25CA0542 Dauwe v Fruitland 04-23-2026
COLORADO COURT OF APPEALS
Court of Appeals No. 25CA0542 Delta County District Court No. 23CV9 Honorable Mary E. Deganhart, Judge
Daniel W. Dauwe,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Fruitland Irrigation Company,
Defendant-Appellee.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED
Division VII Opinion by JUDGE MOULTRIE Tow and Lum, JJ., concur
NOT PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO C.A.R. 35(e) Announced April 23, 2026
Daniel W. Dauwe, Pro Se
Overturf McGath & Hull, P.C., Scott A. Neckers, Sarah A. Thomas, Denver, Colorado, for Defendant-Appellee ¶1 Plaintiff, Daniel W. Dauwe, appeals the district court’s entry of
judgment dismissing his lawsuit against defendant, Fruitland
Irrigation Company (Fruitland). We affirm.
I. Background
¶2 Fruitland is a mutual irrigation company1 that delivers water
to its shareholders via an irrigation canal (the ditch). Fruitland has
owned and operated the ditch for over a century. The ditch has
historically irrigated approximately 5,000 acres of surrounding land
and predominantly traverses privately owned land, including
Dauwe’s property that he purchased in September 2020. It’s
undisputed that Fruitland holds a prescriptive easement over
Dauwe’s property to maintain the ditch. Dauwe has never asserted
any right to receive water from the ditch.
¶3 The ditch was originally constructed as an earthen, open-air
irrigation canal. Fruitland wanted to improve its irrigation delivery
system by piping or lining sections of the ditch that weren’t already
1 Mutual irrigation companies “operate on the premise that the
company owns the water rights and other property, including ditch easements, and the shareholders have the right to use the water on their lands.” E. Ridge of Fort Collins, LLC v. Larimer & Weld Irrigation Co., 109 P.3d 969, 973 (Colo. 2005).
1 piped or lined (the project). Thus, in 2014, Fruitland retained an
engineering firm, Applegate Group, Inc. (Applegate), to evaluate
possible improvements to the ditch and funding sources. It was
determined that the project would improve the efficiency of
Fruitland’s irrigation water delivery and eliminate seepage from the
ditch into saline soils. Ultimately, Fruitland received both state and
federal funding for the project, which included funding from the
Salinity Control Program administered by the Bureau of
Reclamation (BOR).
¶4 Applegate and Fruitland began the design and permitting
process for the project in 2018. As part of that process, the BOR, in
conjunction with a private consultant and other state and federal
agencies, prepared an environmental assessment in September
2019.
¶5 After receiving the necessary permits and approval, Fruitland
began construction in late 2019. In May 2022, Fruitland sent
landowners affected by construction on their property a letter
requesting that the landowners provide information regarding their
preferences for disposal of the debris generated from the project’s
construction. Ed O’Hayre — a neighbor with property adjacent to
2 Dauwe’s — responded to the letter and requested that the portion of
the ditch that crossed his land be piped rather than lined, and
Fruitland accommodated that request.
¶6 The construction on O’Hayre’s property began in April 2023.
And because Fruitland piped the ditch on O’Hayre’s property, the
project was modified to include, among other things, installation of
a concrete headwall at the pipe intake between Dauwe’s and
O’Hayre’s respective properties (intake headwall). Fruitland also
installed a rack on the intake headwall to prevent debris, animals,
or people from being pulled into the pipe.
¶7 The rack is pictured below before a protective “cage” was
installed around it.
3 The Intake Headwall with Just a Rack
¶8 Around the same time, Dauwe reached out to Fruitland for the
first time to express his concerns about the impact that the project
would have on his property and requested a similar accommodation
of piping the ditch as had been arranged with O’Hayre. Fruitland
communicated that it wouldn’t pipe the ditch on Dauwe’s property;
rather, it would continue with its original plans of lining the ditch.
¶9 Dauwe then filed a motion for injunctive relief and sought to
enjoin Fruitland from completing the ditch lining work occurring on
his property. After a hearing, the court denied Dauwe’s request as
4 moot because Fruitland had already substantially completed the
lining work. Subsequently, Dauwe filed an amended complaint in
which he asserted twenty-two claims for relief.
¶ 10 Fruitland filed multiple motions to dismiss under C.R.C.P.
12(b)(5) that sought to dismiss twelve of Dauwe’s claims.2
Construing Fruitland’s filings as motions for judgment on the
pleadings under Rule 12(c), the court dismissed eleven of Dauwe’s
claims3 (order of dismissal).
¶ 11 About nine months after the court entered the order of
dismissal, Dauwe filed an opposed motion requesting that the court
allow him to further amend and supplement his complaint (motion
to amend). The court denied Dauwe’s motion to amend, reasoning
that any further amendment or supplementation would be futile
(order denying amendment).
¶ 12 Not long after, Dauwe asserted that Fruitland’s discovery
responses were deficient and requested the court to hold a hearing
2 Fruitland sought dismissal of claims six, ten, twelve, and fourteen
through twenty-two. 3 The court didn’t grant the request to dismiss claim six, which
alleged damages under the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251-1387.
5 on discovery disputes. After holding a hearing, the court found that
(1) Fruitland “had fully and completely complied with discovery
requests from [Dauwe]”; (2) “additional documents sought by
[Dauwe] [were] not relevant to the remaining claims”; and (3) many
of the documents requested by Dauwe were available to him
because they were public records (discovery order).
¶ 13 The following week, Fruitland filed a motion for summary
judgment regarding Dauwe’s eleven remaining claims.4 Dauwe also
filed a motion asking the court to grant summary judgment on
claim three of his amended complaint. The court issued a written
order granting Fruitland’s summary judgment motion and denying
Dauwe’s (summary judgment order).
¶ 14 Dauwe appeals, arguing the court committed various errors or
abused its discretion when it entered the (1) order of dismissal;
(2) order denying amendment; (3) discovery order; and (4) summary
judgment order. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm the
judgment.
4 In its motion for summary judgment, Fruitland requested that
claims one through nine, eleven, and thirteen be dismissed.
