Free Motion to Dismiss - Rule 12(b)(1) - District Court of Federal Claims - federal

Case 1:07-cv-00014-MMS

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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

THE RICHARD A. FORSGREN )
REVOCABLE LIVING F AMIL Y )
PRESERVATION TRUST: CLA YT A ) FORSGREN, RICHARD A. FORSGREN, ) RICHARD E. FORSGREN, TERR LYNN )
HAGER, and BARBARA ANN THOMPSON,) No.07-14L

TRUSTEES )

v. )

Plaintiff, )
)

) Hon. Margaret M. Sweeney

) ) )

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

Defendant. )

DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT THEREOF

EXHIBIT A
Letter from G. Evan Pritchard to Karen Budd-Falen (Nov. 18,2005) (with attachments thereto)

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u.s. Department of Justice

Environment and NatUral Resources Division
90-1-23-11321
Niitlmú Resources Secton

P.O. Box 663
Wtlhingtn, DC 20044-0663

TelephoneJ202) 305-203
Føclmüe (202) 305-0506

November 18, 2005

Via Fax. Ori,inal bv USPS
Karen Budd-Falen Budd-Falen Law Offices, P.C.
300 East 18i1 Street

Cheyenne, WY 82003-0346
.phone: (307) 632-5 105

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fax: (307) 637-3891

cc
re: Forsgren v. US, No, 04-1223 L (CFC)
Dear Karen:

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attention. In that letter, Mr.
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Per our telephone discussion this morning, I am enclosing a copy of a i 988 letter from
Dick Forsgren to the Forest Service that has recently come to my

Forsgren identifies "the ground drainage and seepage problem on (his) land that comes from the BLM & Forrest (sic) land above (his land)." He states that "(o)ver the year, (he had) presented
this problem to the BLM on several occasions," makng clear that his propert had water
problems years before the date of

on his propert:
At times I have had as much as thee inches of

his letter. He then goes on to describe the effects ofthe water

water in my garage. It has built a MAH

into the basement. Ths causes the house to heave and setle and I am afraid that it is going to cause substatial damage to my home and propert unless corrected.

tye problem in my back yard and at ties the water has gotten under my foundation and

As I mentioned to you on the phone, these admissions by Mr. Forsgren stand in direct confict with the following allegations in the Complaint: "(bJetween 1971, when the house was
constrcted, and 1995, the year the CCC Ponds were recharged with water,

never experienced flooding problems," Complaint at ii 24; "(t)here was never any stading water

the Forsgrens had

in the ditch or on the propert during this time period, nor was (sic) there any seasonal accumulations of ice on the property," id.; "the Forsgrens' home and land had been dr for approximately 34 years (from the time of purchase of the property) and 24 year (frm the time the house was constructed) prior to the CCC Ponds recharge," id. at ir 37; "(t)he Forsgrens' propert only began to experience excessive flooding after the CCC Ponds were recharged with water," id. at ii 74.

Needless to say, the fact that the Forsgrens had problems with water on their propert many years prior to 1995 raises serious issues regarding both causation and claim accrual in ths case.

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We also discussed this mornng the fact that your client had a claim pending in the United States District Cour for the Distrct of Wyomig at the time the CFC Complaint was filed. A
copy of

the distrct cour complaint is enclosed with this letter. This district cour claim sought
present matter

damages from the United States and was based on the same operative facts as the instat action.
Accordingly, as I stated during our conversation, the CFC lacks jursdiction in the

under 28 U.S.C. § 1500 and the Complaint must be dismissed.

Tuesday of

You stated that you would look into the jursdictional question and call me to discuss on next week. I hope you will also have time to consider the import of the 1988 letter so that we may discuss that matter as well.

Evan Pritchard
Enclosures

- 2-

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...
~ll of )ll1inuiug
UIGHAND FDRBGREN

¡,.wEE:TWAT£R C.DUNT
CD",MITTEE5.

