Hall v. United States

84 Fed. Cl. 463, 2008 U.S. Claims LEXIS 320, 2008 WL 4793816
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedOctober 31, 2008
DocketNo. 07-773C
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 84 Fed. Cl. 463 (Hall v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hall v. United States, 84 Fed. Cl. 463, 2008 U.S. Claims LEXIS 320, 2008 WL 4793816 (uscfc 2008).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND FINAL ORDER

BRADEN, Judge.

I. RELEVANT FACTUAL BACKGROUND.1

On November 5, 2007, Louise Hall and Glenn Gould (“Plaintiffs”) filed a Complaint in the United States Court of Federal Claims alleging a taking of their private property by the Bureau of Land Management Ridgecrest, California Field Office’s (“BLM”) “Adopt-a-Cabin” Program. See Compl. H1. The alleged property interests at issue were “mining equipment, structures and the mining claim.” Id. 1165.

In 1989, the Adopt-a-Cabin Program was initiated by BLM and a group of concerned citizens to repair historic cabins once used by [465]*465ranchers and miners in Southern California. See Bureau of Land Management Volunteer Feature, available at, http://www.blm.gov/ volunteer/feature/2003/ca/. Under this Program, BLM provides materials and the volunteer citizens provide labor. See Compl. 1125. About thirty-seven cabins in remote and inaccessible areas were identified for adoption by BLM’s Ridgecrest Field Office. Id. Almost half of the proposed sites have been adopted to date. Id.

In 1993, Plaintiff Hall purchased several unpatented mining claims, located on public land managed by BLM, including two Silver Swan mining claims and ten White Swan claims. Id. HH10, 15, 27, 27 n. 1. When the Silver Swan Claim # CAMC 49332 (“Silver Swan Claim”) was purchased, Plaintiff Hall also acquired physical property located on the claim, including a cabin, garage, three sheds, and two other structures. Id. H27.

In 1996, BLM implemented regulations requiring claimants on an unpatented mining claim to notify BLM of any occupancy on the claim and attest that the occupancy was “reasonably incident” and “reasonably calculated to lead to the extraction ... of minerals!/]” See 43 C.F.R. § 3715.2(a), (e).2 Plaintiff Hah did not respond, as required. See Compl. H30. Subsequently, BLM attempted to obtain permission from Plaintiff Hall to incorporate the structures on the Silver Swan Claim into the Adopt-a-Cabin Program and make them available for public use. Id.; see also Mary Louise Hall at *6 (“BLM sought [Plaintiff] Hall’s permission to incorporate the cabin into an ‘Adopt>-a-Cabin’ program!.]”). In February and March of 1999, Plaintiff Hall declined to grant BLM permission. See Compl. 1131.

In June 2001, Plaintiff Hall forfeited ownership of the second Silver Swan mining claim, # CAMC 49333, and the ten White Swan claims, because of a failure to pay maintenance fees, as required by Section 28f(a) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, 30 U.S.C. § 28f(a).3 Compl. KH 34, 35; Mary Louise Hall at *9 (“On June 14, 2001, BLM issued a decision declaring the two Silver Swan and the ten White Swan claims forfeited by operation of law for failure to file the maintenance fees[.]”). Subsequently, Plaintiff Hall provided evidence that maintenance fees for the Silver Swan Claim had been paid. See Mary Louise Hall at *9-10. Accordingly, on July 2, 2001, BLM issued an Administrative Order “vacating its earlier decision with respect to the Silver Swan Claim.” Id. at *10. Nevertheless, on November 3, 2001, BLM mistakenly incorporated the structures on the Silver Swan Claim into the Adopfc-a-Cabin Program, erroneously assuming those structures were located on the previously forfeited White Swan mining claims. See Compl. 1135. In addition, BLM entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the Sierra Club, authorizing public use of the structures on the Silver Swan Claim for any activities related to casual mining. Id. 1IH35, 38. Plaintiff Hall was not a party to the MOU. Id. H37. Thereafter, signs bearing BLM’s seal were placed on the Silver Swan Claim, announcing that the structures were part of [466]*466the Adopt-a-Cabin Program and subject to the terms of the MOU, authorizing the public to enter the claim and use the structures for camping and other activities. Id. 111138, 40.

In 2002, Plaintiff Hall sold the physical property located on the Silver Swan Claim to Plaintiff Gould. Id. 1141. At the time of the sale, neither party was aware of BLM’s activities. Id. On July 29, 2002, BLM discovered that structures on the Silver Swan Claim mistakenly were entered into the Adopt-a-Cabin Program. Id. 1143. BLM also admitted erroneously erecting the Adopt-a-Cabin signs and failing to remove them, resulting in BLM volunteers using and taking Plaintiff Hall’s personal mining equipment4 and other physical property,5 and engaging in mining activities on the claim. Id. 111142-43, 49.

II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY.

A. In The Department Of The Interior.

On March 4, 2004, Plaintiff Hall received a Notice of Noncompliance (“NONC”) from BLM, advising Plaintiff Hall that the structures on the Silver Swan Claim failed to comply with 43 C.F.R. § 3715.2, because they were not being used purposes “reasonably incident” to mining. See Compl. If 44. The NONC gave Plaintiff Hall thirty days to demonstrate that the structures were necessary for mining operations; otherwise they were to be removed by the owner. Id. Plaintiff Hall again failed to respond. Id. On April 21, 2004, BLM issued a cessation order (“CO”) “mandat[ing] that [Plaintiff] Hall cease maintaining her claims on public lands.” Id.

On March 31, 2004, Plaintiff Hall filed a Notice of Appeal with the Interior Board of Land Appeals (“IBLA”) to protest the NONC and CO on behalf of herself and Plaintiff Gould. Id. 1146.

On March 15, 2007, the IBLA ruled in favor of BLM, finding that the structures on the Silver Swan Claim were not being used for any purpose reasonably incident to mining. See Mary Louise Hall at *16. The IBLA, however, recognized that BLM failed to remove the Adopt-a-Cabin signs and advise the public that the site was not for public use. Id. at *15 (“Hall legitimately questions whether BLM has done (or could do) enough to dispel the public perception that the cabin is available for public use.”).6 Therefore, the IBLA held that BLM was responsible for removing the cabin. Id. at *16 (“BLM cannot require [Plaintiff Hall] to remove [the cabin] after having adopted it for public use.”).

B. In The United States Court Of Federal Claims.

On November 5, 2007, Plaintiffs filed a Complaint in the United States Court of Federal Claims alleging that “BLM took Plaintiffs’ private property without due process and just compensation in violation of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Con[467]*467stitution.” Compl. 116.7 The November 5, 2007 Complaint requested: a declaratory judgment; the value of the mining claim, equipment, and structures taken, estimated at $1,187,310; and an award of attorney fees and costs. Id. H1121-22.

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Bluebook (online)
84 Fed. Cl. 463, 2008 U.S. Claims LEXIS 320, 2008 WL 4793816, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hall-v-united-states-uscfc-2008.