6 II. Dauwe Abandoned Certain Arguments and Claims on Appeal
¶ 15 Dauwe identifies in his notice of appeal an order from May
2024 in which the court declined to rule on two motions he filed for
the determination of a question of law. Because he makes no
argument about it in his opening brief, we deem any argument
challenging that order abandoned. See In re Marriage of Marson,
929 P.2d 51, 54 (Colo. App. 1996) (issues identified in the notice of
appeal but not addressed in the opening brief are abandoned).
¶ 16 We likewise conclude Dauwe has abandoned claims three
(trespass), eight (continuing trespass), thirteen (fraud on the court),
and nineteen (civil conspiracy) because he doesn’t challenge the
court’s dismissal of them on appeal. See Armed Forces Bank, N.A.
v. Hicks, 2014 COA 74, ¶ 38 (arguments raised in the trial court but
not pursued on appeal are deemed abandoned). Similarly, because
Dauwe doesn’t challenge the court’s denial of his request to
supplement his amended complaint with claims for deprivation of
property, defamation, and nuisance, we deem those claims
abandoned. See id.
7 III. The District Court Didn’t Have Jurisdiction Over Dauwe’s Claim Asserting Violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA)
¶ 17 Dauwe alleges in claim six that Fruitland’s actions destroyed a
wetland and violated the CWA.5 See generally 33 U.S.C.
§§ 1251-1387. Specifically, he alleges that, under the Supreme
Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, 598
U.S. 651 (2023), the water conveyed through the ditch is a “[w]ater
of the United States” protected by the provisions of the CWA. And
he argues that Fruitland violated federal rules and regulations
implementing the CWA when it “filled a jurisdictional wetland with
dirt and/or concrete.”
¶ 18 Apparently recognizing a potential jurisdictional issue, Dauwe
asserts in his complaint that citizen suits brought under 33 U.S.C.
§ 1365 aren’t required to be brought in federal court. The court
didn’t address whether it had jurisdiction to consider the merits of
claim six. Rather, the court addressed — and rejected — the merits
of claim six in its summary judgment order.
5 Dauwe doesn’t specify which section of the CWA Fruitland
purportedly violated.
8 ¶ 19 Neither party addresses in their briefing whether the district
court had subject matter jurisdiction to consider the merits of claim
six. But we can consider on our own whether a district court had
subject matter jurisdiction. See Zook v. El Paso County, 2021 COA
72, ¶ 8 (subject matter jurisdiction can be raised at any time and
upon a court’s own motion).
¶ 20 Contrary to Dauwe’s assertion otherwise, citizen suits under
the CWA must be brought in federal court. Indeed, 33 U.S.C.
§ 1365(a) explicitly provides that “[t]he district courts shall have
jurisdiction.” The statute’s reference to “district courts” means
federal district courts, not state district courts. Friends of the
Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Env’t Servs. (TOC), Inc., 528 U.S. 167, 173
(2000) (“Congress authorized the federal district courts to entertain
Clean Water Act suits initiated by ‘a person or persons having an
interest which is or may be adversely affected.’” (quoting 33 U.S.C.
§ 1365(a), (g))); Sierra Club v. El Paso Gold Mines, Inc., 421 F.3d
1133, 1135 (10th Cir. 2005) (noting that the CWA confers
jurisdiction on the federal courts to hear citizen suits brought
alleging violations of the CWA). Thus, we conclude that the court
9 erred by reaching the merits of claim six because claims alleging
violations of the CWA must be brought in federal court.
¶ 21 Nevertheless, we can affirm the court’s ruling on any
record-supported basis. See Neher v. Neher, 2015 COA 103, ¶ 33.
The court dismissed claim six with prejudice. And because
§ 1365(a) is an insurmountable barrier to a state district court
exercising jurisdiction over the allegations in claim six, the court’s
dismissal of that claim with prejudice was appropriate. See Woo v.
El Paso Cnty. Sheriff’s Off., 2020 COA 134, ¶ 30, aff’d on other
grounds, 2022 CO 56.
IV. The Court Properly Dismissed Claims Ten, Twelve, Eighteen, and Twenty Through Twenty-Two Under C.R.C.P. 12(c)
¶ 22 We review de novo whether a court properly granted a motion
for judgment on the pleadings under C.R.C.P. 12(c). Brown v. Long
Romero, 2021 CO 67, ¶ 17. “Judgment on the pleadings is
appropriate if, from the pleadings, the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law.” City & County of Denver v. Qwest
Corp., 18 P.3d 748, 754 (Colo. 2001).
¶ 23 “We evaluate a [motion for] judgment on the pleadings the
same as we would evaluate a motion to dismiss under Rule
10 12(b)(5),” Spectrum Ret. Cmties., LLC v. Cont’l Cas. Co., 2025 COA
57, ¶ 14 (cert. granted Jan. 20, 2026), meaning we “must construe
the allegations of the pleadings strictly against the movant, must
consider the allegations of the opposing part[y’s] pleadings as true,
and should not grant the motion unless the pleadings themselves
show that the matter can be determined on the pleadings,” Brown,
¶ 17 (citation omitted).
¶ 24 Furthermore, a plaintiff’s allegations must assert a plausible
claim for relief. See Warne v. Hall, 2016 CO 50, ¶ 24. A claim is
plausible when its factual allegations raise a right to relief above the
speculative level. See Adams Cnty. Hous. Auth. v. Panzlau, 2022
COA 148, ¶ 50. Thus, a plausible claim for relief must “contain
either direct or inferential allegations respecting all the material
elements necessary to sustain a recovery under some viable legal
theory.” Id. at ¶ 51 (citation omitted). However, we aren’t required
to accept as true legal conclusions that are couched as factual
allegations. Fry v. Lee, 2013 COA 100, ¶ 17.
A. Claim Ten: Negligence in Design
¶ 25 Dauwe alleges that Fruitland “failed to install a cage around
the intake [headwall],” which he asserts “poses a threat to human
11 safety.” He concedes that Fruitland had installed the cage by the
time he filed his amended complaint. However, because Fruitland
didn’t install the cage in the timeframe he desired, he argues
Fruitland’s behavior was in “bad faith,” thereby warranting
exemplary damages.
¶ 26 The “cage” is pictured below.
