Court Opinion

ID: 9600239
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:25:17.571163+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:04:42.653446
License: Public Domain

BYE, Circuit Judge,
concurring in the result and joining the dissent in part.
I conclude the district court’s decision to abstain from exercising jurisdiction under Colorado River Water Conservation District v. United States, 424 U.S. 800, 96 S.Ct. 1236, 47 L.Ed.2d 483 (1976), was an abuse of discretion. Thus, I concur in the result of the court’s decision reversing the district court. I agree, however, with the dissent’s view as to the Colorado River abstention doctrine applying to this dispute and with its rejection of the “originally filed” approach. I would hold that as a result of the Joint Venture’s breaeh-ofcontract counterclaim, the Nebraska lien and federal contract suits are parallel proceedings as they actually existed when the district court issued its abstention order. I would apply the Colorado River abstention doctrine as articulated by the dissent, but would hold the district court abused its discretion in declining to exercise jurisdiction.