Basin and Range Watch v. Bureau Of Land Management et al

Filing 11

ORDER Granting 8 Motion to Issue Non-Standard Summonses Pursuant to FRCP 12(a) and 5 U.S.C. Section 552(a)(4)(C). Signed by Magistrate Judge Peggy A. Leen on 3/9/16. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - TR)

Case 2:16-cv-00403-JCM-PAL Document 8 Filed 02/26/16 Page 1 of 3

1 WOLF, RIFKIN, SHAPIRO,
SCHULMAN & RABKIN, LLP
2 CHRISTOPHER W. MIXSON, ESQ.
Nevada Bar No. 10685
3 5594-B Longley Lane
Reno, Nevada 89511
4 [phone]/Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
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DAVID H. BECKER, ESQ. (Pro Hac Vice pending)
6 Oregon Bar No. 081507
Law Office of David H. Becker, LLC
7 917 SW Oak St., Suite 409
Portland, Oregon 97205
8 [phone]
[e-mail]
9
DAVID H. BAHR, ESQ. (Pro Hac Vice pending)
10 Oregon Bar No. 90199
Bahr Law Offices, P.C.
11 1035 1/2 Monroe St.
Eugene, Oregon 97402
12 [phone]
[e-mail]
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Attorneys for Plaintiff Basin and Range Watch
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF NEVADA

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BASIN AND RANGE WATCH,

Case No. 2:16-cv-00403-JCM-PAL

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Plaintiff,
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vs.
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BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT and
21 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
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Defendants.

REQUEST OF PLAINTIFF FOR ORDER
TO ISSUE NON-STANDARD
SUMMONSES PURSUANT TO FRCP
12(a) AND 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(C)
EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION
REQUESTED

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Plaintiff Basin and Range Watch respectfully requests that the Court order the Office of the

25 District Court Clerk to issue the attached Proposed Summonses in the above-captioned matter.
26 The proposed summonses are attached hereto as Exhibits 1 and 2.
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Good cause for this request exists because this action is brought pursuant to the Freedom

28 of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(B), which includes a statutory deviation from
Ex Parte Request to Issue Summonses

Case 2:16-cv-00403-JCM-PAL Document 8 Filed 02/26/16 Page 2 of 3

1 the otherwise standard timelines for defendants to respond to a complaint pursuant to the Federal
2 Rules of Civil Procedure. The standard Summons form does not provide the correct time for the
3 federal defendants in this case to serve a responsive pleading. The standard form provides the
4 default dates listed in Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a), namely 21 days, or 60 days if a defendant is the
5 United States or its agency. However, Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a) expressly provides that these standard
6 times apply “[u]nless another time is specified by this rule or a federal statute.” (Emphasis added).
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The federal FOIA statute provides “another time” for filing a responsive pleading as

8 contemplated by Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a). Under the FOIA, federal defendants have only 30 days to
9 answer: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the defendant shall serve an answer or
10 otherwise plead to any complaint made under this subsection within thirty days after service upon
11 the defendant of the pleading in which such complaint is made, unless the court otherwise directs
12 for good cause shown.” 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(C) (emphasis added).
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-2Ex Parte Request to Issue Summonses

Case 2:16-cv-00403-JCM-PAL Document 8 Filed 02/26/16 Page 3 of 3

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Accordingly, use of the form summons in this case is improper because it would indicate

2 the incorrect time for the federal defendants to serve a responsive pleading under the FOIA statute.
3 Basin and Range Watch respectfully requests that the Court order the Office of the District Court
4 Clerk to issue the attached Proposed Summonses that include the 30 day time for Defendants to
5 serve a responsive pleading.
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February 26, 2016

Respectfully submitted,
WOLF, RIFKIN, SHAPIRO,
SCHULMAN & RABKIN, LLP
By:

/s/ Christopher W. Mixson
CHRISTOPHER W. MIXSON, ESQ.
Nevada Bar No. 10685
3556 E. Russell Road, Second Floor
Las Vegas, Nevada 89120
[phone]/Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
DAVID H. BECKER, ESQ. (Pro Hac Vice
pending)
Oregon Bar No. 081507
Law Office of David H. Becker, LLC
917 SW Oak St, Suite 409
Portland, OR 97205
[phone]
[e-mail]

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DAVID A. BAHR, ESQ., (Pro Hac Vice pending)
Oregon Bar No. 90199
Bahr Law Offices, P.C.
1035 1/2 Monroe Street
Eugene, Oregon 97402
[phone]
[e-mail]

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Attorneys for Plaintiff Basin and Range Watch

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Dated: March 9, 2016
United States Magistrate Judge

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Ex Parte Request to Issue Summonses