The Intake Headwall with a Rack and a Cage
¶ 27 “In order to establish a prima facie case for negligence, a
plaintiff must show a legal duty of care on the defendant’s part,
breach of that duty, injury to the plaintiff, and causation, i.e., that
12 the defendant’s breach caused the plaintiff’s injury.” HealthONE v.
Rodriguez, 50 P.3d 879, 888 (Colo. 2002). If a plaintiff fails to
establish any one of these elements, he can’t prevail on his
negligence claim. See Leaf v. Beihoffer, 2014 COA 117, ¶ 12. The
duty of care for a ditch owner is “ordinary care, such as a man of
average prudence and intelligence would use, under like
circumstances, to protect his own property.” Oliver v. Amity Mut.
Irrigation Co., 994 P.2d 495, 497 (Colo. App. 1999) (quoting City of
Boulder v. Fowler, 18 P. 337, 337 (Colo. 1888)).
¶ 28 Accepting Dauwe’s allegations as true, they don’t plausibly
state a claim for negligence. Dauwe communicated his concerns
about the potential safety risk the intake headwall created on his
property and asked Fruitland to install a cage around it. And
Dauwe concedes that Fruitland installed a cage around the intake
headwall as he requested. But he doesn’t allege Fruitland’s delayed
installation of the cage caused him any injuries. And “[a]bsent
injury, there is no action.” Farmers Grp., Inc. v. Trimble, 658 P.2d
1370, 1374 (Colo. App. 1982), aff’d, 691 P.2d 1138 (Colo. 1984).
13 B. Claim Twelve: Reduction in Property Value
¶ 29 Dauwe alleges that the project has caused a reduction in his
property value. But reduction in property value isn’t a stand-alone
claim; rather, it’s a remedy for damages caused by trespass —
meaning Dauwe must first establish that a trespass has occurred.
Trask v. Nozisko, 134 P.3d 544, 554 (Colo. App. 2006) (recoverable
damages for trespass claims can include diminution of market
value, costs of restoration, and loss of use of the property). Because
Dauwe alleges trespass in claims one, two, four, and seven, any
resulting damages must be addressed under those claims. Thus,
we agree with the district court that claim twelve was duplicative of
his other trespass-based claims. See Barham v. Scalia, 928 P.2d
1381, 1387 (Colo. App. 1996) (a court may dismiss duplicative
claims).
C. Claim Eighteen: Fraudulent Concealment
¶ 30 Dauwe’s fraudulent concealment claim is premised on his
allegations that certain conservation easements “unequivocally”
prohibited the project and Fruitland concealed from the BOR its
knowledge of such easements. He further alleges that Fruitland’s
14 “false representation by omission induced the [BOR] to approve the
award of the grant,” which enabled the destruction of his property.
¶ 31 To establish a claim for fraudulent concealment, a plaintiff
must prove, among other things, that the defendant had a duty to,
but didn’t, disclose material information to the plaintiff. Rocky
Mountain Expl., Inc. v. Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, 2018 CO 54,
¶ 56.
¶ 32 Here, Dauwe was aware of the conservation easements.
Indeed, in support of claim eighteen, he provides the county
recorder reception numbers for the easements, thereby
demonstrating that the easements were publicly recorded. See
§ 30-10-409(2), C.R.S. 2025 (a document filed with the county clerk
and recorder is endorsed with a reception number).
¶ 33 The proper recording of a document evidencing an
encumbrance — like a conservation easement — provides
constructive notice to everyone that such encumbrance exists. See
Meyer v. Haskett, 251 P.3d 1287, 1293 (Colo. App. 2010) (“When an
instrument regarding property is properly recorded, constructive
notice is provided to all.”). And a party has no duty to disclose a
15 public document that is equally available to all parties. See Averyt
v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 265 P.3d 456, 459 (Colo. 2011).
¶ 34 Thus, even assuming Dauwe has standing to assert a claim
based on Fruitland’s alleged failure to disclose the easements to the
BOR rather than to him, we conclude that Fruitland had no duty to
disclose the easements because the BOR had constructive notice of
them. See Burman v. Richmond Homes Ltd., 821 P.2d 913, 919
(Colo. App. 1991) (rejecting plaintiffs’ claim for fraudulent
concealment when plaintiffs, based on publicly recorded
documents, had constructive notice of material facts defendants
allegedly failed to disclose). Accordingly, we conclude that Dauwe
fails to allege a plausible claim for fraudulent concealment.
D. Claim Twenty: Abuse of Process
¶ 35 Dauwe’s abuse of process claim is premised on his assertion
that Fruitland failed to follow a required legal process.
¶ 36 As best we understand, Dauwe alleges that under Roaring Fork
Club, L.P., v. St. Jude’s Co., 36 P.3d 1229 (Colo. 2001), Fruitland
was required to either obtain his consent or obtain a declaratory
judgment before making any modifications to the ditch. In Roaring
Fork Club, the supreme court held that the owner of property
16 burdened by a ditch easement may not alter the easement without
first obtaining the easement holder’s consent or a declaratory
judgment. Id. at 1231. Dauwe argues that Fruitland’s failure to
follow the “procedure” in Roaring Fork Club constitutes “negative
abuse of process.”
¶ 37 To prevail on an abuse of process claim, a plaintiff must prove
(1) an ulterior purpose for the use of a judicial proceeding; (2) willful
use of a legal proceeding in an improper manner; and (3) resulting
damage. Walker v. Van Laningham, 148 P.3d 391, 394 (Colo. App.
2006). The first two elements require that a defendant must use a
judicial process or proceeding in order for a plaintiff to have a
cognizable claim for abuse of process. See id.; see also Moore v. W.
Forge Corp., 192 P.3d 427, 438 (Colo. App. 2007) (noting that use of
a judicial process is fundamental to establishing an abuse of
process claim). Thus, “negative abuse of process” isn’t a cognizable
claim. And in any event, Roaring Fork Club is factually
distinguishable because Dauwe isn’t the easement holder —
Fruitland is. Therefore, accepting Dauwe’s allegations as true, he
hasn’t alleged any facts demonstrating that Fruitland abused a
judicial proceeding.
