Case: Service Women’s Action Network v. U.S. Department of Defense

3:15-cv-00137 | U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Filed Date: Feb. 3, 2015

Closed Date: 2016

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On February 3, 2015, an advocacy organization for women in military service, Service Women’s Action Network, filed this lawsuit under Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) against the United States Department of Defense (“DOD”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The Act requires government organizations to conduct a reasonable search or to provide the records when requested by the public. The plaintiffs argued that DOD, however, did not comply to the plaintiffs’ request t…

On February 3, 2015, an advocacy organization for women in military service, Service Women’s Action Network, filed this lawsuit under Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) against the United States Department of Defense (“DOD”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The Act requires government organizations to conduct a reasonable search or to provide the records when requested by the public. The plaintiffs argued that DOD, however, did not comply to the plaintiffs’ request to gather information from the US Military Academies about the policies and practices that lead to women’s under-representation in the Academies in violation of FOIA. Represented by ACLU and ACLU of Connecticut, the plaintiffs asked for declaratory relief, and for the court to compel a reasonable search for records and timely production of records on the discrimination faced by women who aspire to be military officers due to the defendants' admissions policies.

On June 23 and July 23, 2015, the defendant filed two status reports to report on the actions taken by the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy in response to the plaintiffs’ FOIA requests. These Academies has completed reasonable searches designed to find all information in its possession responsive to the plaintiffs’ request, with some exceptions.

On June 17, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal informing the court that this case had been settled between the parties and agreed to a stipulated dismissal with prejudice. The case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Soojin Cha (4/14/2016)

Sichun Liu (5/25/2019)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4199471/parties/service-womens-action-network-v-defense/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

Abdo, Alex (Connecticut)

Abdo, Alexander Abraham (Connecticut)

Amezquita, Hope Renee (Connecticut)

Amiri, Brigitte (Connecticut)

Arterburn, Jennifer (Connecticut)

Attorney for Defendant

Abdo, Alex (Connecticut)

Abdo, Alexander Abraham (Connecticut)

Amezquita, Hope Renee (Connecticut)

Amiri, Brigitte (Connecticut)

Arterburn, Jennifer (Connecticut)

Avery, Vanessa Roberts (Connecticut)

Balin, Robert D. (Connecticut)

Bamberger, Michael A. (Connecticut)

Bannon, Alicia Lorraine (Connecticut)

Barcelo, Amy Ann (Connecticut)

Barnea, Jean-David (Connecticut)

Bartelt, Leah A (Connecticut)

Batsides, Demetrios Christos (Connecticut)

Bayard, Samuel (Connecticut)

Bennett, Michelle Renee (Connecticut)

Bentley, Elizabeth G. (Connecticut)

Berns, Matthew J. (Connecticut)

Bhandari, Esha (Connecticut)

Bloch-Wehba, Hannah (Connecticut)

Block, Joshua Abraham (Connecticut)

Borson, Joseph Evan (Connecticut)

Bowie, Courtney A (Connecticut)

Brick, Ann (Connecticut)

Bricker, Matthew J. (Connecticut)

Brock, Chad Michael (Connecticut)

Browning, John (Connecticut)

Byars, Michael James (Connecticut)

Cagle, Matthew Thomas (Connecticut)

Carmichael, Andrew E. (Connecticut)

Castelli, Thomas H. (Connecticut)

Chaiten, Lorie A. (Connecticut)

Chiang, Emily (Connecticut)

Chicago, AUSA - (Connecticut)

Ching, Jennifer (Connecticut)

Choudhury, Nusrat Jahan (Connecticut)

Clark, Melanca Durham (Connecticut)

Clopper, John Dalton (Connecticut)

Cohn, Cindy Ann (Connecticut)

Cohn, Joseph S. (Connecticut)

Colangelo-Bryan, Joshua Nicholas (Connecticut)

Coll-Very, Alexis Susan (Connecticut)

Condon, Jennifer Brooke (Connecticut)

Connolly, Christopher Kendrick (Connecticut)

