Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/218116757/1998-U-S-Dist-LEXIS-23835
Timestamp: 2014-12-28 09:11:21
Document Index: 231994631

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1331', '§ 1331', '§ 1345', '§ 1345', '§ 315', '§ 1701', '§ 1733', '§ 3', '§ 1732', '§ 1702', '§ 1702', '§ 1752']

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. CLIVEN BUNDY, Defendant.CV-S-98-531-JBR (RJJ)UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEVADA
1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23835 November 3, 1998, Decided November 4, 1998, Entered and ServedCOUNSEL: [*1] For United States of America,Plaintiff: Blaine T Welsh, Nadia Janjua Ahmed, LEADATTORNEYS, U.S. Attorney's Office, Las Vegas, NV;Stephen R Terrell, Terry M. Petrie, United StatesDepartment of Justice, Washington, DC.Cliven Bundy, Defendant, Pro se, Bunkerville, NV.
JUDGES: JOHNNIE B. RAWLINSON, United StatesDistrict Judge.
OPINION BY: JOHNNIE B. RAWLINSON
OPINIONORDER This matter comes before the Court on DefendantCliven Bundy's ("Bundy") Motion to Dismiss (#4),Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment (#11), and onBundy's Motion to Strike Motion for Summary Judgment(#14). Oppositions and Replies were filed for allmotions.
The United States filed a Complaint (#1) on March27, 1998 for injunctive relief to prevent Bundy's allegedunauthorized and unlawful grazing of livestock on property owned by the United States and administered bythe Secretary of the Interior, Bureau of LandManagement ("BLM"), and for trespass damages.Beginning about 1954, Bundy or his father or bothhave grazed livestock on public lands owned by theUnited States and administered by the BLM. For severalyears, Bundy or his father applied to the BLM to use theBunkerville Allotment ("Allotment") for livestock grazing and paid [*2] the BLM for the use of theAllotment. Beginning in March 1993, Bundy refused to pay the grazing bills or apply for use of the Allotment.From 1973 or before until 1993, the BLM issued toBundy's father and Bundy, as his father's representative,ephemeral grazing permits to graze livestock on theAllotment. Regions classed as ephemeral do notconsistently produce forage, but periodically provideannual vegetation suitable for livestock grazing. 33 FED. REG. 18245
. Before grazing on an ephemeral range, a person must submit an application to the BLM. TheBLM will determine if adequate forage is available andthat the use is consistent with all of the terms andconditions of the permit.The last grazing fees paid by Bundy to the BLM wasfor the period of December 1, 1992 to February 28, 1993.
Exhibit 7 to #11, Mot. Summ. Jud. The last grazingapplication was for the same period. See
Exhibit 8 to#11. The government contends Bundy did not haveauthorization to graze livestock on the Allotment after February 28, 1993.On February 26, 1993, Bundy sent anAdministrative Notice of Intent to the BLM, which statedhis intent to graze cattle "pursuant to my vested grazingrights." See
Exhibit [*3] 10 to #11. Bundy sent severalmore Administrative Notice[s] of Intent in the monthsthat followed. On June 16, 1993, the BLM sent Bundy aletter informing him that his application had not beenreceived to graze livestock for the June 15, 1993 toAugust 31, 1993 period. The BLM included another application for Bundy to fill out and return. See
Exhibit12 to #11. Bundy responded to the BLM letter withanother Administrative Notice and Intent, stating, amongother things, that the BLM has produced no documentsshowing it had jurisdiction over the public lands. See
Exhibit 13 to #11. The BLM began trespass detectionefforts at the end of June 1993.
