Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01053/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01053-65/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:4321 Review of Agency Action-Environment

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STIPULATION AND ORDER RE STAY OF MOTION FOR FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES

STEVEN M. ANDERSON, Bar No. 186700

STEVEN G. MARTIN, Bar No. 263394

BEST BEST & KRIEGER LLP

3390 University Avenue, 5th Floor

P. O. Box 1028

Riverside, CA 92502

Telephone: (951) 686-1450

Facsimile: (951) 686-3083

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

STATE WATER CONTRACTORS

BRADLEY H. OLIPHANT (SBN 216468)

UNITED STATES DEP’T OF JUSTICE

Wildlife and Marine Resources Section

999 18th St., South Terrace, Ste. 370

Denver, CO 80211

Telephone: (303) 844-1381

Facsimile: (303) 844-1350

WILLIAM J. SHAPIRO (CO SBN 030929)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 

JUSTICE 

501 I Street, Ste. 9-700 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

Telephone: (916) 930-2207 

Facsimile: (916) 930-2010

Attorneys for FEDERAL DEFENDANTS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

THE CONSOLIDATED SALMONID CASES

SAN LUIS & DELTA-MENDOTA WATER 

AUTHORITY, et al. v. LOCKE, et al. (Case 

No. 1:09-cv-1053)

STOCKTON EAST WATER DISTRICT, et 

al. v. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 

ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, et al. 

(Case No. 1:09-cv-1090)

STATE WATER CONTRACTORS v. 

LOCKE, et al. (Case No. 1:09-cv-1378)

KERN COUNTY WATER AGENCY, et al. v. 

UNITED STATED DEPARTMENT OF 

COMMERCE, et al. (Case No. 1:09-cv-1520)

OAKDALE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, et al. 

v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 

COMMERCE, et al. (Case No. 1:09-cv-1580)

THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT 

OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA v. 

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES 

SERVICE, et al. (Case No. 1:09-cv-1625)

Case No.

1:09-cv-01053-LJO-DLB

CONSOLIDATED WITH

1:09-cv-01090-OWW-DLB

1:09-cv-01378-OWW-SMS

1:09-cv-01520-OWW-SMS

1:09-cv-01580-OWW-DLB

1:09-cv-01625-OWW-SMS

PLAINTIFF STATE WATER 

CONTACTORS’ AND FEDERAL 

DEFENDANTS’ JOINT STIPULATION 

AND ORDER EXTENDING STAY 

REGARDING MOTION FOR 

ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND OTHER 

EXPENSES

Judge: Hon. Lawrence J. O’Neill

Date:

Time:

Courtroom:

Case 1:09-cv-01053-LJO-BAM Document 781 Filed 09/29/15 Page 1 of 3
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STIPULATION AND ORDER RE STAY OF MOTION FOR FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES

On March 19, 2015, to facilitate settlement discussions, this Court ordered a stay of the 

briefing related to the Plaintiff State Water Contractors’ (“SWC”) motion for an award of 

attorneys’ fees and other expenses (Doc. 772) (“SWC Attorneys’ Fees Motion”) against 

Defendants Sally Jewell, Secretary of Interior, et al. (“Federal Defendants”) for 180 days. Doc. 

771. The Court also ordered the parties to apprise the Court by the end of the 180-day period 

regarding any settlement or further requested action. Id. On September 14, 2015, before the end 

of that 180-day period, the SWC and Federal Defendants informed the Court that an additional 14 

days was necessary to complete pending settlement discussions. Doc. 776. The Court ordered a 

further stay of proceedings on the SWC Attorneys’ Fees Motion until September 29, 2015, and 

required that the SWC and Federal Defendants apprise the Court by the end of the extension 

period of any settlement or further requested action. Id.

The SWC and Federal Defendants hereby inform the Court that these parties have now 

reached a recommended agreement in principle to settle the claims in the SWC Attorneys’ Fees 

Motion, subject to review by the Department of Justice and the Department of Interior. 

To allow these federal agencies adequate time to review the settlement in principle, the 

SWC and Federal Defendants jointly request that this Court grant a further extension of the stay 

of the SWC Attorneys’ Fees Motion until December 15, 2015. For simplicity and consistency, 

this extension coincides with the deadline requested by Plaintiff San Luis & Delta-Mendota 

Water Authority for reviewing its settlement in principle with the Federal Defendants. See Doc. 

777. 

In support of this request, the SWC and Federal Defendants stipulate, as follows:

1. On March 20, 2015, the SWC filed a motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and 

other expenses for this litigation. Doc. 772.

2. On March 19, 2015, the Court approved the parties’ stipulation to stay further

briefing and argument on the SWC Attorneys’ Fees Motion until September 15, 2015, to allow 

for settlement discussions. Doc. 771. That order directed the parties to apprise the Court of any 

settlement or further requested action, or jointly propose a briefing schedule to address the SWC’s 

motion for fees and other expenses if there was no settlement, upon expiration of the stay.

Case 1:09-cv-01053-LJO-BAM Document 781 Filed 09/29/15 Page 2 of 3
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STIPULATION AND ORDER RE STAY OF MOTION FOR FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES

3. On September 14, 2015, the Court approved the SWC’s and Federal Defendants’ 

stipulation to further stay the briefing and argument on the SWC Attorneys’ Fees Motion until 

September 29, 2015, to allow completion of pending settlement discussions. Doc. 776.

4. The SWC and Federal Defendants have reached a recommended agreement in

principle to settle the SWC’s claims in the SWC Attorneys’ Fees Motion. Before any settlement 

can be concluded, the proposed settlement terms must be reviewed within and approved by the

Department of Justice and the Department of Interior. If the recommended settlement agreement 

is eventually adopted, the SWC and Federal Defendants agree that further briefing and argument 

on the SWC Attorneys’ Fees Motion, and a decision by this Court, will be unnecessary. A stay 

will therefore conserve the parties’ and the Court’s resources.

5. Based on the joint stipulation set forth above, the parties respectfully request that

this Court extend the stay of briefing and argument on the SWC Attorneys’ Fees Motion until 

December 15, 2015. By that date, the parties will either report that settlement has been completed 

and the SWC is withdrawing its motion for fees and expenses, or request other action by the 

Court in the absence of a completed settlement.

Respectfully submitted this 28th day of September 2015.

Dated: September 28, 2015 BEST BEST & KRIEGER LLP

By: /s/ Steven G. Martin

Steven M. Anderson

Steven G. Martin

Attorneys for Plaintiff,

STATE WATER CONTRACTORS

Dated: September 28, 2015 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Environmental & Natural Resources Division

By: /s/ William Shapiro

William Shapiro, Trial Attorney

Attorneys for FEDERAL DEFENDANTS

IT IS SO ORDERED

Dated: September 29, 2015

 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill

 United States District Judge

Case 1:09-cv-01053-LJO-BAM Document 781 Filed 09/29/15 Page 3 of 3