Case: 1:15-cv-01128-EGS As of: 01/08/2019 05:49 AM EST 1 of 4 TYPE I−FOIA U.S. District Court District of Columbia (Washington, DC) CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:15−cv−01128−EGS JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. UNITED STATES Date Filed: 07/15/2015 DEPARTMENT OF STATE Jury Demand: None Assigned to: Judge Emmet G. Sullivan Nature of Suit: 895 Freedom of Cause: 05:552 Freedom of Information Act Information Act Jurisdiction: U.S. Government Defendant Plaintiff JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. represented by Michael Bekesha JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. 425 Third Street, SW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20024 (202) 646−5172 Fax: (202) 646−5199 Email: [email protected] ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED V. Defendant UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT represented by Kari E. D'Ottavio OF STATE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE The Executive Office, Office of the Legal Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch Adviser 1100 L Street NW Room 12310 Washington, DC 20530 (202) 305−0568 Fax: (202) 616−8470 Email: kari.e.d'[email protected] LEAD ATTORNEY ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED Sam M. Singer U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530 (202) 616−8014 Fax: (202) 616−8470 Email: [email protected] LEAD ATTORNEY ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED Robin Frances Thurston DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION P.O. Box 34553 Washington, DC 20043 (202) 448−9090 Email: [email protected] TERMINATED: 08/29/2016 Date Filed # Docket Text 07/15/2015 1 COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090−4176085) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. Case: 1:15-cv-01128-EGS As of: 01/08/2019 05:49 AM EST 2 of 4 (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Department of State, # 3 Summons US Attorney for DC, # 4 Summons US Attorney General)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 07/15/2015) 07/15/2015 2 LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 07/15/2015) 07/15/2015 Case Assigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. (md) (Entered: 07/15/2015) 07/15/2015 3 SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice of Consent) (md) (Entered: 07/17/2015) 07/22/2015 4 ENTERED IN ERROR.....RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/21/2015. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/20/2015.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 07/21/2015., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 7/21/2015 (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit of Cristina Rotaru)(Bekesha, Michael) Modified on 7/23/2015 (jf). (Entered: 07/22/2015) 07/22/2015 5 RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/21/2015. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/20/2015.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 07/21/2015., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit of Cristina Rotaru)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 07/22/2015) 07/31/2015 6 NOTICE of Appearance by Robin Frances Thurston on behalf of All Defendants (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 07/31/2015) 08/19/2015 7 ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 08/19/2015) 08/24/2015 8 ORDER FOR MEET AND CONFER REPORT. Attorney Meet and Confer Conference by 9/15/2015. Meet & Confer Statement due by 9/29/2015. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 08/24/15. (mac) (Entered: 08/24/2015) 09/03/2015 9 ENTERED IN ERROR.....NOTICE by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Thurston, Robin) Modified on 9/4/2015 (znmw). (Entered: 09/03/2015) 09/04/2015 NOTICE OF ERROR re 9 Notice (Other); emailed to [email protected], cc'd 2 associated attorneys −− The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Incorrect header/caption/case number, 2. Please refile document, 3. Entered in error; Incorrect case number; Please refile. (znmw, ) (Entered: 09/04/2015) 09/04/2015 10 NOTICE (correcting case number) by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 09/04/2015) 09/04/2015 11 NOTICE of Court Order by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 09/04/2015) 09/29/2015 12 Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 09/29/2015) 10/01/2015 MINUTE ORDER adopting the parties' proposed schedule, as follows: (1) Defendant shall search hardcopy records and the "state.gov" email addresses of the individuals most likely to have responsive records to Plaintiff's request by no later than November 18, 2015; (2) the parties shall meet and confer thereafter to determine if any additional searches are necessary, including but not limited to, searches of any non−state.gov email correspondence in Defendant's possession; and (3) the parties shall file a joint status report proposing a schedule for future proceedings by no later than December 2, 2015. