-02-1619MEMORANDUM OPINION re: Motion 15 for Attorney's Fees. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 2/16/2024. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 02/16/2024)
2024-02-1620ORDER granting Motion 15 for Attorney's Fees for the reasons stated in the accompanying Memorandum Opinion 19 . Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 2/16/2024. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 02/16/2024)
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