Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00407/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00407-22/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

 

DELTA SMELT CONSOLIDATED 

CASES 

SAN LUIS & DELTA-MENDOTA 

WATER AUTHORITY, et al. v. 

SALAZAR, et al. 

STATE WATER CONTRACTORS v. 

SALAZAR, et al. 

COALITION FOR A SUSTAINABLE 

DELTA, et al. v. UNITED 

STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE 

SERVICE, et al. 

METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT 

v. UNITED STATES FISH AND 

WILDLIFE SERVICE, et al. 

STEWART & JASPER ORCHARDS et 

al. v. UNITED STATES FISH 

AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. 

1:09-CV-407 OWW DLB 

 

ORDER RE APPOINTMENT OF F.R. 

EVID. 706 EXPERTS 

 

 The parties have submitted extensive written and oral 

argument on the appointment of court-appointed experts 

pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 706. Although the 

nature and/or extent of the need for expert assistance will 

not be known until the cross motions for summary judgment are 

filed, the following individuals are selected from those 

nominated by the parties: 

1. Mr. Paul Fujitani is selected as a 706 expert on the 

subject of CVP project operations. Mr. Fujitani, who 

Case 1:09-cv-00407-LJO-BAM Document 394 Filed 11/13/09 Page 1 of 4
 

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is an employee of Defendant Bureau of Reclamation, 

will not be deposed or required to testify in 

connection with his service as a 706 Expert. His 

communications with the court shall not be considered 

ex parte, as they will be duly documented and made 

part of the record. 

2. Dr. Thomas P. Quinn is selected as a 706 expert on 

fisheries biology, estuarine ecology, and fish 

migration and movement. Dr. Quinn has a background 

in fish population dynamics, which necessarily 

requires some expertise in statistics. He may be 

called upon to utilize this expertise as well, in a 

nonduplicative manner. 

3. Dr. Andre Punt is selected as a 706 expert on fish 

population dynamics and statistics. Dr. Punt will 

not be requested to provide his post-decisional 

research on analyzing the “effects of diversion” 

among “all stressors” on listed Central Valley 

salmonids. 

4. John Lehigh, an employee of the California Department 

of Water Resources, is selected as an expert on State 

Water project operations, if necessary. The same 

conditions that apply to Mr. Fujitani as a government 

employee shall apply to Mr. Lehigh. 

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Any costs incurred for the court’s use of any of these 

experts shall be borne according to the following formula: 

• Plaintiffs, as the parties seeking appointment of a 

706 expert, shall bear 75% of the cost; 

• Federal Defendants shall bear 20% of the cost; 

• Defendant Intervenors, as non-profit organizations 

with limited resources, shall bear a nominal, 5% of 

the cost. 

The parties are requested to consult with each other and 

the courtroom deputy, to set a status conference, at which 

Dr. Quinn and Dr. Punt may appear telephonically, to discuss 

logistical issues related to their expert appointments, 

including, but not limited to: 

• The experts’ views as to: 

o the extent of preliminary work they will need 

to perform to prepare for any questions 

propounded to them; 

o the amount of time needed to perform this 

preparatory work; 

o what additional information, if any, they will 

need from the Administrative Record to perform 

their work in this case; 

o their availability to consult with the court; 

The parties’ views as to: 

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o the manner and method by which the district 

court shall propound questions to the experts 

and how any answers shall be recorded for the 

record; 

o Whether written questions to and written 

responses by the experts shall be provided; 

o Whether and, if so, on what conditions 

discovery of any opinions of Dr. Quinn and Dr. 

Punt shall be permitted. 

 

SO ORDERED 

DATED: November 13, 2009 

 

 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

 Oliver W. Wanger 

United States District Judge 

 

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