Case Detail

FOIA Project Annotation: A federal court in Colorado has ruled that Rocky Mountain Wild has failed to state a claim for relief pertaining to its FOIA suit against the Bureau of Land Management since the agency has now responded and there is no evidence of a policy or practice on the part of the agency to delay processing the organization's FOIA requests. Rocky Mountain Wild submitted a FOIA request for records concerning the agency's proposed March 2018 oil and gas leasing of specified parcels. The agency took a 10-day extension and after 30 days provided an interim response of 140 pages. Three weeks later, BLM disclosed a final response containing 1,595 pages. Rocky Mountain Wild then filed suit, claiming that the agency had missed the statutory deadline, that the agency's behavior required referral to the Office of Special Counsel for sanctions, and that the agency had a policy or practice of failing to respond to requests on time. Rocky Mountain Wild argued that its first claim that the agency had missed its statutory deadline was made to establish constructive exhaustion of remedies. However, the court pointed out that "BLM does not argue that Rocky Mountain Wild failed to exhaust administrative remedies, and in any event an allegation that establishes constructive exhaustion is not a claim for relief, any more than an allegation to establish federal subject matter jurisdiction is a claim for relief." The court pointed out that BLM had mooted Rocky Mountain Wild's timeliness claim by completing its request. The court observed that "BLM went through the normal FOIA process (albeit more slowly than Rocky Mountain Wild would prefer), issued a final determination, and closed the FOIA request. If this Court later determines that BLM improperly withheld documents, it would mean that BLM's 'final determination' was incomplete, but not any less final from the agency's perspective. FOIA requests are not deemed open indefinitely until a court approves the agency's response." The court then pointed out that while Rocky Mountain Wild could ask the court to refer the agency to the Office of Special Counsel for a determination as to whether the agency's behavior should be sanctioned, under FOIA such a process was not available until the court determined that the plaintiff had substantially prevailed and awarded attorney's fees. Dismissing the sanctions claim, the court noted that "a cause of action that cannot be resolved until after judgment is essentially a contradiction in terms. The Court accordingly agrees with BLM that a request for a Special Counsel referral is a remedy, not a cause of action." The court rejected Rocky Mountain Wild's claim that the agency had a policy or practice of misallocating resources that slowed down its ability to respond to FOIA requests, or purposely prolonging responses to prevent public interest groups from meeting public comment deadlines.
Issues: Litigation - Jurisdiction - Failure to State a Claim

FOIA Project Annotation: A federal court in Colorado has ruled that except for its interpretation of the scope of the FOIA request submitted by Rocky Mountain Wild the Bureau of Land Management conducted an adequate search and has rejected Rocky Mountain Wild's request for discovery. Rocky Mountain Wild submitted a FOIA request to BLM's Colorado field office involving proposed oil and gas leasing of parcels in and around occupied Gunnison sage-grouse habitat. The request also referenced seven specific parcels. Based on where the parcels were located, the Colorado field office decided to search the Tres Rios field office and the state office's Branch of Fluid Materials as most likely to have responsive records. The agency disclosed more than 1,700 records in two installments before Rocky Mountain Wild filed suit. The agency then provided a final third installment of 346 pages, some with redactions. The agency also indicated that it was withholding 63 pages in full. The agency conducted a supplemental search which yielded 320 additional pages, redacting 27 pages and withholding 76 pages. Rocky Mountain Wild challenged the adequacy of the search, arguing that the agency should have searched its Washington office as well and should have expanded the search terms. District Court Judge William Martinez \rejected those claims but agreed with Rocky Mountain Wild that the agency had improperly narrowed the scope of the request to only the seven parcels Rocky Mountain Wild referenced. Martinez pointed out that "there is no reasonable basis to think that Rocky Mountain Wild was genuinely interested in only a subset of parcels considered for that lease sale, to the exclusion of any others." Because BLM had agreed to conduct a supplemental search, Rocky Mountain Wild argued that it should have broadened the temporal scope of its search. Rejecting the claim, Martinez noted that "if the Court were to hold in these circumstances that an agreement to conduct a supplemental search obligates the agency to expand the temporal scope of the search vastly beyond the original temporal scope, agencies would have little incentive to pursue the compromise that BLM pursued in this case."
