Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00407/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00407-89/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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1193323.1 10355-024 1

STIPULATION AND ORDER REGARDING MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

THE DELTA SMELT CASES Case No. 1:09-cv-407-LJO-BAM

1:09-cv-422-LJO-DLB

1:09-cv-631-LJO-DLB

1:09-cv-892-LJO-DLB

Partially Consolidated With:

1:09-cv-480-LJO-GSA

1:09-cv-1201-LJO-DLB

STIPULATION AND ORDER

REGARDING MOTION FOR 

ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND OTHER 

EXPENSES

Judge: Hon. Lawrence J. O’Neill

SAN LUIS & DELTA-MENDOTA WATER 

AUTHORITY, et al. v. SALAZAR, et al. 

(Case No. 1:09-cv-407)

STATE WATER CONTRACTORS v. 

SALAZAR, et al. (Case No. 1:09-cv-422)

COALITION FOR A SUSTAINABLE 

DELTA, et al. v. UNITED STATES FISH 

AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, et al. (Case No. 

1:09-cv-480)

METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT v. 

UNITED STATES FISH & WILDLIFE 

SERVICE, et al. (Case No. 1:09-cv-631)

STEWART & JASPER ORCHARDS, et al. v. 

UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE 

SERVICE, et al. (Case No. 1:09-cv-892)

FAMILY FARM ALLIANCE v. SALAZAR, 

et al. (Case No. 1:09-cv-1201)

To facilitate settlement discussions regarding Plaintiff San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water 

Authority’s (“Authority”) claim for attorneys’ fees and other expenses in this case, the Authority 

and Defendants Sally Jewell, Secretary of Interior, et al. (“Federal Defendants”) jointly move this 

Court to stay briefing on the Authority’s motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and other 

expenses for 149 days. In support of this motion, the Authority and Federal Defendants stipulate 

as follows:

1. The Court entered judgment in this action on March 29, 2011. Doc. 851. The 

Natural Resources Defense Council and The Bay Institute filed a Notice of Appeal on April 7, 

2011. Doc. 853. The Judgment was subsequently amended on May 18, 2011. Doc. 884. On June 

10, 2011, the Court entered an order extending the deadline for filing a motion for attorneys’ fees, 

Case 1:09-cv-00407-LJO-BAM Document 1144 Filed 02/11/15 Page 1 of 4
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1193323.1 10355-024 2

STIPULATION AND ORDER REGARDING MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES

costs and other expenses to “subsequent to the entry of a final order disposing of any appeal” in 

accordance with applicable law. Doc. 907. Federal Defendants filed a Notice of Appeal on July 

1, 2011. Doc. 937. The Authority filed a Notice of Cross-Appeal on July 1, 2011. Doc. 939. The 

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its opinion on the appeals and cross-appeal on March 13, 

2014. Doc. 1117; San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Auth. v. Jewell, 747 F.3d 581 (9th Cir. 2014). 

On April 17, 2014 the Ninth Circuit issued an order extending the time for filing a petition for 

rehearing en banc. Doc. 1122. On May 12, 2014, the Authority timely filed a petition for 

rehearing en banc with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. On July 23, 2014, the Ninth Circuit 

issued an order denying the Authority’s petition for rehearing en banc. Doc. 1129. On October 1, 

2014 this Court issued an Amended Judgment, in response to the Ninth Circuit’s opinion. Doc. 

1135. On October 6, 2014, the Authority filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the Supreme 

Court of the United States, seeking review of the Ninth Circuit’s opinion. On January 12, 2015, 

the Supreme Court issued an order denying the petition for writ of certiorari, and that order 

represents the “final order disposing of any appeal” and is date of “final judgment” in this action. 

See Doc. 907; see also 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(B).

2. Concurrently with this joint motion and stipulation, the Authority has filed a 

motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and other expenses for this litigation. Before filing the

motion for award of attorneys’ fees and other expenses, the Authority presented Federal 

Defendants with a confidential request to settle its claim, which request includes the amount 

sought to date, an itemized statement of the actual time expended by attorneys, experts, and other 

personnel representing or appearing on behalf of the Authority, the rates at which fees and other 

expenses were computed, and an itemized statement of other expenses incurred in the litigation. 

Federal Defendants are, thus, in receipt of the information specified by the Equal Access to Justice 

Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(B), as well as Local Rule 293, and will not be prejudiced 

by the Authority deferring the filing of memoranda, evidentiary and other materials supporting its

motion at this time.

3. Discussions regarding the Authority’s request are ongoing, and the Authority and 

Case 1:09-cv-00407-LJO-BAM Document 1144 Filed 02/11/15 Page 2 of 4
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1193323.1 10355-024 3

STIPULATION AND ORDER REGARDING MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES

Federal Defendants seek additional time to attempt to settle the Authority’s claims without 

unnecessarily burdening the Court. The Authority and Federal Defendants agree that briefing and 

argument on the Authority’s claim for fees and other expenses may be unnecessary in light of the 

parties’ intent to attempt to settle the Authority’s claim.

4. Accordingly, the Authority and Federal Defendants agree that further proceedings 

on the Authority’s motion for an award of fees and other expenses, including the filing of further 

memoranda and evidentiary and other materials supporting that motion, and any opposition 

thereafter, should be stayed for 149 days to allow for settlement discussions. 

5. At the conclusion of 149 days, the Authority and Federal Defendants will apprise 

the Court of any settlement or further requested action, or jointly propose a briefing schedule to 

address the Authority’s motion for fees and other expenses if there has been no settlement. That 

schedule will provide for the Authority to supplement its motion for award of attorneys’ fees and 

other expenses with documentation of all time and expenses sought, including the additional time 

spent in seeking fees, opposition by the Federal Defendants, and reply by the Authority, with a 

hearing if the Court deems a hearing necessary. 

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

Court stay briefing and argument on the Authority’s concurrently filed motion for an award of 

attorneys’ fees and other expenses for 149 days from the date of the Court’s order granting such 

stay, in the manner provided above.

Respectfully submitted this 11th day of February, 2015.

Dated: February 10, 2015 DIEPENBROCK ELKIN, LLP

A Professional Corporation

By: /s/ Eileen M. Diepenbrock

Eileen M. Diepenbrock

Attorneys for Plaintiff, SAN LUIS & DELTAMENDOTA WATER AUTHORITY

Case 1:09-cv-00407-LJO-BAM Document 1144 Filed 02/11/15 Page 3 of 4
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1193323.1 10355-024 4

STIPULATION AND ORDER REGARDING MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES

Dated: February 10, 2015 KRONICK, MOSKOVITZ, TIEDEMANN & GIRARD

A Professional Corporation

By: /s/ Daniel J. O’Hanlon

Daniel J. O’Hanlon

Attorneys for Plaintiff, SAN LUIS & DELTAMENDOTA WATER AUTHORITY

Dated: February 10, 2015 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Environmental & Natural Resources Division

By: /s/ William Shapiro

William Shapiro, Trial Attorney

Attorneys for FEDERAL DEFENDANTS

ORDER

The Parties’ stipulation as set forth above is approved.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 11, 2015 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:09-cv-00407-LJO-BAM Document 1144 Filed 02/11/15 Page 4 of 4