Cook, Jennifer J. (Connecticut)

Crow, Melissa (Connecticut)

Crump, Catherine Newby (Connecticut)

cv, Kimberly Anne (Connecticut)

cv, Kristi Culver (Connecticut)

Dalven, Jennifer (Connecticut)

Daughtry, Emily Ewell (Connecticut)

Davis, Kathryn Celia (Connecticut)

DeKrey, Dane (Connecticut)

Diakun, Anna Natalia (Connecticut)

Diaz, Oliver E. (Connecticut)

Donohue, Laura (Connecticut)

Doty, Grant R. (Connecticut)

Dunn, Christopher T (Connecticut)

Eisenberg, Arthur Nelson (Connecticut)

Elicker, Natalie Nicole (Connecticut)

Farel, Lily Sara (Connecticut)

Feldman, Brian Marc (Connecticut)

Felix, Wesley D. (Connecticut)

Folio, Joseph C. (Connecticut)

Fornos, Carolina A. (Connecticut)

Freeny, Kyle Renee (Connecticut)

Friday, Kimberly (Connecticut)

Galler, Jonathan (Connecticut)

Gass, J J (Connecticut)

Goddard, Darcy M. (Connecticut)

Goodman, Melissa (Connecticut)

Goodman, Rachel (Connecticut)

Gorski, Ashley Marie (Connecticut)

Haddad, Richard Inad (Connecticut)

Hafetz, Jonathan L. (Connecticut)

Hall, Rahsaan D. (Connecticut)

Handeyside, Hugh (Connecticut)

Haroules, Beth (Connecticut)

Hauss, Brian Matthew (Connecticut)

Heald, Julia E. (Connecticut)

Hearn, Marcellene Elizabeth (Connecticut)

Henderson, Brady R (Connecticut)

Hinger, Sarah (Connecticut)

Hirose, Mariko (Connecticut)

Hofmann, Marcia Clare (Connecticut)

Horvath, Jennifer (Connecticut)

Huang, Lawrence (Connecticut)

Huerta, Alvaro M. (Connecticut)

Ikari, Carolyn Aiko (Connecticut)

Jaffe, William Benjamin (Connecticut)

Jaffer, Jameel (Connecticut)

Johnson, Bruce (Connecticut)

Johnson, Timothy Andrew (Connecticut)

Jones, David Stuart (Connecticut)

Josephson, Matthew Allan (Connecticut)

Kaplan, Jay (Connecticut)

Karp, Meredith D. (Connecticut)

Kaufman, Brett Max (Connecticut)

Keaney, Melissa S. (Connecticut)

Kennedy, Thomas E. (Connecticut)

Kolbi-Molinas, Alexa Rebecca (Connecticut)

Korobkin, Daniel (Connecticut)

Ladin, Dror (Connecticut)

Lambert, Marissa Paige (Connecticut)

Lane, Sean H. (Connecticut)

Lee, Jennifer (Connecticut)

Lewis, Megan Elizabeth (Connecticut)

Llanso, Emma J. (Connecticut)

Loeb, Robert M. (Connecticut)

London, Ronald Gary (Connecticut)

London, Ellen (Connecticut)

Lowe, Marina B. (Connecticut)

Loy, John David (Connecticut)

Lustberg, Lawrence S. (Connecticut)

Lye, Linda (Connecticut)

Mach, Daniel Irwin (Connecticut)

Manes, Jonathan Matthew (Connecticut)

Mann, Linton Mann (Connecticut)

Mantoan, Kathryn Grzenczyk (Connecticut)

Marshall, Randall C. (Connecticut)

Mass, Julia Harumi (Connecticut)

Mathews, Patrick Casey (Connecticut)

McCord, Larry R. (Connecticut)

McElvain, Joel (Connecticut)

McShain, Heather Kirsten (Connecticut)

Mehta, Leslie Chambers (Connecticut)

Mejia, John M. (Connecticut)

Melling, Louise F. (Connecticut)

Merriweather-Tucker, Brooke A. (Connecticut)

