Seventh Circuit Decides Attorney Fees Case against Tribal Interests in Menominee Dispute

Here is the opinion in United States v. Pecore. An excerpt:

After a six-year investigation, an additional two-and-one-half years of discovery and pretrial posturing, and a nine-day jury trial, Marshall Pecore and Conrad Waniger (the “defendants”) prevailed against civil charges that they violated the False Claims Act (“FCA”). Unsatisfied with just the trial victory and perhaps disturbed that the government spent nearly a decade chasing about $75,000, the defendants moved for attorney’s fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A), or alternatively, sanctions under Rule 37(c)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The district court denied both motions. Despite our discomfort with what looks like government overreaching, we find that the district court’s ruling was not an abuse of discretion and accordingly, we affirm.

Here are the briefs:

Pecore Appellant Brief

US Appellee Brief

Pecore Reply

Oral argument is here.

Federal Court Grants Attorney Fees to Alliance to Save the Mattaponi in Environmental Suit

Here are the materials in Alliance to Save the Mattaponi v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (D. D.C.):

Magistrate Recommendationr re Atty Fees

US Objection

DCT Order on Atty Fees

Ninth Circuit Denies Attorney Fees to Winnemucca in Nuclear Fallout Case

Here is the unpublished opinion in Winnemucca Indian Community v. United States. And the materials:

Winnemucca Opening Brief

USA Answering Brief

Winnemucca Reply