1115 MCiclNLEY ReCK SPRINGS. WYDfollND

..t:Lf'ARE. BUILDINGS.
i;AME ANO f'ISH
LAUOR

INSTITUTIONS. SANITARY ANO MEDICAL AFf"AIRS. CHAIRMAN

THIRTY.'EIGHTH STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 21, 1988

Mr. Lyn ~Ll1iams - District Ranger
Mr. Brian Stout- Supervisor -Bridger-Teton National Forest Pinedale, Wyoming 8?94i

Dear ~ir. stout & Mr. Williams: TOW H 0 M I T MAY CON C ERN
I own the property adjacent .to the 'Fo~st and BLM land in the Riverside Subdivision
to the town of Pinedale. I am concerned about the ground drainage and seepage problem on my land that comes from the BLM & Forrest land above me.

r ask you ? WH--\T, IF ANYTHING, WTL TH NE SITE OF TH DAM ft.N~ BACKIG UP AN
RAISING THE WATER LEVL HAVE ON THIS DRAINAGE AND SEEPAGE PROBLE THAT NOW EXISTS ON MY PROPERTY? I feel I am justifiably concerned,
In rr Mid it stands to reason if the dmr is moved closer to my property and the level is rdsed 'and the lagoon 'Wdened to make a MARDDA- that this could cause C"J1 even worse water drainage problem than now exists.
Over the years, I have presented this problem to the BIM on several occasions':-treven tried to get some relief when I1 nephew Dean Forsgren was 'Wth the Bni..

This also proved fruitless.) They have inor.ed me that they would not do aning
t,o' stop this problem.. 11 That I knew of the suface water seepage problem when I bought the land and -therefore they would not do anthing". I do not recall ever being told

about this water situation b. a Federal Agency: BIM. Forest Servce or an other.
However, now with the proposed changin of the dam sight---- .

and into my property. '
MAH type problem in my back yard and at times the water has gotten under nw

this in tur I

feel ,is

goin to present YET ANOTHE MI BIGGER problem with this surface water seeping onto
At times I have had as nnch as three inc1es of water in my garage. It has built a foundation and into the basement. This causes the house to heave and settle and I am afraid that it is. goin to cause substantial damage to rr home and property uness corrected. Along with' the possibility of contamination of my well.
,I have personally put a 6 inch perforated drain pipe in the area adjacent to the B1M and Forest land but this has not solved the problem.
I' have even offered to buy a parcel of their land so as to put a drain ditch in to stop this problem and they have informed me that it is NOT FOR SALE. PERIOD. But at one time they told me If I owned some land they were INTERF;TED m they MIGHT
consider a ~ADE. Even this was in the making until I was recently informed TH WON

It

EVEN MAKE A. TRftDE.

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~ll of )ll1:ouiug
, ,,':.W£ETWATER COUNTy

... .
I rlAllD FDRIIORI¡H
MEDICAL

1115

MCKINLEY

RtiCK Si:RINCIS. WYDMlND

.~Or-MITTEES:

\'it:LFARE, BUILDINGS, INSTITUTIDNS, S..NIT..RV "'NO
Aff'AIRS. CHAIRMAN

'."'ME AND FlSH . AltaR

THIRTY-'EIGHTH STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Page 2
Before I seriously consider filing an Injunction, I FEEL A THOROUGH STUY OF MY

SEEPAGE & OR DRAINAGE PROBLEMS SHOUL BE SmUOUSLY CONSIDER AlNG WI AN IN DEPTH

S''Y ,ON TH FWODPLAINS I\ ivL.S tNVOLVE.
ALSO, WI A TOTAL REA

VALUATION OF '!E DETIMTAL mvmoNMTAL ASPF'' THAT CAN

EVOLVE SHOULD TH PRESENT PROPOSAL BE CONSUMTED.
we,; origially bought this property for its SECLUSION---- TO GET 'AWAY..... 'As far as making a large lagoon and a MARINA to ench~mce recreational valuås'3... supposedl for

a 178 or "Whatever caming areall. I HONESTL do not want a HIGH DENSIT CAM GROUN

NEXT DOR. \iQULD YOU ?
I am more than wiling to talk to anone who might ~e able to enlighten me in regards to this personal problem that exists.

Than you, for any conside:ration you ma: give this.

..