Page 21998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23835, *On July 13, 1993, the BLM sent Bundy a Trespass Notice and Order to Remove and gave him ten days torespond. As requested by Bundy, the BLM informedBundy in a July 27, 1993 letter that it would extend theresponse time to 30 days. On August 19, 1993, Bundysent another Administrative Notice and Intent, stating theBLM lacked proof that it had jurisdiction. See
Exhibit 16to #11.On January 24, 1994, the BLM delivered a ProposedDecision Order to Remove and Demand for Payment toBundy by placing it on the dashboard of Bundy's vehiclewhile he [*4] was in the vehicle. BLM officials allegethat Bundy became agitated, walked out of his truck andaccused the BLM of harassing him. He then returned tohis truck, threw the decision out of the window and droveaway. One of Bundy's sons then picked up the decision,tore it into pieces and threw it on the ground.On February 17, 1994, the BLM issued a finaldecision canceling Bundy's ephemeral range grazing permit. On March 3, 1994, Bundy sent a check for $1,961.47 to Clark County for grazing fees. The BLMcalculated that this amount is equal to the amount Bundywould pay to graze 85 cattle on the Allotment for a 12-month period if the fees were paid to the BLM inadvance. Clark County returned the check to Bundy sinceit did not have jurisdiction over the Allotment.In March and April of 1994, the BLM sent letters toBundy requesting that he pay past due bills for grazingfees. Bundy responded by sending more administrativenotices. In December 1994, Bundy or his agents served aConstructive Notice on a contractor hired by the BLM togather wild horses and burros. In August 1995, the BLMsent Bundy another Trespass Notice and Order toRemove. Bundy responded by sending a Constructive Notice [*5] and Order to Stop, in which he againquestioned the United States' authority to manage theAllotment. See Exhibit 28 to #11.In September 1997, the BLM tried to set up ameeting with Bundy to resolve the trespasses, but Bundydeclined to meet with the BLM.The government contends it could have impoundedBundy's livestock, but it took no action because anyaction could have resulted in physical confrontation.Since the trespass detection efforts began in late June of 1993, the BLM has kept a record of observed livestock grazing on the Allotment.On April 17, 1998, Bundy, a pro se defendant, filedhis Answer and Motion to Dismiss (#4). Bundy allegedthat this Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case. On July22, 1998, the United States filed a Motion for SummaryJudgment (#11) requesting injunctive relief and damages.
A. Subject Matter Jurisdiction Bundy appears to argue in his Motion to Dismiss(#4) that the Complaint (#1) should be dismissed becausethis Court lacks jurisdiction since Article IV of theConstitution cannot be imposed upon him. Bundy claimsthat he is a citizen of Nevada and not a citizen of aterritory of the United States, and he also quotes religioustexts. [*6] Bundy also brings in the Property Clause
and International Treaty laws. Noneof these statutes, laws or other citations is relevant to the jurisdictional issue.Bundy is correct that federal courts have limited jurisdiction. However, this Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331
and 1345
. Section 1331
provides that:"[t]he district courts shall have original jurisdiction of allcivil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 1331
; Duncanv. Stuetzle, 76 F.3d 1480, 1485 (9th Cir. 1996)
. Section1345
provides that: "the district courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil actions, suits or proceedingscommenced by the United States ..." 28 U.S.C. § 1345
United States v. State of Hawaii, 832 F.2d 1116, 1117 (9th Cir. 1987)
.This Court thus has subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1345
because this civil suit was commenced by the United States.Federal laws regulating and managing federal publiclands are involved in this case where the governmentalleges Bundy is grazing livestock on federal landswithout authority and without paying the required fees.Congress enacted the Taylor Grazing Act [*7] ("TGA"),48 Stat. 1269, as amended, 43 U.S.C. § 315(f)
, in 1934 toregulate and preserve the federal lands. Public LandsCouncil v. Babbitt, 154 F.3d 1160, 1998 WL 559362, at *1 (10th Cir. 1998)
. Recognizing that the TGA had notadequately protected the federal lands, Congress in 1976enacted the Federal Land Policy and Management Act("FLPMA"), 43 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1785
. 154 F.3d 1160, Id.at *2
. The FLPMA provides that "the Attorney Generalmay institute a civil action in any United States districtcourt for an injunction or other appropriate order to prevent any person from utilizing public lands inviolation of regulations issued by the Secretary under thisAct." 43 U.S.C. § 1733(b)
. This Court therefore has jurisdiction under the FLPMA.In his Reply (#7), Bundy explains this action startedin 1992 when he received a "Full Force and EffectDecision Bunkerville Allotment" from the BLM. Reply(#7), p. 5. The letter to which Bundy refers is in factdated January 28, 1993. Bundy claims this "decisionconcerning the Desert Tortoise, if fully implemented,would lead to the end of ranching in Clark County," andhis ranching days would be over. Reply (#7), p. 5. The