Morgan, Brian K. (Connecticut)

Morris, John B. (Connecticut)

Morte, Tara Marie (Connecticut)

Moskowitz, David (Connecticut)

Muniz, Richard (Connecticut)

Munoz, Ana Isabel (Connecticut)

Navarro, Heather B. (Connecticut)

Neel, Sara R. (Connecticut)

Nelson, David Christopher (Connecticut)

Nestler, Emily B. (District of Columbia)

Newell, Jennifer Chang (Connecticut)

Normand, Sarah Sheive (Connecticut)

Oestericher, Jeffrey Stuart (Connecticut)

Opsahl, Kurt Bradford (Connecticut)

Park, Sandra S. (Connecticut)

Parker, Dennis D. (Connecticut)

Pellegrino, Louis Anthony (Connecticut)

Philpott, Romney S. (Connecticut)

PHV, Elliot Tarloff (Connecticut)

PHV, Lindsay Harrison (Connecticut)

PHV, Brigitte A (Connecticut)

PHV, Daniel I (Connecticut)

Plane, Margaret D. (Connecticut)

Powell, Amy (Connecticut)

Price, Matthew E. (Connecticut)

Rabinovitz, Judy (Connecticut)

Ravicher, Daniel (Connecticut)

Realmuto, Trina A. (Connecticut)

Rocah, David Robert (Connecticut)

Ross, Michael W. (Connecticut)

Rossman, Jessie J. (Connecticut)

Rossman, Stuart T. (Connecticut)

Rothert, Anthony E. (Connecticut)

Rotolo, Laura (Connecticut)

Ruzicka, Eric Andrew (Connecticut)

Schulz, David A. (Connecticut)

Schwartz, James J. (Connecticut)

Schwartztol, Laurence Michael (Connecticut)

Segal, Matthew (Connecticut)

Shamsi, Hina (Connecticut)

Shapiro, Elizabeth J (Connecticut)

Shelledy, David Taylor (Connecticut)

Silverstein, Mark (Connecticut)

Simmons, Abraham A. (Connecticut)

Sims, Charles S. (Connecticut)

Singh, Amrit (Connecticut)

Skinner, Peter M. (Connecticut)

Soloveichik, Layaliza K. (Connecticut)

Soneji, Sabita J. (Connecticut)

Spurlock, Matthew Douglas (Connecticut)

Steinberg, Michael J. (Connecticut)

Storey, Ruth Ann (Connecticut)

Sun, Christine Patricia (Connecticut)

Sus, Nikhel S. (Connecticut)

Sweren-Becker, Eliza (Connecticut)

Tinio, Rebecca Sol (Connecticut)

Toomey, Patrick Christopher (Connecticut)

Torrance, Benjamin H. (Connecticut)

Tulis, Elizabeth (Connecticut)

Tully, L. Danielle (Connecticut)

Tumlin, Karen C. (Connecticut)

Union, American Civil (Connecticut)

Vargas, Jeannette Anne (Connecticut)

Watson, Elizabeth K (Connecticut)

Weaver, Heather Lynn (Connecticut)

Weinbeck, Michael P (Connecticut)

Welti, Tyler G. (Connecticut)

Werlin, Beth (Connecticut)

Wessler, Nathan Freed (Connecticut)

Weyher, Zachary J. (Connecticut)

White, Edward Hanson (Connecticut)

Wicker, Colin (Connecticut)

Winslow, Sara (Connecticut)

Youngs, Stuart Andrew (Connecticut)

Zuckerman, Richard M. (Connecticut)

Zureick, Alyson Marie (Connecticut)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:15-cv-00137

Docket [PACER]