Richard A. Forsgren Former, Wyoming State Representative

1115 McKiiley Ave. Rock Springs, Wyo 82901

,Copies: ,
DIM District Office R. S. Wyo fish & Game Dept. Pinedale DLM.' Pinedale, Wyo Mayor. Pinedale, Wyo

Alan Mauzy. Deputy Admistrator State Hater Commssion

Mr. Montgonaery- \'¡ater Comms,sioner- Pinedale, Wyo .
Van 'Huffman~Commi55ion Chairan of Highland Irrigation District Stan Ti~ier, Regional Forester. Ogden, Utah Senator Allen Simson. tIDC Ph. 202-224- 3121

Rep. 'Dick Gheaney vIC.

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Case 1 :03-cv-01 040-CAB Document 1 Filed 07/28/2003 Page 1 of 9
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OR\G\NAL
Peter J. Young

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Rick L. Koehmed SCHWARTZ, BON, WALKER & STER, LLC
141 Sou Cener Str Suit SOO

Caspe. WY 8260J Telephone (307) 235-681

Fax (307) 234-509

Attors For Plaint

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRCT COURT

FOR mE DISTRCT OF WYOMING
CLA YT A FORSGREN and TI FORSGRE )

PJaif ) vs. )
FAMLY

TRUST, )
)
) )

CaNo.O 3 ,cv 1 0 40-"6

BOAR OF COUN COMMSSIONERS OF )

SUBLE COUN. WYOMIG; TI )

INRIOR, BURAU OF LAN )
MAAGEME DIVISION; UNTE STATES )

UNTED STATES DEPARTMNT OF TH )

DEPARTM OF AGRICU11 AN )
NATU REOURCES CONSERVATION )

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OF TH INRIOR FOR TI UND )

SERVICE, a DIVISION OF TI DEPARTMNT )

STATES OF AMRICA, )

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COMPLAIT FOR DAMAGES
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---. ~__ __ ____ ____ n_ __. ___~___ ~ _ _ ~~ ________. _ .__ ____ _ _._. __ __.__________ ____ _ __.. ____.__ ___. .____...__ ____ ___. _ ___. __ _. ..__ _ __... _ _ ____~____. ___ _. .._ _ ___ __.~__ _. ___.. ____ __. ___ _ ____.. .__~__. ._......____.__ ___

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Case 1 :03-cv-01 040-CAB Document 1 Filed 07/28/2003 Page 2 of 9

COME NOW, Plaif Clayy Forsgren an th Forsgrn Family Tru
(Collecly herin "Clayt Forsgr") for their compla agai defend Boar of
Coun Commissione of

Suble County, Wyomig, and th Unied States Depant

of th Inerir, Buru of

La Maagement Diviion, an the Nat Resur

Comeion Sece, a Divion of the Depament of th Ineror for the Untied States
of Amrica an heby sttes an alleges as follows;
1. Th plaintif Clayt Forsgr is a reidnt of

Sublete County, Wyomig,

an own ce re prpe loced in Sublette County, Wyomi. Th Fors

Fanly Tru aJ own an inere in the same re prope loted in Sublett Couny.
2. Th defend Boar of County Commioner of Sublete Coun,

Wyomig, is the leal enit rensible for the' maement an open of th
goverent and buin afair of

Sublette Coun.

3. Th Unied Staes, Dent of Interor, Bureau of La Maement

Diviion ("BLM'') is th legally rensible public entit for main an admini~eri
federy own an contll la an la with fedl overight uner the Clea
Water Act.

4. The Dent of Agcultu and Natu Resur Consatn

Servce, a Division of th Depant of Interor (''U.S.D.A. j an ader
fedrally

own an contrlledreulated la an las wit feder oveigh uner th

Clean Water Act.

2

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Case 1:03-cv-01040-CAB Document 1 Filed 07/28/2003 Page 3 of9

5. Ths cour ba jusdiction purt to 28 V.S.C. § 1331 in tha th ma
involves questons of fera

law, an spifcally. 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

6. In i 996, Sublette Coun. in conjunction with the Wyomi Ga an

Fish, an the Nat Resoures Consrvon Serce, U.S. Dent of Agcult,
an th Buru of La Maemnt cred a public fihin site an reion sit,
naed an now knwn as CCC Pond in Sublette County. Wyomi.