Issues: Search - Reasonableness of search, Request - Specificity

FOIA Project Annotation: A federal court in Colorado has ruled that the Bureau of Land Management conducted an adequate search in response to a 2017 FOIA request from Rock Mountain Wild for records concerning whether specific identified parcels were being considered for oil and gas leases. The list of specific identified parcels was based on BLM's public announcement. The agency conducted searches for the parcel numbers, but in his first ruling in the case, Judge William Martinez faulted the agency for failing to search for records for several parcels that had also been considered but did not make the final list. After Martinez ordered the agency to search for those parcel numbers as well, the agency conducted a second search. That search yielded an additional 37 pages, which were produced to Rocky Mountain Wild. Rocky Mountain Wild argued that the second search was too narrow and that if the agency used the same search terms as in the initial search it would have located more records. Martinez disagreed. He noted that "even assuming that the Court's directive could be liberally construed to include taking new custodians to search for records relating to the New Parcels and the Proposed Parcels, the Court finds that BLM's search was reasonable under the circumstances." The agency staffer who oversaw the second search had decided that two employees who had records responsive to the first stage search were not likely to have any further records because the staffer found their records were duplicative of those collected from the other 30 custodians whose records were searched. Martinez pointed out that "it is conceivable that [those two employees] may have additional documents that have not been captured by the Prior Searches and BLM's search for records relating to the New Parcels. However, 'the issue is not whether any further documents might conceivably exist but rather whether the government's search for responsive documents was adequate, which is determined under a standard of reasonableness, and is dependent upon the circumstances of the case.'" He noted that 'based on the totality of the facts of this case, the Court concludes that BLM acted in good faith and expended extensive efforts to comply with Rocky Mountain Wil's FOIA request and the Court's directive. Rocky Mountain Wild has not produced evidence contradicting the adequacy of BLM's search or evidence of BLM's bad faith. Thus, the Court finds that BLM's search, which was reasonable in scope and intensity, complies with its FOIA obligations."
Issues: Adequacy - Search

Date Filed	Doc #	Docket Text
2018-02-08	1	COMPLAINT against Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior (Filing fee $ 400,Receipt Number 1082-5936742)Attorney Matthew David Sandler added to party Rocky Mountain Wild(pty:pla), filed by Rocky Mountain Wild. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 FOIA Request, # 2 Exhibit 2 December 5 Response, # 3 Exhibit 3 December 28 Response, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Summons BLM, # 6 Summons DOI, # 7 Summons USAG, # 8 Summons USAO)(Sandler, Matthew) (Entered: 02/08/2018)
2018-02-08	2	Case assigned to Judge William J. Martinez and drawn to Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak. Text Only Entry. (cmadr, ) (Entered: 02/08/2018)
2018-02-08	3	Magistrate Judge consent form issued pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 636(c). (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons) (cmadr, ) (Entered: 02/08/2018)
2018-02-09	4	NOTICE OF CASE ASSOCIATION by Matthew David Sandler on behalf of Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc. (Sandler, Matthew) (Entered: 02/09/2018)
2018-02-12	5	ORDER REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak. Magistrate Judge Varholak, or such other Magistrate Judge who may in the future be reassigned to this case, is designated to conduct NDISPO proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B) and Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(a) and (b). ALSO ORDERED that unless service has otherwise been completed or arranged, Plaintiff's counsel is directed to effect service of the summons and complaint pursuant to Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure no later than 30 days from the date of this Referral Order, in order for the initial scheduling conference to be held promptly. Court sponsored alternative dispute resolution is governed by D.C.COLO.LCivR 16.6. On the recommendation or informal request of the Magistrate Judge or on the request of the parties by motion, the court may direct the parties to engage in an early neutral evaluation, a settlement conference, or another alternative dispute resolution proceeding. SO ORDERED by Judge William J. Martinez on 2/12/2018. Text Only Entry (wjmsec, ) (Entered: 02/12/2018)
