Case: TheHuffingtonPost.com v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

1:18-cv-02253 | U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Filed Date: Sept. 28, 2018

Closed Date: 2019

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On September 28, 2018, the HuffingtonPost.com brought this lawsuit against the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiffs alleged that ICE had violated the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) act when it failed to adequately respond to an information request by Huffington Post. Represented by attorneys from American Oversight, the plaintiff filed the lawsuit under FOIA, and sought declaratory and injunctive relief to com…

On September 28, 2018, the HuffingtonPost.com brought this lawsuit against the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiffs alleged that ICE had violated the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) act when it failed to adequately respond to an information request by Huffington Post. Represented by attorneys from American Oversight, the plaintiff filed the lawsuit under FOIA, and sought declaratory and injunctive relief to compel compliance.The case was assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden.

Specifically, HuffingtonPost filed this complaint after it had previously submitted a an expedited FOIA request to ICE for the arrest records of immigrants. ICE acknowledged receipt of the request, but failed to respond. Huffington Post therefore alleged that ICE had:

(1) wrongfully denied expedited processing for information for which there was an urgent need to inform the public,

(2) failed to conduct an adequate search for records, and

(3) failed to provide records required to be disclosed under FOIA.

On February 5, 2019, the parties filed a joint notice and stipulation of dismissal, stating that the issues of the case have been resolved. HuffingtonPost then voluntarily dismissed the case without prejudice.

The case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Averyn Lee (3/22/2019)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7950500/parties/thehuffingtonpostcom-inc-v-us-immigration-and-customs-enforcement/


Judge(s)

McFadden, Trevor Neil (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bies, John E (District of Columbia)

Cafasso, Cerissa (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Cohen, Jason Todd (District of Columbia)

Coles-Huff, Doris Denise (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:18-cv-02253

Docket [PACER]

THEHUFFINGTONPOST.COM, INC. v. U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT

Jan. 17, 2019

Jan. 17, 2019

Docket
1

1:18-cv-02253

Complaint

Sept. 28, 2018

Sept. 28, 2018

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7950500/thehuffingtonpostcom-inc-v-us-immigration-and-customs-enforcement/

Last updated March 24, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5710705) filed by THEHUFFINGTONPOST.COM, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 09/28/2018)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

2 Summons

View on RECAP

3 Summons

View on RECAP

4 Summons

View on RECAP

Sept. 28, 2018

Sept. 28, 2018

RECAP
2

LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by THEHUFFINGTONPOST.COM, INC. (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 09/28/2018)

Sept. 28, 2018

Sept. 28, 2018

PACER

Case Assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (zrdj)

Oct. 1, 2018

Oct. 1, 2018

PACER
3

SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zrdj) (Entered: 10/01/2018)

Oct. 1, 2018

Oct. 1, 2018

PACER
4

STANDING ORDER Establishing Procedures for Cases Before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. The parties are hereby ORDERED to read and comply with the directives in the attached standing order. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/2/18. (lctnm1) (Entered: 10/02/2018)

Oct. 2, 2018

Oct. 2, 2018

PACER
5

NOTICE of Appearance by Jason Todd Cohen on behalf of U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 10/22/2018)

Oct. 22, 2018

Oct. 22, 2018

PACER
6

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/2/2018. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/1/2018.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/9/2018., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT served on 10/9/2018 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 10/24/2018)

Oct. 24, 2018

Oct. 24, 2018

PACER
7

Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 10/31/2018)

Oct. 31, 2018

Oct. 31, 2018

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting Defendant's 7 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time. It is hereby ORDERED that Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint on or before November 15, 2018. Parties are reminded to comply with the Court's 4 Standing Order, including the instruction that any motion for an extension of time shall be filed at least four business days before the first deadline to be extended. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/31/18. (lctnm1)

Oct. 31, 2018

Oct. 31, 2018

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's answer or response to the Complaint due by 11/15/2018. (hmc)

Nov. 1, 2018

Nov. 1, 2018

PACER
8

ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT.(Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 11/15/2018)

Nov. 15, 2018

Nov. 15, 2018

PACER
9

ORDER. The parties shall file the Joint Status Report on or before December 19, 2018. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 11/19/2018. (lctnm1) (Entered: 11/19/2018)

Nov. 19, 2018

Nov. 19, 2018

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/19/2018. (hmc)

Nov. 19, 2018

Nov. 19, 2018

PACER
10

Joint STATUS REPORT by THEHUFFINGTONPOST.COM, INC.. (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 12/19/2018)

Dec. 19, 2018

Dec. 19, 2018

PACER

MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties will file a further joint status report on or before January 18, 2019 to provide an update on the status of the parties' negotiations. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 12/19/18. (lctnm1)

Dec. 19, 2018

Dec. 19, 2018

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/18/2019. (hmc)

Dec. 20, 2018

Dec. 20, 2018

PACER
11

MOTION to Stay by U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Coles-Huff, Doris) (Entered: 01/17/2019)

Jan. 17, 2019

Jan. 17, 2019

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting 11 Motion to Stay. Upon considering the Defendant's 11 Motion to Stay, it is hereby ordered that this matter shall be stayed until Congress has restored appropriations to the Department of Justice. It is further ordered that the Defendant will notify the Court immediately upon resumption of appropriations. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 1/17/2019. (lctnm1)

Jan. 17, 2019

Jan. 17, 2019

PACER
12

NOTICE of Restored Government Funding by U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 01/28/2019)

Jan. 28, 2019

Jan. 28, 2019

PACER

MINUTE ORDER. The stay in this case is lifted. The parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further joint status report on or before February 5, 2019 to provide an update on the status of the parties' negotiations. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 1/29/18. (lctnm1)

Jan. 29, 2019

Jan. 29, 2019

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/5/2019. (hmc)

Jan. 29, 2019

Jan. 29, 2019

PACER
13

STIPULATION of Dismissal by THEHUFFINGTONPOST.COM, INC.. (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 02/05/2019)

Feb. 5, 2019

Feb. 5, 2019

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Notice and Stipulation of Dismissal, this matter is DISMISSED without prejudice per the terms of the stipulation. The Clerk of Court is directed to close the case. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 2/5/19. (lctnm1)

Feb. 5, 2019

Feb. 5, 2019

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 28, 2018

Closing Date: 2019

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

HuffingtonPost.com brought this lawsuit for failure to provide information pursuant to FOIA

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Voluntary Dismissal

Issues

General:

Records Disclosure