7. Th Pond wer creed an maed in conntion wi th wetla

provions of th Feder Clea Water Act. and. ar joinly an cooperavely maed
mainin opera an oth utiliz

by an thugh th Coun Commsioners of

Sublett Coun, an th othr reing defenda for th befit of all memb of

th
in connection wi the wetl

public.
8. Th Ponds we cred an maed

proviions of th Federa Clea Water Act, an ar jointly an coperavely maed

mained operaed an oth utiz by an thug th BLM and Dent of
Agrcule for th beefi of al membes of

th p1.bli.

9. Withi four year afer th CCC Ponds We conscted an cr
signica volumes of waer wereaUwed to accumulate

in th Pond for reonal

us an usrs.
10. Nonetless the acumlaion of waters in the Pond ar in
driclly. th waer table an growwwaer leveJs in the area in an arun th public

3

- .~ .-... ---- ._. _.-.~. _... ..... .~..- ._~--_. -.-. -- -- -- ---... --~--_._~.. .~---... -- --_. ---.. --_. ..-. -_.. ._._.._-- -_... --_... .._. -~. ...-.. .~~.. ..--------.. .__. .-..-.--.. --.. -- ------~ ----. ---. ............ ~. _._-._-

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Case 1 :03-cv-01 040-CAB Document 1 Filed 07/28/2003 Page 40f 9

us ar an al ra th water tale an grwwte levels in private propeie
adjant to th public fihi ar

11. Clayt Forsn own re propert located at 99 Riverside, Subivision

Roa Nort of Pin, Wyomig 82941, an suh prpert physicly lies
imedialy wes oftb public fihig ar now knwn as the CCCPond

12. Wit four yea follwig th crtion of th CCC Pond water levels

be to acumula, an continue to acwne to the exnt th th aewnlation of

waer ha ca signcat deeeran an daes to th re prpert own by
Clayt Forsgren an the Fors Famy Tro.
13. Th daes to the home an rel prope were prxiely ca by
the crn and th maena an opeion of

the CCC Pond an contues tody.

14. Th caus and oriin of

th waer wa not renaly knwn to plaif

until

2002. Moreove, th defents coUeively an joinly ac to decive plaifs
th tre caus of the water dae an increin waer

of

tale.

I. FIT CL FOR RELIEFTREPASS

is. Eah of the prous allegations set fort in th prior paphs ar
incorpraed herein by reference.
16. Th Boar of County Commioner of

Sublette Coun is responsible for

th maement an open of th CCC Pond. Sublee CoWU's legal

rensibilitie inlude prevention of extrdi an unrnable amun of war
4

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--

,-~-.,~-,.,._-----,,_._._-,.._- ---.... _. ------ --- _._------ ___A. ..... ._______.__._.___._.__....____. ___________._ _______ ___.._..____...____.____. ....______... _______..______..._______..__________ .___...........

Case 1:03-cv-Q1040-CAB Document 1 Filed 07/28/2003 Page 5 of9

ftom flowi flm th CCC Ponds, both on th su an subsu, ont th re
prope of oth.

i 7. Th BLM an th Dent of Agcu are rensible for th
maemet an opeion of th CCC Pond BLM and th Dent of

Agcult's leal rensibiliies inlude prention of extrdin an unnable
amunts of

waer wm flwi wm th CCC Pond both on th su an subsac,

onto th re propert of othrs.

18. Sublette County ha allowed waer to ilegaly, impropely, and wiut
peion to tr upon prope own by Clayt Forsn.

19. Th BLM an th Bmeau of Agcul have allowed wate to ilegally,
imropely, an wiut pession to tr upn prope own by Clayt Forsgrn.

20. Th wa, vi its tr, ba caus subsia prope dae to
buildings an ot as of th rea prope own by plains. . Th tr ont

CJayt Forsgr's propert wa not alwed or peed by Cla Forsgrn, an such
actions are wiut consnt in any fashion.
2 i. Clayt Forsen is enitle to daes for loss D1 vaue, reir an

refubishment of the home an re prope, together with emotional an other
compnstory dages an punive daes as ar

waed by Wyomig an Federa

law.

