Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01619/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01619-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 891
Nature of Suit: Agricultural Acts
Cause of Action: 05:702 Administrative Procedure Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

AMERICAN HONEY PRODUCERS CASE NO. CV-F-05-1619 LJO 

ASSOCIATION, INC., an Oklahoma

corporation, et al.

 

Plaintiffs, ORDER FOR ADDITIONAL BRIEFING

AND REQUIRING A JOINT STATEMENT

OF UNDISPUTED FACTS

vs.

THE UNITED STATE DEPARTMENT 

OF AGRICULTURE,

Defendant.

 / 

Upon review of the memoranda in support of the cross motions for summary judgment (and the

response) and the various applicable cases, and with an interest in affording the parties the opportunity

to be heard, the Court finds that additional briefing is required on several key issues. These are:

I. Standard of Review. In reviewing the cases submitted in the briefs, the Court notes that various

courts use differing standards of review. The possibilities include: (a) finding this to be a

question of law, reviewed de novo (from an interpretation of 7 U.S.C. §4609(b); (b) using

deference to the administrative agency according to the principles of Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v.

Natural Res. Defense Counsil, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 842-43 (1984); (c) using standard summary

judgment standards of review, (d) using the standard of review appropriate for cases involving

the Administrative Procedure Act, as outlined in 5 U.S.C. §706; (e) an interpretation of 7 U.S.C.

§4609(b) which yields a different standard of review; or (f) any combination thereof. The parties

should submit a short and concise analysis on this issue, including citation to proper legal

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authority. Additionally, address the standard of review by this Court concerning the Findings

of Fact by the Administrative Law Judge and/or Judicial Officer of the United States Department

of Agriculture.

 II. Facts.

(A) The parties shall meet and confer and file: (1) a Joint Statement of Undisputed Facts and

(2) a separate Statement of Disputed Facts. 

(B) Cite to legal authority in support of Plaintiffs’ request for an evidentiary hearing,

especially as it relates to the alternative appropriateness of remand. 

III. Statutory Analysis. Among other issues, the Court is focusing on a statutory analysis

comparing and contrasting the Honey Act, 7 U.S.C. §4601 et seq, with the Beef Promotional Act,

7 U.S.C. §2901 et seq., at issue in Johanns v. Livestock Marketing Ass’n, 544 U.S. 550, 125

S.Ct. 2055, 161 L.Ed. 2d 896 (2005) and the Mushroom Act, 7 U.S.C. §6101 et seq, at issue in

United States v. United Foods, 533 U.S. 405 (2001). Both parties should submit a concise

analysis on this limited issue. If counsel believes that this analysis is not warranted, indicate the

reasons for this position.

IV. Beyond Livestock Marketing. The parties should submit a concise analysis on the following

issue: Other than Livestock Marketing, what cases do you submit are controlling precedent for,

and applicable to the case at bar and why? 

V. The following briefing schedule shall apply: 

A. The Joint Statement of Undisputed Facts shall be filed no later than May 1, 2007. The

Separate Statements of Disputed Facts shall be filed with the initial brief in accordance

with the schedule below.

B. Plaintiffs shall file and serve a brief on the issues described above no later than April 17,

2007.

C. Defendants shall file and serve a brief on the issues described above no later than April

24, 2007.

D. Plaintiffs may file and serve a Reply no later than May 1, 2007.

E. Defendants may file and serve a Reply no later than May 8, 2007.

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The parties shall submit a copy of these filings in WordPerfect format to ljoorders@caed.uscourts.gov.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 3, 2007 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

b9ed48 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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