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on October 1, 2015. (lcegs4) (Entered: Case: 1:15-cv-01128-EGS As of: 01/08/2019 05:49 AM EST 3 of 4 10/01/2015) 10/01/2015 Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/2/2015. (mac) (Entered: 10/01/2015) 12/02/2015 13 Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 12/02/2015) 12/09/2015 MINUTE ORDER directing the parties to comply with the following schedule: (1) no later than January 29, 2016, Defendant will conduct a search of records provided by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and will notify Plaintiff of the results; (2) no later than January 29, 2016, Defendant will either provide Plaintiff with a final determination with respect to the third responsive record or inform Plaintiff of the status of the inter−agency consultation; (3) no later than February 5, 2016, the parties will meet and confer regarding any outstanding issues; (4) no later than February 10, 2016, the parties shall file a joint status report updating the Court. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on December 9, 2015. (lcegs4, ) (Entered: 12/09/2015) 12/10/2015 Set/Reset Deadlines: Meet & Confer Statement by 2/5/2016. Joint Status Report due by 2/10/2016. (mac) (Entered: 12/10/2015) 02/10/2016 14 Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 02/10/2016) 03/02/2016 15 Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 03/02/2016) 03/07/2016 MINUTE ORDER. Pursuant to the parties' agreement, the parties shall file a Joint Status Report no later than one week following the Court's ruling on Plaintiff's proposed discovery schedule in Case No. 13−1363. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on March 7, 2016. (lcegs4) (Entered: 03/07/2016) 05/10/2016 16 Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 05/10/2016) 05/25/2016 MINUTE ORDER directing Defendant to file its Motion for Summary Judgment no later than July 13, 2016. Plaintiff shall file its motion for discovery pursuant to Rule 56(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or its opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and cross motion for Summary Judgment no later than August 10, 2016. Defendant shall its opposition or reply no later than September 14, 2015. Plaintiff shall file any reply no later than September 28, 2016. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on May 25, 2016. (lcegs4) (Entered: 05/25/2016) 05/25/2016 Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant To File Its Motion For Summary Judgment due by 7/13/2016. Plaintiff Motion For Discovery Pursuant To Rule 56(d) Of The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure Or Its Opposition To Defendant's Motion For Summary Judgment And Cross Motion For Summary Judgment due by 8/10/2016. Defendant Opposition Or Reply due by 9/14/2016. Plaintiff Reply due by 9/28/2016. (mac) (Entered: 05/25/2016) 07/13/2016 17 Joint MOTION to Vacate Briefing Schedule by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 07/13/2016) 08/01/2016 MINUTE ORDER granting the parties' joint motion to vacate the scheduling order. The parties shall submit an updated scheduling order within one week of the Court's ruling on Judicial Watch's motion for additional discovery in Civil No. 13−1363. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on August 1, 2016. (lcegs4) (Entered: 08/01/2016) 08/26/2016 18 NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Sam M. Singer on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney Robin Thurston (Singer, Sam) (Entered: 08/26/2016) 08/26/2016 19 Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Singer, Sam) (Entered: 08/26/2016) Case: 1:15-cv-01128-EGS As of: 01/08/2019 05:49 AM EST 4 of 4 08/30/2016 MINUTE ORDER. In view of 19 Joint Status Report, Defendant shall complete its search of the materials provided by the FBI to the State Department by no later than September 30, 2016, and shall produce any non−exempt, responsive agency records to the Plaintiff by no later than October 14, 2016. The parties shall file a joint status report by no later than October 31, 2016. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 8/30/2016. (lcegs1) (Entered: 08/30/2016) 08/31/2016 Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/31/2016. (mac) (Entered: 08/31/2016) 10/31/2016 20 Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Singer, Sam) (Entered: 10/31/2016) 11/01/2016 In view of 20 joint status report, the parties shall submit a further joint status report by no later than December 15, 2016. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 11/1/2016. (lcegs1) (Entered: 11/01/2016) 11/01/2016 Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 12/15/2016. (mac) (Entered: 11/01/2016) 12/15/2016 21 Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Singer, Sam) (Entered: 12/15/2016) 02/13/2017 MINUTE ORDER. In view of 21 joint status report, the parties shall submit a joint proposal for further proceedings three weeks following the latter of (1) the Court's rulings on the two pending motions to compel additional discovery in Civil Action No. 13−1363, and (2) the completion of any additional discovery authorized as a result of those rulings. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 2/13/2017. (lcegs1) (Entered: 02/13/2017) 09/24/2018 22 NOTICE of Appearance by Kari E. D'Ottavio on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (D'Ottavio, Kari) (Entered: 09/24/2018) 10/09/2018 23 NOTICE of Change of Address by Kari E. D'Ottavio (D'Ottavio, Kari) (Entered: 10/09/2018) 01/07/2019 24 Unopposed MOTION to Stay Jan. 7, 2019 JSR deadline by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (D'Ottavio, Kari) (Entered: 01/07/2019)