5

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Case 1:03-cv-01040-CAB Document 1 Filed 07/28/2003 Page 6 of9

IL SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIE -

DEPRIATION OF PROPERTY WITOUT DUE PROCESS
UNDER 42 U.S.C. 6 1983

22. Each of th prvius allegions se fort in th prr pahs ar
incorpraed herein by refernc.

23. Both th Fedra an Wyomi Stae Consitns prohibit ta of a
pen's privae prpert wiout jus compension an wiut due prcess by any

fed or st governnt Th ar funta riht that ar prote by the
Fourth an Fif Amendnt of

th Unied Staes Consution, an well as varus

portns of

the Wyomin Consiton.
24. Sublete Coun's mainna an operan of

th CCC Pond in such a

fashion tht it alowed war to flw in excessive fullon both on th su an

subs onto Clayt Forsgr's prvate prope reed in a comple ta an a

denil of us of Clayta Forsgr's prpe wiut due proce, an wiut
compnsion.

25. Th BLM's an th Depnt of Agult's maenae an
open of th CCC Pond in such a tàhin th it aUwed waer to flow in excsive

fahion both on th su an subs ont Clayt Forsgr's prie prope
resuk in a complete takin an a d. of us of Clayt Forsgr's prope wiut
due press. an without compnsion.

6

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Case 1 :03-cv-01 040-CAB Document 1 Filed 07/28/2003 Page 7 of 9

26. Sublette Coun's acions and omiions in tt regard viJae th

Fourth an Fift Amndent of th Unied Staes Consn, as well as the
Wyoming Consitn.

21. The BLM's an th Dent of Agicu's acns and omissions in
tt regar vilate th Four an Fif Amndnt of th Unied Staes
Consition, as well as the Wyoming Consitution.

28. Clayy Forsgr is an agved persn wwer 42 U.S.C. § i 983, an the
acions of Sublette County conse ste actions wi th me of 42 U.S.C. §

1983.

29. Sublette Cotm is liable, as a maer of feder civilnghts law, un 42

U.S.C. § 1983, for its deprivaion of Clayt Forsgr's prope iner, wiut due
proce an withut any compnsion whaever.

30. The BLM and th Dearnt of Agcult ar liable, as a maer of
federa civil ri law, uner 42 U.S.C. § 1983, for thir depnvion of Clayy

Forsgren's propert iner wiout due pro an wiut any compnsn
whever.
31. Clayt Forsgr is entitle to daes, inludg daes for loss in
vaue, cost to repai and replace th daed prope, as well as other recoverle
daes inluding emotiona compnsory, an punive daes for the wrngl
conduct of

Sublette Coun employees.

1

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Case 1:03-cv-01040-CAB Document 1 Filed 07/28/2003 Page 8 of9

ßI. THIR CLAI FOR RELIEF

FRUD AN MISREPREENTATION

32. Eah of th prvious allegatons set fort in th prir paphs ar
incorpra hein by referenc.

33. On or more of Defendts or thir agents; indidualy aD collecively
. took ove steps to decive plaif in deterin th caus an ongin of th water

tale incrs an sepae an mae wren and ora misrresentns' to pJaif as
to th sour an caus.
34. Plaintif relied upn th reprtive of the defents and delayed

remol work on th re prpe an delayed in proseut th rensible pas.

35. Defendts reresntves wer fi an une, an when relied upn
by plainif ca daes to pJatiff pens and propert, al ii an.amunt to be

pres at tr

iv. FORTH CLAIM OF RELIEF

PUNTI DAMAGES

36. Eah of th prous allegaions set fort in th prior pahs ar
incorpraed hein by refenc.

37. Defend conduct in th mar wa inteniona wilf an in rekless
disga ofpJaintif' rights an in an effort to conc the tr caus of

the daes.

38. Such inntiona conduct wa th imsition of exempla an punive

dages.

8

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Case 1 :03-cv-01 040-CAB Document 1 Filed 07/28/2003 Page 9 of 9

WHEREFORE,plaûf prys for judgmnt

ag defend for tter cla
'by th ju,

as aled herin for aU of

their daes as alwed by law to be asss

an for suh oth relief th is ju an prope in th pr.

DATED th). ~ ~daY of July, 2003.

Pete J.'Yo Rick L. Ko

f1

SCHARTZ, BON, W KE& STIER LLC
141 South Cete Str Sui 500

Ca, WY 82601
Telephone (307) 235-6681

Fax (307) 234-509

Atrnys For Plaintifl

9