Document: 508 U.S. 1 113 S.Ct. 1893 123 L.Ed.2d 563 UNITED STATES, Petitionerv.IDAHO, EX REL. DIRECTOR, IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES. No. 92-190. Argued March 29, 1993. Decided May 3, Syllabus* The McCarran Amendment allows a State to join the United States as defendant in comprehensive water right adjudication. It also provides, however, that "no judgment for costs shall be entered against any such suit." Idaho legislation enacted 1985 and 1986 provided state-court adjudication "within terms of [A]mendment" all rights Snake River Basin. altered State's methods financing adjudications by requiring claimants pay filing fee. uses these funds administrative judicial expenses attributable adjudications. After petition under naming other users defendants, refused accept Federal Government's notices claims because they were not submitted with required fees. estimates its case fees could exceed $10 million. then filed writ mandamus compel without fees, asserting does waive federal sovereign immunity from payment District Court granted summary on this issue, Supreme affirmed. Held: States' kind sought Idaho. While "fees" "costs" generally mean two different things context lawsuits, line is blurred, indeed, proceeding. Whereas courts used proportionately tax parties at time final was entered, many items formerly taxed are now denominated "fees," paid into court outset. Moreover, although Amendment's language making "the laws" applicable submits Government state procedural law, well substantive law rights, it subject question. This has been particularly alert require specific waiver before may held liable monetary exactions litigation. See, e.g., v. Chemical Foundation, Inc., 272 1, 20-21, 47 8, 71 L.Ed. 131. sufficiently meet requirement. Pp. ____. 122 116, 832 P.2d 289 (1992), reversed remanded. REHNQUIST, C.J., delivered opinion Court, which WHITE, BLACKMUN, O'CONNOR, SCALIA, KENNEDY, SOUTER, THOMAS, JJ., joined. STEVENS, J., an concurring judgment. Jeffrey Minear, Washington, DC, petitioner. Clive J. Strong, Boise, ID, respondent. djQ Chief Justice REHNQUIST Court. 66 Stat. 560, 43 U.S.C. § 666(a). arises Idaho's joinder suit River. Under Code 42-1414 (1990), claimants, including States, must "filing fees" when submit their claims. collects "financ[e] adjudicating rights," 42-1414; We hold kind. 2 Discovered Lewis Clark expedition, "Mississippi Idaho"—is 1,038 miles long principal tributary Columbia rises mountains Continental Divide northwest Wyoming enters eastern through Palisades Reservoir. Near Heise, Idaho, river leaves meanders westerly across southern plain entire breadth State—some 400 miles. On western edge near Weiser, Oregon while turns northward, forming Oregon-Idaho boundary 216 In stretch, traverses Hells Canyon, Nation's deepest gorge. From northeastern corner Oregon, marks Washington-Idaho until Lewiston, where bends westward Washington finally flows just south Pasco, Washington. elevations 10,000 feet, descends 3,000 feet and, together tributaries, provides only most See T. Palmer, (1991). 3 litigation followed enactment Legislature providing Basin Adjudication. That stated director department resources [state] district commence within [A]mendment." 42-1406A(1) (1990). "financing rights"; Director Department Water Resources "notice claim" claimant unless notice "is fee based upon schedule." 42-1414. "Failure variable use accordance timetable cause reject return claim claimant." "to general adjudications" directly relating adjudication." §§ 42-1777(1) (2). 4 Fifth Judicial defendants. order commencing adjudication, affirmed re System, 115 764 78 (1988), cert. denied sub nom. Boise-Kuna Irrigation Dist. 490 1005, 109 1639, 104 155 (1989). When attempted unaccompanied them. issue: "The ordinary, contemporary common meaning Congress waived assert facet . being conducted law." App. Pet. Cert. 86a (emphasis original). 5 divided vote. Dept. (1992). concluded "express[es] 'clear intent' congress processes 'adjudication' sole exception costs." Id., 121, P.2d, 294. "decline[d] read term fees." 122, 295. charges prevailing party recover opponent part judgment, "fees compensation officer, court, services rendered individuals course litigation." Ibid. Two justices wrote separate dissents, certiorari, 506 ----, 373, --- ---- reverse. 6 relevant part: 7 "Consent given (1) system or source, (2) administration appears owner process acquiring appropriation purchase, exchange, otherwise, necessary suit. suit, deemed have plead laws inapplicable amenable thereto reason sovereignty, judgments, orders, decrees having jurisdiction, obtain review thereof, same manner extent private individual like circumstances: Provided, no 8 According amendment requires comply argues first sentence amendment, provision, suits rights. construes amendment's second sentence, pleading pursuant those conducted. relies heavily stating "deemed inapplicable." Because issue here assessed connection contends fall immunity. 9 hand, critical renders adjective governing procedure, like. supports position arguing phrase referring "State law" mentioned since clearly directed so well. 10 There doubt waivers "unequivocally expressed" statutory text. Irwin Veterans Affairs, 498 89, 95, 111 453, 457, 112 435 (1990); Energy Ohio, 503 1627, 118 255 (1992); Nordic Village, 1011, 117 181 "Any strictly construed favor States," Ardestani INS, 502 515, 520, 116 496 (1991), enlarged beyond what statute requires, Ruckelshaus Sierra Club, 463 680, 685-686, 103 3274, 3277-3278, 77 938 (1983). But " 'we should take ourselves extend intended[,] [n]either, we assume authority narrow intended.' Smith 507 1178, 1183, 548 (1993) (quoting Kubrick, 444 111, 117-118, 100 352, 357, 62 259 (1979)). 11 unable either party's contention. argument weak, simply matter grammar, laws," corresponding And construction would render consent largely nugatory, allowing argue some special rule defeating established state-law rules pleading, discovery, admissibility evidence trial. do believe intended create legal no-man's land enacting Amendment. rejected similarly technical construing Eagle County, 401 525, 91 998, 1002, 28 278 (1971), saying "[w]e think extremely technical; decline confine [the Amendment] narrowly." 12 several our cases exemplifying strict immunity, efforts assess liability normal incidents between parties. 131 (1926) (assessment costs); Library Shaw, 478 310, 323, 106 2957, 2966, 92 250 (1986) (recovery interest judgment); supra, U.S., S.Ct., (liability punitive fines). "cost proviso," course, expressly forbids assessment States: "[N]o States." 13 pointed out 295, agree observation. "Fees" amounts public official, clerk particular typically delineated statute; contrast, expense incurred allowed losing party. C. Wright, A. Miller, & M. Kane, Practice Procedure 2666, pp. 173-174 Before recovering conducting 1986, courts, entry 42-1401 (1948). revised system, conclusion suggests distinction accurate, proceeding indeed. 14 therefore proposition subjects sort exact here. above dealing show 15 reversed, remanded further proceedings inconsistent opinion. 16 ordered. 17 18 As points out, ante, ____, comparable I am persuaded precisely had mind excepted judgments broad participation adjudications, concur Court's * syllabus constitutes but prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 26 282, 287, 50 499.

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