2018-02-12	6	ORDER: Counsel for the parties and all counsel who may later enter an appearance shall review and familiarize themselves with the undersigned's Revised Practice Standards (as most recently revised effective December 1, 2017 and as they may be amended from time to time), which may be downloaded here . SO ORDERED by Judge William J. Martinez on 2/ 12/2018. Text Only Entry (wjmsec, ) (Entered: 02/12/2018)
2018-03-21	7	Joint MOTION for Extension of Time to file Amended Complaint and Responsive Pleading by Plaintiff Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. (Sandler, Matthew) (Entered: 03/21/2018)
2018-03-22	8	NOTICE of Entry of Appearance by Lauren Marie Dickey on behalf of United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of InteriorAttorney Lauren Marie Dickey added to party United States Bureau of Land Management(pty:dft), Attorney Lauren Marie Dickey added to party United States Department of Interior(pty:dft) (Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 03/22/2018)
2018-03-22	9	MEMORANDUM regarding 7 Joint MOTION for Extension of Time to file Amended Complaint and Responsive Pleading filed by Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. Motions referred to Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak by Judge William J. Martinez on 3/22/2018. Text Only Entry (wjmsec, ) (Entered: 03/22/2018)
2018-03-22	10	ORDER granting 7 Motion for Extension of Time to File Amended Complaint and Response. Plaintiffs are granted leave to file an amended complaint on or before April 3, 2018. Defendants shall file their response to the Amended Complaint on or before April 24, 2018. SO ORDERED, by Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 3/22/2018. Text Only Entry (stvlc1, ) (Entered: 03/22/2018)
2018-03-26	11	ORDER Setting Scheduling Conference for 5/30/2018 11:00 AM in Courtroom C203 before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak, by Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 3/26/2018. (jgonz, ) (Entered: 03/26/2018)
2018-04-03	12	AMENDED COMPLAINT against United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, filed by Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Amended Complaint, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit 4 _ March 6 Response)(Sandler, Matthew) (Entered: 04/03/2018)
2018-04-24	13	Partial MOTION to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim , Partial MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 04/24/2018)
2018-05-15	14	RESPONSE to 13 Partial MOTION to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim Partial MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction filed by Plaintiff Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Stills, Travis) (Entered: 05/15/2018)
2018-05-17	15	Joint MOTION to Vacate 11 Order Setting Scheduling Conference and Related Deadlines by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 05/17/2018)
2018-05-17	16	MEMORANDUM regarding 15 Joint MOTION to Vacate 11 Order Setting Scheduling Conference and Related Deadlines filed by United States Department of Interior, United States Bureau of Land Management. Motions referred to Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak by Judge William J. Martinez on 5/17/2018. Text Only Entry (wjmsec, ) (Entered: 05/17/2018)
2018-05-17	17	ORDER granting 15 Joint Motion to Vacate Scheduling Conference and Related Deadlines. The Scheduling Conference for 5/30/2018 11:00 AM is VACATED. Within ten days after the ruling on 13 Defendants' Partial MOTION to Dismiss, counsel for the parties shall jointly contact chambers at 303.335.2365 to reset the Scheduling Conference. A Status Conference is set for 11/16/2018 09:00 AM in Courtroom C203 before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak. SO ORDERED, by Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 5/17/2018. Text Only Entry (stvlc1, ) (Entered: 05/17/2018)
2018-05-29	18	REPLY to Response to 13 Partial MOTION to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim Partial MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction filed by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 05/29/2018)