17 E. Claim Twenty-One: Violation of Section 37-84-119, C.R.S. 2025
¶ 38 Under section 37-84-119, irrigation ditch owners must ensure
irrigation ditches are maintained “in good order and repair, ready to
receive water by April 1 in each year” and must deliver water “to
persons having paid-up shares or who have rights to the use of
water.” Dauwe alleges that Fruitland’s lining of the ditch after
April 1 when the ditch is supposed to be operational is “illegal and
ill-advised.”6
¶ 39 “Standing is a threshold issue that must be satisfied in order
for a court to decide a case on the merits.” Barber v. Ritter, 196
P.3d 238, 245 (Colo. 2008). To establish standing, a plaintiff must
demonstrate that he has suffered an injury in fact to a legally
protected right. City of Greenwood Village v. Petitioners for the
Proposed City of Centennial, 3 P.3d 427, 437 (Colo. 2000) (“[P]arties
6 Dauwe also argues that section 37-84-119, C.R.S. 2025, protects
the public and adjacent landowners in addition to shareholders, and he references section 37-80-102, C.R.S. 2025, and section 37-87-108, C.R.S. 2025, in support. Because he doesn’t develop this argument, we don’t consider it. See Barnett v. Elite Props. of Am., Inc., 252 P.3d 14, 19 (Colo. App. 2010).
18 actually protected by a statute or constitutional provision are
generally best situated to vindicate their own rights.”).
¶ 40 Thus, to have standing to bring a claim under section
37-84-119, a plaintiff must be a shareholder or someone with rights
to use the water. Although we can broadly construe Dauwe’s
amended complaint because he is self-represented, Jones v.
Williams, 2019 CO 61, ¶ 5, we won’t rewrite it for him, Minshall v.
Johnston, 2018 COA 44, ¶ 21. And even broadly construing
Dauwe’s amended complaint, Dauwe has alleged neither that he is
a shareholder or other person entitled to receive water from the
ditch nor that there was a delay in the delivery of water from the
ditch. See City of Greenwood Village, 3 P.3d at 437. He therefore
lacks standing to bring a claim under section 37-84-119.
F. Claim Twenty-Two: Outrageous Conduct
¶ 41 To prevail on an outrageous conduct claim, a plaintiff must
prove that the defendant (1) engaged in extreme and outrageous
conduct; (2) did so recklessly or with the intent of causing the
plaintiff severe emotional distress; and (3) caused the plaintiff
severe emotional distress. Reigel v. SavaSeniorCare L.L.C., 292 P.3d
977, 990 (Colo. App. 2011). “Outrageous conduct” is that which is
19 “so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go
beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as
atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.” Id.
(citation omitted). A defendant isn’t liable for “[m]ere insults,
indignities, threats, annoyances, petty oppressions, or other
trivialities.” Id. (citation omitted).
¶ 42 Dauwe alleges that Fruitland’s “extreme actions such as
multiple instances of serious misrepresentation, fraud, gross
violation of the easement, abuse of process, and the wanton
violation of federal laws protecting [his property]” have caused him
“grave emotional distress.” He also asserts that he’s been
threatened by attorneys, lied to, and called a frivolous litigant.
¶ 43 Thus, the primary factual allegations supporting this claim
consist of his allegations that Fruitland “grossly” violated the
easement and federal laws, and that its attorneys threatened him,
lied to him, and called him frivolous. Dauwe also attempts to
support his outrageous conduct claim by referencing other claims
based on Fruitland’s same conduct — which is insufficient. See
Hewitt v. Pitkin Cnty. Bank & Tr. Co., 931 P.2d 456, 459 (Colo. App.
1995) (affirming trial court’s dismissal of outrageous conduct claim
20 unsupported by independent factual allegations). And, even viewed
in the light most favorable to Dauwe, his remaining allegations
don’t rise to the level of the extreme, atrocious, or utterly intolerable
type of conduct necessary to prevail on an outrageous conduct
claim. Compare Danyew v. Phelps, 676 P.2d 707, 709 (Colo. App.
1983) (concluding that the wrongful eviction of a tenant without
notice while the tenant was hospitalized supported a claim for
outrageous conduct), with Zueger v. Goss, 2014 COA 61, ¶ 38
(concluding that defendant’s disparaging statements about plaintiffs
on the internet didn’t constitute outrageous conduct).
V. We Affirm the Court’s Dismissal of Claims Fourteen Through Seventeen on Alternate Grounds
¶ 44 In claims fourteen through seventeen (collectively, fraudulent
misrepresentation claims), Dauwe alleges that Fruitland made
fraudulent misrepresentations to the BOR in the environmental
assessment. Specifically, Dauwe asserts that Fruitland provided
the BOR with false information about “salinity reduction” (claim
fourteen), the project’s potential impact on wetlands (claim fifteen),
and Fruitland’s access rights under the prescriptive easement
(claims sixteen and seventeen). And he asserts that these
21 fraudulent misrepresentations induced the BOR to award Fruitland
funds for the project, which in turn enabled the destruction of his
property.
¶ 45 A plaintiff establishes a claim for fraudulent misrepresentation
by proving that (1) the defendant fraudulently misrepresented a
material fact to the plaintiff; (2) the plaintiff relied on the
misrepresentation; (3) the plaintiff had a right to rely on or was
justified in relying on the misrepresentation; and (4) the plaintiff’s
reliance resulted in damages. Barnes v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins.
Co., 2021 COA 89, ¶ 28. A fraudulent representation made to the
class of persons that the defendant intended to influence, and of
which the plaintiff is a part, may be sufficient to sustain a claim for
fraudulent misrepresentation. Mead & Mount Constr. Co. v. Fox
Metal Indus., Inc., 511 P.2d 509, 510 (Colo. App. 1973).
22 ¶ 46 The court dismissed the fraudulent misrepresentation claims7
because it concluded that Dauwe lacked standing to bring those
claims on behalf of the BOR. But the environmental assessment
says it was provided to private landowners that would be potentially
impacted by the project. Thus, we draw a reasonable inference in
Dauwe’s favor that he was a member of the class that the
information in the environmental assessment was intended to
influence. See id.
¶ 47 Nevertheless, we affirm the court’s judgment because we
conclude that Dauwe’s fraudulent misrepresentation claims were
not otherwise plausibly pleaded. See Neher, ¶ 33; Ice v. Benedict
Nuclear Pharms., Inc., 797 P.2d 757, 760 (Colo. App. 1990) (if a
plaintiff fails to prove one of the elements of fraudulent
misrepresentation, then the claim necessarily fails).
