Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00496/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00496-6/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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Peter M.K. Frost, pro hac vice

Western Environmental Law Center

1216 Lincoln Street

Eugene, Oregon 97401

541-485-2471; (f) 541-485-2457

frost@westernlaw.org

Julia A. Olson (CA Bar # 192642)

Wild Earth Advocates

2985 Adams Street

Eugene, Oregon 97405

541-344-7066; (f) 541-344-7061

jaoearth@aol.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

HIGH SIERRA HIKERS ASSOCIATION;

WILDERNESS WATCH,

Plaintiffs,

v.

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE;

JACK BLACKWELL; Regional Forester,

Forest Service Region 5; TOM QUINN,

Supervisor, Stanislaus National Forest, 

Defendants, 

CALIFORNIA TROUT, INC.,

TUOLUMNE COUNTY SPORTSMEN,

BACK COUNTRY SPORTSMEN,

KENNEDY MEADOWS RESORT, JAMES

PHELAN, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME,

 Defendants-Intervenors.

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Case No.: 1:05-CV-00496-AWI-DLB

PARTIES’ JOINT STIPULATION AND

ORDER RE: ATTORNEYS’ FEES,

COSTS, AND OTHER EXPENSES

UNDER THE EQUAL ACCESS TO

JUSTICE ACT

Case 1:05-cv-00496-AWI-DLB Document 158 Filed 03/20/07 Page 1 of 4
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27 JOINT STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER RE: ATTORNEYS’ FEES, 1:05-CV-00496-AWI-DLB - 1-

Plaintiffs Wilderness Watch et al. (“Plaintiffs”) and Defendants United States Forest

Service et al. (“Forest Service”) hereby jointly stipulate to and state the following: 

Whereas, Plaintiffs filed a complaint alleging that certain Forest Service actions related to

dam structures in the Emigrant Wilderness violated the Wilderness Act and the National

Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), and requested declaratory and injunctive relief;

Whereas, the Court issued a declaratory judgment that the Forest Service violated the

Wilderness Act, but not NEPA, and issued certain injunctive relief;

Whereas, on November 1, 2006, the Forest Service filed a notice of appeal from the

Court’s judgment in this case;

Whereas, on February 13, 2007, the Forest Service moved to voluntarily dismiss its

appeal of the Court’s judgment, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

granted the motion on February 16, 2007;

Whereas, Plaintiffs and the Forest Service agree that it is in the interest of the parties and

judicial economy to settle Plaintiffs’ claim for attorneys’ fees, costs, and other expenses under

the Equal Access to Justice Act, without further litigation; and 

Whereas, the Parties enter this stipulation without any admission of fact or law, or waiver

of any claims or defenses, factual or legal.

Now, therefore, it is stipulated by and between the parties as follows:

1. This motion is jointly submitted in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,

and the Local Rules of this Court, and the parties hereby respectfully move the Court to approve

this stipulation and sign the [proposed] order.

2. The Forest Service will pay agrees to settle all of Plaintiffs ninety eight thousand and five

hundred dollars ($98,500) in full settlement of Plaintiffs’ claim for attorneys’ fees, costs, and

other expenses related to this litigation, through and including the date this stipulation is approved

by the Court. Payment shall be made within sixty (60) days of the date this stipulation is

approved by the Court.

Case 1:05-cv-00496-AWI-DLB Document 158 Filed 03/20/07 Page 2 of 4
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27 JOINT STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER RE: ATTORNEYS’ FEES, 1:05-CV-00496-AWI-DLB - 1-

3. Plaintiffs agree to accept payment of $98,500 in full satisfaction of any and all claims for

attorneys’ fees, costs, and other expenses related to this litigation, through and including the date

of the Court’s order.

4. This stipulation is the result of compromise and settlement, is based on and limited solely

to the facts involved in this case, and shall not be construed as an admission of liability by either

party, nor shall the settlement be cited in any other litigation except as necessary to enforce the

terms of this stipulation. The Forest Service does not waive any defenses it may have concerning

the claims settled under this stipulation. This stipulation as to attorneys’ fees, costs, and other

expenses has no precedential value in any other litigation related to attorneys’ fees, costs, or other

expenses. By this agreement, the Forest Service does not waive any right to contest fees claimed

by Wilderness Watch or Wilderness Watch’s counsel, including hourly rates, in any future

litigation. This stipulation shall not be interpreted as, or constitute, a commitment or requirement

that the Forest Service is to obligated or must pay funds, or take any other action, that contravenes

the Anti-Deficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. sec. 1341.

5. Nothing in this stipulation shall be construed as an admission by the Forest Service that its

position was not substantially justified.

6. The undersigned representatives of the Parties certify that they are fully authorized by the

party or parties whom they represent to enter into the terms and conditions of this Stipulated

Agreement and legally bind the parties to it.

Dated: March 19, 2007. Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Peter M.K. Frost 

Peter M.K. Frost

/s/ Julia A. Olson 

Julia A. Olson

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

Case 1:05-cv-00496-AWI-DLB Document 158 Filed 03/20/07 Page 3 of 4
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27 JOINT STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER RE: ATTORNEYS’ FEES, 1:05-CV-00496-AWI-DLB - 1-

McGregor W. Scott

United States Attorney

/s/ E. Robert Wright 

E. Robert Wright

Assistant United States Attorney

Attorneys for Defendants

PURSUANT TO THE STIPULATION OF THE PARTIES,

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 19, 2007 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-00496-AWI-DLB Document 158 Filed 03/20/07 Page 4 of 4