2018-11-16	19	MINUTE ENTRY for Status Conference held before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 11/16/2018. ORDERED: Parties shall contact Magistrate Judge Varholak chambers at (303)335-2365 ten days upon the Motion [Doc. No. 13] being ruled on to set this for hearing. FTR: STV - 402. (morti, ) (Entered: 11/16/2018)
2019-01-16	20	ORDER: 1. Defendants' Partial Motion to Dismiss 13 is GRANTED; 2. U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak shall determine the effect, if any, of the current partial government shutdown on Defendants' ability to proceed with this case and may enter appropriate scheduling or other orders; and 3. Assuming Defendants may currently proceed with the lawsuit, or at the time that they may, the parties are strongly encouraged to consider the utility of requesting a settlement conference before the Magistrate Judge, considering the relatively narrow scope of the remaining dispute. SO ORDERED by Judge William J. Martinez on 01/16/2019. (wjmlc1) (Entered: 01/16/2019)
2019-01-17	21	MINUTE ORDER This matter is set for a Status Conference on 2/25/2019 09:30 AM in Courtroom A 402 before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak. SO ORDERED, by Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 1/17/2019. Text Only Entry (stvlc1, ) (Entered: 01/17/2019)
2019-02-22	22	MINUTE ORDER Per the request of the parties, the Status Conference set for 2/25/2019 09:30 AM is VACATED and RESET for 3/12/2019 10:30 AM in Courtroom A 402 before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak. SO ORDERED, by Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 2/22/2019. Text Only Entry (stvlc1, ) (Entered: 02/22/2019)
2019-03-12	23	MINUTE ENTRY for Status Conference held before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 3/12/2019. Status Report due on or before 5/1/2019. FTR: 402. (morti, ) (Entered: 03/12/2019)
2019-05-01	24	Joint STATUS REPORT by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 05/01/2019)
2019-05-01	25	MINUTE ORDER. Pursuant to 24 Status Report, the parties shall file an additional Status Report on or before 5/22/2019, advising the Court whether there is any basis to continue settlement discussions, or alternatively, proposing an agreed-upon summary judgment schedule or requesting a status conference to address scheduling matters. SO ORDERED, by Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 5/1/2019. Text Only Entry (stvlc2, ) (Entered: 05/01/2019)
2019-05-22	26	Joint STATUS REPORT by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 05/22/2019)
2019-05-23	27	MINUTE ORDER This matter is before the Court on 26 Joint Status Report. Plaintiff's portion of the Joint Status Report was prepared prior to Plaintiff's counsel being provided a draft of Defendant's portion of the Joint Status Report, and thus Plaintiff does not directly respond to Defendant's proposal "to take additional steps to respond to concerns raised by Plaintiff." Accordingly, on or before 5/30/2019, Plaintiff shall file a response to Defendant's portion of the Joint Status Report. SO ORDERED, by Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 5/23/2019. Text Only Entry (stvlc1, ) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-31	28	RESPONSE to Status Report by Plaintiff Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Stills, Travis) (Entered: 05/31/2019)
2019-05-31	29	MINUTE ORDER. Status Conference set for 6/6/2019 10:30 AM in Courtroom A 402 before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak. SO ORDERED, by Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 5/31/2019. Text Only Entry (stvlc2, ) (Entered: 05/31/2019)
2019-06-05	30	MINUTE ORDER Per the request of the parties, the Status Conference set for 6/6/2019 10:30 AM is VACATED and RESET for 6/25/2019 10:30 AM in Courtroom A 402 before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak. The parties may participate in the conference telephonically by initiating a call among all individuals participating by telephone and then calling the Court at 303.335.2365 at the scheduled time. SO ORDERED, by Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 6/05/2019. Text Only Entry (stvlc1, ) (Entered: 06/05/2019)
2019-06-25	31	MINUTE ENTRY for Status Conference held before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 6/25/2019. FTR: 402. (morti, ) (Entered: 06/25/2019)
2019-06-25	32	Joint MOTION to Amend/Correct/Modify Briefing Schedule by Plaintiff Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. (Sandler, Matthew) (Entered: 06/25/2019)