7 In the order of dismissal, the court stated that it was dismissing
claims seventeen and eighteen and characterized those claims as the claims in which Dauwe alleged that Fruitland made fraudulent misrepresentations regarding its rights to access landowners’ property under the easement. However, Dauwe made those allegations in claims sixteen and seventeen. This error doesn’t impact our analysis.
23 ¶ 48 We initially note that the environmental assessment was
created by a private consultant on the BOR’s behalf, rather than by
Fruitland. But even accepting as true Dauwe’s assertion that
Fruitland, in its application for grant funding, provided false
information to the BOR, which in turn led the private consultant to
create a “deceptive” environmental assessment upon which the BOR
relied in deciding to fund the project, Dauwe doesn’t allege that he
relied on the environmental assessment in any way. On the
contrary, he only asserts that the BOR relied on the environmental
assessment. Said differently, Dauwe doesn’t allege any facts from
which we can reasonably infer that his own reliance on the
environmental assessment resulted in damages to his property. See
Barnes, ¶ 28. His fraudulent misrepresentation claims therefore
fail.
VI. The Court Properly Denied Dauwe’s Request to Amend or Supplement His Amended Complaint
A. Applicable Legal Principles
¶ 49 C.R.C.P. 15(a) requires parties to obtain court authorization to
amend pleadings in certain instances. “[T]rial courts are
encouraged to look favorably on requests to amend pleadings.” Am.
24 C.L. Union of Colo. v. Whitman, 159 P.3d 707, 712 (Colo. App. 2006);
see C.R.C.P. 15(a) (leave to amend pleadings “shall be freely given
when justice so requires”). But if a proposed amendment would be
futile, a court may deny the request for leave to amend. Whitman,
159 P.3d at 712. A proposed amendment to a complaint is futile if
it “merely restates the same facts as the original complaint in
different terms, reasserts a claim on which the court previously
ruled, fails to state a legal theory, or could not withstand a motion
to dismiss.” Id. at 712-13.
¶ 50 Rule 15(d) concerns supplemental pleadings and permits a
party to request leave of the court to supplement a pleading based
on events that occurred after the date of the pleading. See Eagle
River Mobile Home Park, Ltd. v. Dist. Ct., 647 P.2d 660, 662 n.3
(Colo. 1982) (“Amended and supplemental pleadings differ in that
the former relate to matters occurring before the filing of the
original pleading and entirely replace the original pleading, while
the latter concern events subsequent to the original pleading and
constitute only additions to the earlier pleading.”).
¶ 51 We review de novo a district court’s determination that a
party’s request to amend or supplement a pleading would be futile
25 because it wouldn’t overcome a motion to dismiss. Gandy v.
Williams, 2019 COA 118, ¶ 14.
B. Analysis
1. Proposed Amendment of Fraud on the Court Claim
¶ 52 In his amended complaint, Dauwe asserted a claim alleging
that Fruitland had committed “fraud on the court” by making false
statements to the court regarding the extent of the project’s
completion, which led the court to erroneously deny his request for
an injunction. Dauwe asked the court for authorization to “convert”
or amend his fraud on the court claim to a claim for outrageous
conduct. The court denied his request.
¶ 53 The court dismissed Dauwe’s fraud on the court claim before
he asked to amend it. As already noted in Part II, he doesn’t
challenge the court’s dismissal of that claim on appeal. And while
providing false information to the court is unethical and can subject
a party to sanctions, Dauwe doesn’t cite, and we can’t find, any
authority to support the proposition that doing so is sufficient to
support an outrageous conduct claim. See Reigel, 292 P.3d at 990.
Accordingly, we conclude that Dauwe’s attempt to amend his fraud
26 on the court claim by converting it to an outrageous conduct claim
was futile. See Whitman, 159 P.3d at 712-13.
2. Proposed Supplemental Outrageous Conduct Claim
¶ 54 Dauwe asked to “amend” his dismissed abuse of process claim
by instead asserting a claim for outrageous conduct against
Fruitland. His request was based on his contention that Fruitland’s
attorney lied to the court about the applicability of Roaring Fork
Club in its response to one of his motions for determination of a
question of law. Because these circumstances occurred after he
filed his amended complaint, we construe Dauwe’s argument as an
attempt to supplement his amended complaint with an additional
outrageous conduct claim. See Eagle River, 647 P.2d at 662 n.3.
¶ 55 Dauwe argues that the alleged conduct of Fruitland’s attorney
is “outrageous” and unethical. We conclude Dauwe’s allegations
are insufficient to support an outrageous conduct claim for two
reasons. First, as already discussed, the type of conduct sufficient
to support an outrageous conduct claim is exceedingly rare. See
Reigel, 292 P.3d at 990. And generally, an attorney’s alleged
misconduct that violates the Colorado Rules of Professional
Conduct isn’t, without more, a basis for civil liability. See Moye
27 White LLP v. Beren, 2013 COA 89, ¶ 31. Second, as also discussed,
the holding of Roaring Fork Club is inapplicable to the
circumstances of this case. Thus, Dauwe’s request to supplement
his amended complaint with an additional outrageous conduct
claim was futile. See Whitman, 159 P.3d at 712-13.
3. Proposed Supplemental Abuse of Process Claim
¶ 56 Fruitland requested its costs and attorney fees under section
13-17-102, C.R.S. 2025, and C.R.C.P. 11 for defending against the
claims the court dismissed in its order of dismissal.
¶ 57 Dauwe asserts that as a self-represented litigant, he can’t be
sanctioned under section 13-17-102 or Rule 11 for making frivolous
claims. Consequently, he sought to add a supplemental abuse of
process claim to his amended complaint in response to Fruitland’s
request for fees and costs.
¶ 58 Section 13-17-102(6) authorizes a court to award attorney fees
if it finds that a self-represented litigant “clearly knew or reasonably
should have known” that all or part of their litigation was
“substantially frivolous, substantially groundless, or substantially
vexatious.”
