Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_12-cv-08042/USCOURTS-azd-3_12-cv-08042-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 899
Nature of Suit: Other Statutes - Administrative Procedure Act/Review or Appeal of Agency Decision
Cause of Action: 05:702 Administrative Procedure Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Gregory Yount, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Ken Salazar, et al., 

Defendants, 

Grand Canyon Trust, et al.,

Intervenor-Defendants. 

National Mining Association, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

Ken Salazar, et al.,

Defendants. 

Northwest Mining Association,

Plaintiff,

vs.

Ken Salazar, et al.,

Defendants. 

Quaterra Alaska, Inc., et al.,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

Ken Salazar, et al.,

Defendants.

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No. CV 11-08171-PCT-FJM

 CV 12-08038-PCT-GMS

 CV 12-08042-PCT-DGC

 CV 12-08075-PCT-JAT

ORDER

Case 3:12-cv-08042-DGC Document 45 Filed 07/19/12 Page 1 of 3
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The court has before it plaintiffs National Mining Association's and Nuclear Energy

Institute's Motion to Consolidate (doc. 28), the federal defendants' Response in Opposition

(doc. 35), plaintiffs' Reply (doc. 37), plaintiffs Quaterra Alaska, Inc. et al's Motion to

Consolidate (doc. 49), the federal defendants' Response in Opposition (doc. 50), and the

Response of intervenor-defendant Grand Canyon Trust (doc. 51), to which we need not await

a Reply.

While the federal defendants oppose consolidation, they do not oppose assignment of

all four cases to a single judge. Response at 7, n. 3 (doc. 35); Response at 9, n. 5 (doc. 50).

 These four cases all attack the same decision of the defendant Salazar. There are or will be

motions to dismiss on grounds of standing in all four cases. The transfer of all four cases to

a single judge will ensure consistency, even if the cases are not consolidated. These cases

are "related cases" within the meaning of LRCiv 42.1(a). They arise from the same decision

of the defendant Salazar. They involve substantially the same parties. They involve the

same land. They involve the same legal issues. They are all likely to require an analysis of

the defendant Salazar's decision. While a motion to transfer is heard by the judge assigned

the case with the lowest number, here the undersigned, LRCiv 42.1(b) sets forth the factors

by which that judge determines the judge to whom the cases will be assigned. 

The Yount case is not a suitable lead case because the plaintiff is unrepresented.

While substantive matters have not been considered in any case, Judge Campbell is familiar

with the issues and the decision attacked here because of his processing of an earlier case

involving the same decision brought by environmental groups. Assignment to Judge

Campbell would promote judicial efficiency because he can call upon his experience in the

earlier case in evaluating the decision under review. Judge Campbell advises that he is

willing to take all four cases. All four factors under LRCiv 42.1(d) point to assigning these

cases to Judge Campbell. He can then decide whether they should be consolidated for some

or all purposes. Even if not consolidated, unitary adjudication will minimize the risk of

inconsistent rulings, both with respect to standing and the ultimate merits. 

Accordingly, it is ORDERED GRANTING the alternative Motions to Transfer to

Case 3:12-cv-08042-DGC Document 45 Filed 07/19/12 Page 2 of 3
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a single judge under LRCiv 42.1. (Docs. 28 and 49). It is further ORDERED transferring

CV 11-08171, CV 12-08038, and CV 12-08075 to Judge Campbell, to whom CV 12-08042

is already assigned.

DATED this 18th day of July, 2012.

Case 3:12-cv-08042-DGC Document 45 Filed 07/19/12 Page 3 of 3