Service Women's Action Network v. U.S. Department of Defense

June 17, 2016

June 17, 2016

Docket
1

3:15-cv-00137

Complaint

Service Women's Action Network v. U.S. Department of Defense

Feb. 3, 2015

Feb. 3, 2015

Complaint
30

3:15-cv-00137

Defendant's first status report

Service Women's Action Network v. U.S. Department of Defense

June 23, 2015

June 23, 2015

Pleading / Motion / Brief
32

3:15-cv-00137

Defendant's second status report

Service Women's Action Network v. U.S. Department of Defense

July 23, 2015

July 23, 2015

Pleading / Motion / Brief
51

3:15-cv-00137

Stipulation of Dismissal

Service Women's Action Network v. U.S. Department of Defense

June 17, 2016

June 17, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4199471/service-womens-action-network-v-defense/

Last updated Feb. 5, 2025, 11:06 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $400 receipt number 0205-3497028.), filed by Service Women's Action Network. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit)(Wishnie, Michael) (Entered: 02/03/2015)

1 Exhibit

View on PACER

2 Exhibit

View on PACER

3 Exhibit

View on PACER

Feb. 3, 2015

Feb. 3, 2015

RECAP
2

ELECTRONIC FILING ORDER - PLEASE ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH COURTESY COPY REQUIREMENTS IN THIS ORDER Signed by Judge Stefan R. Underhill on 2/3/2015.(Fazekas, J.) (Entered: 02/03/2015)

Feb. 3, 2015

Feb. 3, 2015

PACER
3

STANDING PROTECTIVE ORDER Signed by Judge Stefan R. Underhill on 2/3/2015.(Fazekas, J.) (Entered: 02/03/2015)

Feb. 3, 2015

Feb. 3, 2015

PACER
4

NOTICE TO COUNSEL: Counsel initiating or removing this action is responsible for serving all parties with attached documents and copies of 3 Standing Protective Order, 1 Complaint filed by Service Women's Action Network, 2 Electronic Filing Order Signed by Clerk on 2/3/2015.(Fazekas, J.) (Entered: 02/03/2015)

Feb. 3, 2015

Feb. 3, 2015

PACER
5

NOTICE of Appearance by Sandra J. Staub on behalf of American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Service Women's Action Network (Staub, Sandra) (Entered: 02/03/2015)

Feb. 3, 2015

Feb. 3, 2015

PACER
6

MOTION for Attorney(s) Lenora M. Lapidus to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number 0205-3497636) by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Service Women's Action Network. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit)(Staub, Sandra) (Entered: 02/03/2015)

1 Affidavit

View on PACER

Feb. 3, 2015

Feb. 3, 2015

PACER
7

MOTION for Attorney(s) Ariela M. Migdal to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number 0205-3497649) by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Service Women's Action Network. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit)(Staub, Sandra) (Entered: 02/03/2015)

1 Affidavit

View on PACER

Feb. 3, 2015

Feb. 3, 2015

PACER
8

NOTICE of Appearance by David J. McGuire on behalf of American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Service Women's Action Network (McGuire, David) (Entered: 02/03/2015)

Feb. 3, 2015

Feb. 3, 2015

PACER
9

ORDER granting 6 Motion for Attorney Lenora M. Lapidus to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Attorney Lenora M. Lapidus for American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Service Women's Action Network added.; granting 7 Motion for Attorney Ariela M. Migdal to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Attorney Ariela M. Migdal for American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Service Women's Action Network added. Certificate of Good Standing due by 4/5/2015. Signed by Clerk on 2/4/2015. (Oliver, T.) (Entered: 02/04/2015)

Feb. 4, 2015

Feb. 4, 2015

PACER
10

ENTERED IN ERROR - ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 and LR 4 as to *Department of Defense* with answer to complaint due within *60* days. Attorney *Michael J. Wishnie* *Jerome N. Frank Legal Services - Wall St* *Yale Law School 127 Wall Street* *New Haven, CT 06511*. (Oliver, T.) Modified on 2/4/2015 (Oliver, T.). (Entered: 02/04/2015)

Feb. 4, 2015

Feb. 4, 2015

PACER
11

ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED in accordance with FOIA statute, 5 U.S.C. 552 as to *Department of Defense* with answer to complaint due within *30* days. Attorney *Michael J. Wishnie* *Jerome N. Frank Legal Services - Wall St* *Yale Law School 127 Wall Street* *New Haven, CT 06511*. (Oliver, T.) Modified on 2/5/2015 TO CORRECT THE RULE (Oliver, T.). (Entered: 02/04/2015)