28 ¶ 59 Rule 11(a) requires attorneys and self-represented parties to
sign pleadings. The rule provides that an attorney’s signature
certifies that the pleading is grounded in fact, warranted by existing
law or a good faith legal argument, and not filed for any improper
purpose. C.R.C.P. 11(a). It also allows a court to appropriately
sanction a party if they sign a pleading in violation of the rule,
including by ordering a party to pay another party “the amount of
the reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing of the
pleading, including a reasonable attorney’s fee.” C.R.C.P. 11(a).
And while Rule 11 expressly addresses an attorney’s signature on a
pleading serving as a certification regarding the pleading’s
appropriateness, “[a] pro se litigant who chooses to rely upon his
own understanding of legal principles and procedures is required to
follow the same procedural rules as those who are qualified to
practice law and must be prepared to accept the consequences of
his mistakes and errors.” Al-Hamim v. Star Hearthstone, LLC, 2024
COA 128, ¶ 34 (quoting Rosenberg v. Grady, 843 P.2d 25, 26 (Colo.
App. 1992)).
¶ 60 As discussed in Part IV.D, an abuse of process claim requires
a plaintiff to demonstrate he suffered damages as a result of the
29 defendant’s willful use of a legal proceeding in an improper manner
for an ulterior purpose. But Dauwe mischaracterizes the argument
supporting Fruitland’s request and, in any event, doesn’t allege he
suffered any damages as a result of Fruitland’s request. Dauwe’s
proposed supplemental claim for abuse of process therefore lacks
both the legal and factual support necessary to state a plausible
claim. The court thus properly denied it as futile. See Whitman,
159 P.3d at 712-13.
VII. Claims One, Two, Four, Five, Seven, Nine, and Eleven Were Properly Dismissed Under C.R.C.P. 56
¶ 61 We review de novo a district court’s ruling on a motion for
summary judgment and apply the same standards as the district
court. City of Fort Collins v. Colo. Oil & Gas Ass’n, 2016 CO 28, ¶ 9.
Summary judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine issue
as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment
as a matter of law. Id. at ¶ 8; see C.R.C.P. 56(c). It’s the moving
party’s burden to establish the nonexistence of a genuine issue of
material fact, and we grant the nonmoving party the benefit of all
favorable inferences reasonably drawn from the facts. Univ. of
Denv. v. Doe, 2024 CO 27, ¶ 8.
30 ¶ 62 “Expert affidavits may be used to support or resist a motion
for summary judgment.” White v. Jungbauer, 128 P.3d 263, 264
(Colo. App. 2005). When a nonmoving party responds to a properly
supported motion for summary judgment, the nonmoving party may
not simply rest on their allegations or denials of the opposing
party’s pleadings but must provide specific facts demonstrating a
genuine issue for trial. City of Fort Collins, ¶ 8; see C.R.C.P. 56(e);
see also White, 128 P.3d at 264 (“[A]ffidavits containing mere
conclusions are insufficient to satisfy the burden of showing the
existence or absence of a genuine issue of material fact.”).
A. Claims One, Two, Four, and Seven: Trespass-Based Claims
¶ 63 Dauwe’s trespass-based claims allege that Fruitland exceeded
the easement’s scope by relocating the ditch (claim one), widening it
(claim two), expanding the easement boundaries (claim four), and
destroying trees and vegetation “far beyond the historical easement
boundary and beyond what was required for the project” (claim
seven). See Trask, 134 P.3d at 554 (the tort of “trespass” consists of
a physical intrusion upon another’s property without proper
permission from the person legally entitled to possession of that
property).
31 ¶ 64 In its motion for summary judgment, Fruitland argued that
(1) it hadn’t relocated the ditch or expanded the extent of the
easement’s boundaries and (2) it can’t trespass within its own
easement when it does work that is reasonable and necessary to
operate and maintain the ditch.
¶ 65 Fruitland presented multiple documents in support of its
motion for summary judgment. Among them were an affidavit from
Craig Ullman, Applegate’s president and senior water resource
engineer, and an associated report authored by Ullman. Ullman
said the following in his affidavit:
• He had been involved with the project since 2014.
• Applegate used aerial survey data to design the project so
that the improved ditch didn’t deviate from the existing
ditch.
• The ditch wasn’t relocated or widened during the project.
• The project was completed in an area of the easement
that was reasonable and necessary for the ongoing
operation and maintenance of the ditch.
• “Vegetation and trees were removed from the area
immediately adjacent to the [d]itch as part of the
32 [p]roject. All trees and vegetation were within Fruitland’s
easement in an area that was reasonable and necessary
for the [p]roject and the ongoing operation and
maintenance of the [d]itch.”
¶ 66 Dauwe filed a response to the motion for summary judgment.
He argued that the project exceeded the scope of the prescriptive
easement and asserted, “[Fruitland] can’t move the ditch [and]
[Fruitland] can’t increase the width of the ditch.” He submitted an
affidavit in support of his response, in which he said the following:
• He used Google Earth photos from 2019 and 2024 to
compare the location of the old ditch with the location of
the new ditch, and the new ditch’s location deviated
several feet from the old ditch’s location.
• The new ditch isn’t in the same alignment as the old
• The width of the ditch at ground level is twelve feet wide.
His affidavit didn’t address the removal of trees or other vegetation.
¶ 67 The court granted summary judgment on the trespass-based
claims, concluding that there was no genuine issue of material fact
because Dauwe hadn’t explained how any of the modifications to
33 the ditch exceeded the scope of the prescriptive easement. In so
concluding, the court noted that, as the owner of the prescriptive
easement, Fruitland had the right to modify the ditch so long as any
modifications were reasonably consistent with the scope of the
easement and didn’t unreasonably damage Dauwe’s property.
¶ 68 On appeal, Dauwe essentially contends that, because the
parties disagreed on the dimensions of the ditch — specifically its
width before and after the project — there were genuine disputes
regarding the material facts. Dauwe contends that Fruitland
“admitted” that the “new ditch was [twelve] feet across,” in contrast
to his own measurements indicating that the “width of the original
ditch on his property was [six] to [eight] feet across.” And he
argues, “For a prescriptive easement[,] the width of the ditch itself is
the sole rigid constraint; it must be [the] same as constructed.”