Page 31998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23835, *decision from the BLM does not inform [*8] Bundy hecan no longer graze livestock due to the protection of theDesert Tortoise, but instead reminds Bundy that hisgrazing permit would end at the end of the next month,February 1993, and the new permit application wasattached to the decision. The decision informed Bundythe BLM would issue him a new ten-year federal grazing permit for the Bunkerville Allotment. Mot. Dism. (#4),Exh. E. The terms and conditions for the new federalgrazing permit allowed for livestock grazing with somerestrictions to be determined by the BLM. For example,if tortoises were found to be active in the early spring ina specific area, then grazing would not be allowed untilthe amount of spring ephemeral forage had grown to asufficient amount.Bundy alleges the BLM does not have"Constitutional authority" to make the full force andeffect decision. The Property Clause of the United StatesConstitution
gives Congress the power "to dispose of andmake all needful Rules and Regulations respecting theTerritory or other Property belonging to the UnitedStates." United States v. Gardner ("Gardner II"), 107 F.3d 1314, 1318 (9th Cir. 1997)
; U.S. CONST. art. IV, § 3, cl.2
. This Congressional power over [*9] the publiclands is without limitations. Gardner II, 107 F.3d at 1318
. Congress enacted the FLPMA, which instructs theSecretary of the Interior to manage through the BLM the public lands under the principles of multiple use andsustained yield. 43 U.S.C. § 1732(a)
. "Multiple use"requires managing the public lands and their resources sothat they "best meet the present and future needs of theAmerican people," and taking into account the long-termneeds of future generations for renewable andnonrenewable resources, including recreation, timber,wildlife and fish and scientific values. 43 U.S.C. § 1702(c)
. "Sustained yield" is defined as "the achievementand maintenance in perpetuity of a high-level annual or regular periodic output of the various renewableresources of the public lands consistent with multipleuse." Id.
§ 1702(h)
.The FLPMA provides the Secretary of the Interior with the authority to regulate grazing and issue grazing permits that require permittees to adhere to the terms andconditions of such permits. Id.
§ 1752(a)
. The Allotmentis administered by the Secretary of the Interior throughthe BLM, thus the BLM had authority to issue the fullforce and effect decision. [*10] The Allotment whereBundy and his father before him have been grazinglivestock is classed as an ephemeral region, which doesnot consistently produce forage. The BLM has authorityunder the FLPMA to place restrictions on grazing whenthe forage declines to a level that would defeat the goalsof multiple use and sustained yield.B. Summary Judgment Summary judgment may be granted when, viewed inthe light most favorable to the nonmoving party,
, "the pleadings, depositions,answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is nogenuine issue as to any material facts and that themoving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law."
; Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S.317, 323, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986)
.Summary judgment shall be entered "against a party whofails to make a showing sufficient to establish theexistence of an element essential to that party's case, andon which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial."
Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322
. Summary judgment [*11] shallnot be granted if a reasonable jury could return a verdictfor the nonmoving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986)
. The burden then shifts to thenonmoving party to set forth specific facts demonstratinga genuine factual issue for trial. Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 588-87 ; Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)
. The nonmoving party maynot rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his or her pleadings, but he or she must produce specific facts, byaffidavit or other evidentiary materials provided by Rule56(e)
, showing there is a genuine issue for trial.
Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256 ; Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)
. Theevidence of the nonmoving party is to be believed, andall justifiable inferences are to be drawn in thenonmoving party's favor. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255
.Bundy argues in his Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment (#14) that the Court should strike thegovernment's Motion for Summary Judgment (#11) because his Motion to Dismiss (#4) has not been ruledupon and thus the government's motion is "premature andunnecessary." [*12] Bundy's argument is unpersuasive.The plaintiff may move for summary judgment at anytime more than twenty days after the commencement of the action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a)
; G & G Fire Sprinklers, Inc. v. Bradshaw, 156 F.3d 893, 1998 WL 596442, at *9(9th Cir. 1998)
. The government filed the Complaint (#1)on March 27, 1998, and it filed its Motion for SummaryJudgment (#11) on July 22, 1998, almost four monthslater.Bundy argues since this Court does not have jurisdiction, it must deny the Motion for SummaryJudgment (#11). Bundy's argument fails again. Bundy'scitation of Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Environment,523 U.S. 83, 118 S. Ct. 1003, 140 L. Ed. 2d 210 (1998)
,does not help his case. The Supreme Court in Steel Activity (3)FiltersAdd to collectionReview Add NoteLikeShowingAllMost RecentReviewsAll NotesLikesYou've already reviewed this. Edit your review.Rating 0/5Post notePost reviewPost replyPost note and like1 thousand reads1 hundred readsEric Vought liked thisLoad more
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