Feb. 4, 2015

Feb. 4, 2015

PACER
12

NOTICE of Appearance by Lenora M. Lapidus on behalf of American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Service Women's Action Network (Lapidus, Lenora) (Entered: 02/18/2015)

Feb. 18, 2015

Feb. 18, 2015

PACER
13

NOTICE of Appearance by Ariela M. Migdal on behalf of American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Service Women's Action Network (Migdal, Ariela) (Entered: 02/18/2015)

Feb. 18, 2015

Feb. 18, 2015

PACER
14

MOTION for Sandra J. Staub to Withdraw as Attorney by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Service Women's Action Network. (Staub, Sandra) (Entered: 02/24/2015)

Feb. 24, 2015

Feb. 24, 2015

PACER

Status Conference

April 24, 2015

April 24, 2015

PACER
27

~Util - Set Deadlines/Hearings AND Memorandum of Conference AND Order

May 1, 2015

May 1, 2015

PACER
28

Withdraw as Attorney

May 18, 2015

May 18, 2015

PACER

Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

May 19, 2015

May 19, 2015

PACER
30

Status Report

June 23, 2015

June 23, 2015

PACER
31

Withdraw as Attorney

July 21, 2015

July 21, 2015

PACER
32

Status Report

July 23, 2015

July 23, 2015

PACER

Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

July 28, 2015

July 28, 2015

PACER
34

Extension of Time

Aug. 24, 2015

Aug. 24, 2015

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time

Aug. 25, 2015

Aug. 25, 2015

PACER
36

Extension of Time

Sept. 18, 2015

Sept. 18, 2015

PACER

Set Deadlines/Hearings

Sept. 21, 2015

Sept. 21, 2015

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time

Sept. 21, 2015

Sept. 21, 2015

PACER
38

Extension of Time

Oct. 16, 2015

Oct. 16, 2015

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time

Oct. 21, 2015

Oct. 21, 2015

PACER

Set Deadlines/Hearings

Oct. 22, 2015

Oct. 22, 2015

PACER
40

Extension of Time

Dec. 17, 2015

Dec. 17, 2015

PACER

Set Deadlines/Hearings

Dec. 18, 2015

Dec. 18, 2015

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time

Dec. 18, 2015

Dec. 18, 2015

PACER
42

Extension of Time

Jan. 28, 2016

Jan. 28, 2016

PACER

Set Deadlines/Hearings

Jan. 30, 2016

Jan. 30, 2016

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time

Jan. 30, 2016

Jan. 30, 2016

PACER
44

Extension of Time

Feb. 5, 2016

Feb. 5, 2016

PACER
45

Notice of Appearance

Feb. 8, 2016

Feb. 8, 2016

PACER

Set Deadlines/Hearings

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

PACER
47

Extension of Time

Feb. 29, 2016

Feb. 29, 2016

PACER

Set Deadlines/Hearings

March 4, 2016

March 4, 2016

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time

March 4, 2016

March 4, 2016

PACER
49

Vacate

April 14, 2016

April 14, 2016

PACER

Set Deadlines/Hearings

April 15, 2016

April 15, 2016

PACER

Order on Motion to Vacate

April 15, 2016

April 15, 2016

PACER
51

Stipulation of Dismissal

June 17, 2016

June 17, 2016

PACER

Judicial Evaluation Program Survey

June 20, 2016

June 20, 2016

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Connecticut

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 3, 2015

Closing Date: 2016

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Service Women’s Action Network, ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Connect.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU National (all projects)

ACLU Affiliates (any)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

U.S. Department of Defense, Federal

Defendant Type(s):

College/University

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Constitutional Clause(s):

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Content of Injunction:

Required disclosure

Issues

General/Misc.:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Treatment

Discrimination Basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female