Dauwe also asserts — without citing any authority in support —
that Fruitland was required to restore the trees and vegetation after
the completion of the project.
¶ 69 We aren’t persuaded.
¶ 70 A prescriptive easement is a “nonexclusive right to use the
land of another for a specified purpose” that arises out of adverse
34 use of the land for that purpose for a minimum of eighteen years.
LR Smith Invs., LLC v. Butler, 2014 COA 170, ¶ 14. It’s an
independent property interest the scope of which is “fixed by the
use through which it was created.” Wright v. Horse Creek Ranches,
697 P.2d 384, 387-88 (Colo. 1985) (quoting Restatement (First) of
Prop. § 477 (A.L.I. 1944)). Unlike an easement expressly granted by
conveyance in a deed or other document, a prescriptive easement is
not necessarily confined to a specific boundary. Gold Hill Dev. Co.,
L.P. v. TSG Ski & Golf, LLC, 2015 COA 177, ¶ 48; see also Clinger v.
Hartshorn, 89 P.3d 462, 467 (Colo. App. 2003) (“[T]he use under
which a prescriptive interest arises determines [only] the general
outlines rather than the minute details of the interest.” (quoting
Restatement (First) of Prop. § 477 cmt. b.)).
¶ 71 An owner of a water right is entitled to a right-of-way through
property that lies “between the point of diversion and point of
use . . . for the purpose of transporting water for beneficial use in
accordance with said water right.” § 37-86-102, C.R.S. 2025. The
right-of-way includes the right to “operate, clean, maintain, repair,
and replace the ditch and appurtenant structures, to improve the
efficiency of the ditch, including by lining or piping the ditch, and to
35 enter onto the burdened property . . . for all reasonable and
necessary purposes related to the ditch.” § 37-86-103, C.R.S.
2025.8 These rights extend to the bed of the ditch and include
sufficient ground on either side of the ditch to ensure it operates
properly under the circumstances. Shrull v. Rapasardi, 517 P.2d
860, 862 (Colo. App. 1973); see also Osborn & Caywood Ditch Co. v.
Green, 673 P.2d 380, 382 (Colo. App. 1983) (“[T]he dimension of the
access right to maintain the ditch is that which is reasonably
necessary.”).
¶ 72 In support of his argument that the ditch has been widened,
in addition to submitting an affidavit, Dauwe referenced exhibits
submitted to the court before the preliminary injunction hearing.
But the record refutes his argument.
¶ 73 Before the preliminary injunction hearing, Fruitland submitted
to the court a copy of the historical map and filing statement (map
and statement) for the ditch. The map and statement indicate that
Fruitland established the ditch as part of a larger project that
8 The General Assembly significantly amended section 37-86-103,
C.R.S. 2025, in 2019, which was before Fruitland began its improvement project. See Ch. 54, sec. 1, § 37-86-103, 2019 Colo. Sess. Laws 190.
36 included creating a nearby reservoir. According to the map and
statement, in the early 1900s, a portion of the ditch measured
twelve feet wide, while other portions of the ditch were impacted by
“varied topographical conditions necessitating various changes in
grade and cross section.” As Fruitland’s development of the ditch
and associated reservoir continued, it was anticipated that
Fruitland would make “extensions, improvements, and
enlargements” of the ditch as necessary to meet its shareholders’
expectations for irrigating the surrounding lands.
¶ 74 Dauwe doesn’t dispute the information contained in the map
and statement. Moreover, he doesn’t dispute that Fruitland holds a
prescriptive easement over his property for the purpose of delivering
irrigation water or that Fruitland continues to use the easement for
that purpose. He also doesn’t dispute Ullman’s statement, made in
his capacity as a water resource engineer involved with the project,
that the modifications to the ditch, including any removal of
vegetation, were reasonable and necessary for the ongoing operation
and maintenance of the ditch. Ullman’s statement is supported by
his report, which indicated that (1) removing overgrown vegetation
was maintenance necessary to restore the ditch’s water flow
37 capacity and (2) lining the ditch with concrete would inhibit future
vegetation growth along the ditch while minimizing the ditch’s
width. Finally, Dauwe didn’t argue that the new width was greater
than twelve feet and didn’t contest that twelve feet was within the
prescriptive easement, which was included in the map and
statement.
¶ 75 And, contrary to Dauwe’s assertion otherwise, Fruitland had
the authority under section 37-86-103 to pipe the ditch as part of
its efforts to improve the ditch’s efficiency. See Baker v.
Safadi-Chamberlain, 2025 COA 63, ¶ 4 (“[S]ection 37-86-103 grants
the right to pipe a ditch only when doing so would improve the
ditch’s efficiency.”).
¶ 76 We recognize that Dauwe didn’t have the benefit of Baker
when he filed his response to the motion for summary judgment.
However, Colorado case law has long recognized that an irrigation
ditch owner’s rights pursuant to a prescriptive easement include
“all that is reasonably necessary to the convenient and proper use
and maintenance of the ditch.” Neville v. Loudon Irrigating Canal &
Reservoir Co., 242 P. 1002, 1002 (Colo. 1926) (citation modified).
38 ¶ 77 In sum, even giving Dauwe the benefit of all reasonable
inferences that can be drawn from the undisputed facts, Dauwe
hasn’t demonstrated that Fruitland exceeded the nature and
purpose of the easement by completing the project and, in turn,
committed trespass. Rather, Dauwe merely rests on his
unsupported allegations and conclusions, which is insufficient to
satisfy his burden as Fruitland has demonstrated that there are no
disputed issues of material fact. See City of Fort Collins, ¶ 9; White,
128 P.3d at 264; C.R.C.P. 56(e). Thus, the court didn’t err by
granting summary judgment on his trespass-based claims.
B. Claim Five: Dispossession of Property Without Compensation
¶ 78 Dauwe alleges that Fruitland’s lining of the ditch violated
article XVI, section 7 of the Colorado Constitution because it
resulted in his property being taken without just compensation. He
asserts that Fruitland can’t rely on section 37-86-103 for the
project because “a Colorado statute cannot displace the Colorado
Constitution.” And he argues that under the holding of Roaring
Fork Club, the owner of any “estate seeking to alter an easement”
must first obtain the other estate’s consent or a declaratory
39 ¶ 79 Again, we aren’t persuaded.
