Court Opinion

ID: 9546213
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:26:11.288791+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:16:09.349264
License: Public Domain

ROONEY, Justice,
dissenting.
The grazing rights in question were granted by the BLM. They were attached to base property of the Bar K-B Ranch. The issues in this case arise from an effort by the parties to circumvent the requirement of the BLM that the grazing rights be attached to base property. An attempt was made to place the rights in limbo until the Redlands acquired base property to which the rights could be transferred. Of record, the rights were to remain attached to Malmbergs’ property, but the conflict here arose because of the efforts to thwart the BLM requirement.
Accordingly, I believe the parties come to our courts with dirty hands. I would not grant relief to any of them, but would leave them as they were. He who comes into equity must come in with clean hands. Walker v. Board of County Commissioners, Albany County, Wyo., 644 P.2d 772 (1982); Takahashi v. Pepper Tank & Contracting Company, 58 Wyo. 330, 131 P.2d 339 (1942); Wettlin v. Jones, 32 Wyo. 446, 234 P. 515, reh. denied 236 P. 247 (1925).
I would reverse the judgment granting specific performance and awarding damages and direct the district court to dismiss the causes presented by .all parties. BLM may then concern itself with disposition of the grazing rights, hopefully as it should have done when it first received knowledge of the manipulation thereof.