Court Opinion

ID: 9857166
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 13:52:37.249783+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:38:05.242392
License: Public Domain

BISTLINE, Justice,
concurring in part.
On the realistic side, agreeing with the Court’s view that some reversal is required, I would reverse in toto. On remand the case will be heard by a different district judge. In addition to that brush with reality, I am not wholly persuaded that the Court correctly declares that the Jayos may have a claim to damages for the first lease term with respect to Circle C’s breach of the agreement, but not as to the second. Conceding that the federal government might not give anyone a grazing permit, on the other hand, it can and does do anything it wants to do. The party breaching an agreement is not in a position to argue that “even had Circle C not breached, the government would not have accepted Jayo as a permitee.” Rather, it was for Circle C to comply with its agreement, and let time alone tell what the federal government would do. Believing that speculation should be ruled out in this Court, and in the trial court as well, as to both years, but nevertheless not outright saying the majority is wrong in finding an ascertainable line of demarcation as to Jayo’s prospects for each of the two years, I would, on the remand, leave to the district judge to whom the case falls the right to decide as to both years, unfettered by this Court’s directions as to the limits of provable damages.