¶ 80 We first reject Dauwe’s reliance on Roaring Fork Club because
it is, once again, unavailing. As discussed in Part IV.D, Fruitland
and Dauwe aren’t similarly situated to the parties in Roaring Fork
Club. Put simply, Dauwe’s assertion that Fruitland is an owner of
an “estate seeking to alter an easement” is incorrect. Rather,
Fruitland’s prescriptive easement is an independent property
interest. Wright, 697 P.2d at 387.
¶ 81 We acknowledge that article XVI, section 7 says in relevant
part that corporations shall have a right-of-way across private
property “for the construction of ditches, canals and flumes for the
purpose of conveying water for domestic purposes, for the irrigation
of agricultural lands . . . upon payment of just compensation.” But,
as we concluded in Part VII.A, Fruitland didn’t exceed the scope of
its prescriptive easement. And because the factual basis in support
of this claim is the same as the factual basis underlying his
trespass-based claims, Dauwe hasn’t demonstrated a genuine issue
of material fact sufficient to survive a motion for summary
judgment. We therefore reject his assertion that the project
resulted in a “taking” that requires him to be compensated.
40 C. Claims Nine and Eleven: Negligence-Based Claims
¶ 82 In claim nine, Dauwe alleges that the intake headwall “was
deficiently designed and caused flooding on [his] property,” which
“will take years before it returns to its natural state.” Dauwe alleges
“negligence in operation” in claim eleven. Specifically, he alleges
that organic debris like tree limbs, twigs, and algae accumulate on
the intake headwall rack, which Fruitland then removes and leaves
on his property. He asserts that the debris “should be removed
from [his] property because it is foreign to the property.”
¶ 83 In Part IV.A, we set forth the elements Dauwe must establish
to prove Fruitland was negligent. See HealthONE, 50 P.3d at 888;
see also Hitti v. Montezuma Valley Irrigation Co., 599 P.2d 918, 921
(Colo. App. 1979) (“[A] ditch owner is liable for any injuries caused
to property from the overflow of water from a ditch which results
directly or indirectly from negligence in the use and repair of the
ditch.”).
¶ 84 Regarding claim nine, even assuming that Dauwe’s property
experienced flooding, Dauwe hasn’t established that Fruitland
breached a duty, which in turn caused flooding that damaged his
property. Conversely, Fruitland — via Ullman’s affidavit — affirmed
41 that “[t]he [p]roject was designed within the standard of care for
canal operators in Colorado.” And Dauwe hasn’t set forth any facts
refuting this in his response or opposing affidavit. Rather, Dauwe
makes the conclusory assertion that “[i]t does not take any special
knowledge or expert witness for a lay person to understand
damages from flooding.” Dauwe also references photos that he
previously submitted to the court9 that he alleges show his property
after the flooding, but those photos don’t establish that his property
was damaged by any flooding or that the intake headwall was
“deficiently designed.”
¶ 85 Likewise, with respect to claim eleven, even assuming that
organic debris accumulates on the intake headwall rack, which
Fruitland then clears and leaves on Dauwe’s property, Dauwe
hasn’t set forth any facts demonstrating that Fruitland breached a
legal duty that caused him to suffer damage.
¶ 86 Thus, Dauwe hasn’t alleged facts sufficient to demonstrate
that there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether
9 Dauwe attached the photos to his reply in support of his motion to
amend and supplement his amended complaint. He didn’t mention flooding in his reply when referencing the photos; instead, he used the photos to establish the timeline of Fruitland’s lining of the ditch.
42 Fruitland negligently designed or operated the intake headwall. The
court therefore properly granted summary judgment on Dauwe’s
claims nine and eleven. See Leaf, ¶ 12.
VIII. The Court Didn’t Abuse its Discretion by Denying Dauwe’s Discovery Requests
¶ 87 “Although the scope of allowable discovery under C.R.C.P. 26
is broad, it is not unlimited.” Garcia v. Centura Health Corp., 2025
CO 15, ¶ 21. And Rule 26(c) allows a court to protect a party from
being compelled to produce certain discovery if complying with the
discovery request would cause that party undue burden or expense.
¶ 88 We review a district court’s discovery orders for an abuse of
discretion. Garcia, ¶ 24. A court abuses its discretion when its
ruling is “manifestly arbitrary, unreasonable, or unfair” or when it
misapplies the law. Rains v. Barber, 2018 CO 61, ¶ 8 (citation
omitted).
¶ 89 Dauwe argues that Fruitland should have been required to
produce documents in response to the following request for
production: “Provide all records, data, or information relating in any
43 way to the construction, maintenance, operation, and repair of the
canal, over its entire history.” Fruitland objected to the request for
production and asserted that the request was “overly broad, unduly
burdensome, oppressive, and/or vague.” Fruitland further asserted
that (1) its construction, operation, and maintenance of the ditch at
locations other than on Dauwe’s property weren’t relevant; and
(2) the expense of locating and reviewing 120 years of records
outweighed any likely benefit.
¶ 90 Dauwe argues that he “should be allowed to review those
records,” and “[w]hat the judge says about ‘discovery is not required
for public documents’ is absurd.” Absurd or not, the supreme court
has held that, because public documents are equally available to
both parties, Rule 26 doesn’t require production of them. Averyt,
265 P.3d at 460-61. And the district court is bound by that
determination, as are we. See Roane v. Archuleta, 2022 COA 143,
¶ 16 (lower courts are bound by the rule as expressed by our
supreme court), aff’d, 2024 CO 74. Because Dauwe doesn’t
otherwise explain how he believes the court abused its discretion by
denying his discovery request, we decline to consider his argument
44 further. See Barnett v. Elite Props. of Am., Inc., 252 P.3d 14, 19
(Colo. App. 2010).
IX. Other Issues
¶ 91 Finally, we decline Dauwe’s request that we publish this
opinion to “repudiate” Ute Water Conservancy District v. Fontanari,
2022 COA 125M. We don’t issue advisory opinions. See San Juan
Hut Sys., Inc. v. Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs, 2023 COA 10, ¶ 50.
X. Disposition
¶ 92 The judgment is affirmed.
JUDGE TOW and JUDGE LUM concur.