2019-06-25	33	MEMORANDUM regarding 32 Joint MOTION to Amend/Correct/Modify Briefing Schedule filed by Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. Motions referred to Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak by Judge William J. Martinez on 6/25/2019. Text Only Entry (wjmsec, ) (Entered: 06/25/2019)
2019-06-26	34	ORDER granting 32 Motion to Amend Briefing Schedule. Defendants shall file their Summary Judgment Brief by 7/19/2019, and Plaintiff shall then file its response to Defendants' Motion and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment by 8/20/2019. Defendants shall file their response to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion and Reply in support of their Motion for Summary Judgment by 9/27/2019, and Plaintiff may then file a reply in support of its Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment by 10/17/2019. SO ORDERED, by Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak on 6/26/2019. Text Only Entry(stvlc1, ) (Entered: 06/26/2019)
2019-07-19	35	MOTION for Summary Judgment by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit)(Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 07/19/2019)
2019-08-20	36	RESPONSE to 35 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Plaintiff Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit BLM0004510-4514, # 2 Exhibit BLM004520, # 3 Exhibit March 2018 Leasing DNA, # 4 Exhibit RMP FEIS List of Preparers, # 5 Exhibit July 19, 2019 Docs Part 1, # 6 Exhibit July 19, 2019 Redacted Docs, # 7 Exhibit 18-cv-1643 AR Index, # 8 Exhibit Email Thread 003, # 9 Exhibit Colorado's March 2018 Sale, # 10 Exhibit Plaintiff's April 26 Letter)(Sandler, Matthew) (Entered: 08/20/2019)
2019-08-20	37	Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by Plaintiff Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. (Sandler, Matthew) (Entered: 08/20/2019)
2019-09-27	38	REPLY to Response to 35 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit)(Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 09/27/2019)
2019-09-27	39	RESPONSE to 37 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 09/27/2019)
2019-10-17	40	REPLY to Response to 37 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Plaintiff Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. (Sandler, Matthew) (Entered: 10/17/2019)
2020-03-23	41	ORDER granting in part and denying in part Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment 35 ; and denying Plaintiff's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment or in the Alternative for a Stay of Briefing and Leave to Carry Out Rule 56(d) Discovery 37 , by Judge William J. Martinez on 03/23/2020. (wjmlc1) (Entered: 03/23/2020)
2020-04-22	42	Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to Submit Summary Judgment Motion by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 04/22/2020)
2020-04-22	43	ORDER granting Defendants' Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to Submit Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment 42 . Defendants are granted leave, for good cause shown, to file a new summary judgment motion on or before May 8, 2020 . NO FURTHER EXTENSION OF THIS FILING DEADLINE WILL BE GRANTED. SO ORDERED by Judge William J. Martinez on 4/22/2020. Text Only Entry(wjmsec, ) (Entered: 04/22/2020)
2020-05-08	44	Renewed MOTION for Summary Judgment by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Hinojosa Decl. in Support of Renewed Summary Judgment Motion)(Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 05/08/2020)
2020-05-29	45	RESPONSE to 44 Renewed MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Plaintiff Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit)(Sandler, Matthew) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-06-14	46	REPLY to Response to 44 Renewed MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Defendants United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Garcia-Hinojosa Decl., # 2 Exhibit April 5, 2019 Vaughn Index)(Dickey, Lauren) (Entered: 06/14/2020)
2020-12-30	47	ORDER Granting 44 Defendants' Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment. Entered by Judge William J. Martinez on 12/30/2020.(afran) (Entered: 12/30/2020)
2020-12-30	48	FINAL JUDGMENT in favor of Defendants, United States Bureau of Land Management and United States Department of the Interior, and against Plaintiff, Rocky Mountain Wild, Inc., pursuant to 47 Order Granting Defendants' Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment. Entered by Clerk on 12/30/2020. (afran) (Entered: 12/30/2020)
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