New York v. Reilly

143 F.R.D. 487, 35 ERC (BNA) 1959, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15872, 1992 WL 293453
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedOctober 16, 1992
DocketNo. 91-CV-1418
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 143 F.R.D. 487 (New York v. Reilly) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
New York v. Reilly, 143 F.R.D. 487, 35 ERC (BNA) 1959, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15872, 1992 WL 293453 (N.D.N.Y. 1992).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER

NEAL P. McCURN, Chief Judge.

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiffs commenced this action against William K. Reilly, in his capacity as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 9659 to compel defendant to perform his non-discretionary duties under 42 U.S.C. § 9604(c)(9). See Plaintiffs’ Complaint at ¶ 1. Presently before the court are three motions. In the first motion, the Towns of Lewiston and Porter, as well as the County of Niagara, (“Municipal Intervenors”) move for leave to intervene as of right pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 24(a)(2) (“Rule 24”) or, in the alternative, for permissive intervention pursuant to Rule 24(b)(2). The second motion is an identical motion for intervention brought by the Hazardous Waste Treatment Council (“HWTC”).1 Defendant opposes both of these motions to intervene. The third motion is brought by defendant to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint and the intervenors’ proposed complaints for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) (“Rule 12”) or, in the alternative, for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). Plaintiffs, as well as the would-be intervenors, oppose this motion. At the request of the parties, the court will address the motions to intervene before turning to defendant’s motion to dismiss.

DISCUSSION

A. Motions to Intervene

Rule 24 provides for two types of intervention, intervention of right and permissive intervention. Pursuant to Rule 24(a),

[u]pon timely application anyone shall be permitted to intervene in an action: ... (2) when [it] claims an interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the action and [it] is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede [its] ability to protect that interest, unless [its] interest is adequately represented by existing parties.

Fed.R.Civ.P. 24(a)(2) (1991 Rev.Ed.). Furthermore, even those that do not meet the requirements of Rule 24(a) may still be eligible for permissive intervention. Pursuant to Rule 24(b),

[u]pon timely application anyone may be . permitted to intervene in an action: ... (2) when [its] claim or defense and the main action have a question of law or fact in common____ In exercising its discretion the court shall consider whether the intervention will unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties.

Fed.R.Civ.P. 24(b)(2) (1991 Rev.Ed.).

1. Permissive Intervention

Permissive intervention is wholly discretionary with the court. United States Postal Serv. v. Brennan, 579 F.2d 188, 191 (2d Cir.1978). By its terms, Rule 24(b)(2) requires only that the applicant make a timely application and that its claim and the main action have a question of law [490]*490or fact in common. See Nuesse v. Camp, 385 F.2d 694, 704 (D.C.Cir.1967). In this regard, courts have held that Rule 24(b)(2) is to be liberally construed, see, e.g., McNeill v. New York City Hous. Auth., 719 F.Supp. 233, 250 (S.D.N.Y.1989) (citing Davis v. Smith, 431 F.Supp. 1206, 1209 (S.D.N.Y.), aff'd, 607 F.2d 535 (2d Cir.1978)), and that its requirements are satisfied where a single question of law or fact exists despite factual differences between the parties. See id. (citations omitted).

The principal consideration for the court in determining whether or not to allow intervention is “whether the intervention will unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties.” Brennan, 579 F.2d at 191. In exercising its discretion, the court may also consider other relevant factors “ ‘[i]ncludpng] the nature and extent of the intervenors’ interests,’ whether their interests are ‘adequately represented by the other parties,’ and ‘whether parties seeking intervention will significantly contribute to full development of the underlying factual issues in the suit and to the just and equitable adjudication of the legal questions presented.’ ” Brennan, 579 F.2d at 191-92 (citing Spangler v. Pasadena City Bd. of Educ., 552 F.2d 1326, 1329 (9th Cir.1977) (footnote omitted)). Furthermore, the court’s determination of the adequacy of existing representation necessarily involves an assessment of factors which are within the court’s discretion. Brennan, 579 F.2d at 191 (citing Rios v. Enterprise Ass’n Steamfitters Local Union # 638, 520 F.2d 352, 355 (2d Cir.1975); Chance v. Board of Educ., 496 F.2d 820, 826 (2d Cir.1974)). Even if a court considers these additional factors, however, it is well-established that the primary issue remains undue delay or prejudice, while adequacy of representation is, at most, a minor factor. United States v. Columbia Pictures Indus., Inc., 88 F.R.D. 186, 189 (S.D.N.Y.1980); see also Citizens For An Orderly Energy Policy, Inc. v. County of Suffolk, 101 F.R.D. 497, 502 (E.D.N.Y.1984).

In the present case, no one disputes the fact that the Municipal Intervenors and the HWTC made timely applications for intervention. Thus, the only real issue is whether allowing these applicants to intervene would cause undue delay or prejudice to the original parties to this action. Defendant’s opposition to both of these motions rests entirely upon its contention that the would-be intervenors do not meet any of the additional factors which the court may take into consideration in making its determination. In this regard, defendant states that “[t]he [intervenors’] interest in the litigation’s outcome is remote, it is identical to that of plaintiffs to the extent that it is cognizable, plaintiff will adequately represent the [intervenors’] interest, and the [intervenors] can add nothing to the legal and factual questions before the court____” See Defendant’s Memoranda of Law in Opposition to the Motions to Intervene. On the other hand, defendant’s only statement respecting the alleged harm that it would suffer if the court were to allow these applicants to intervene is relegated to a footnote in its opposition briefs. In general terms, this footnote states that “[t]he [intervenors’] intervention will only further burden EPA’s defensive efforts.” See id. n. 6.

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Bluebook (online)
143 F.R.D. 487, 35 ERC (BNA) 1959, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15872, 1992 WL 293453, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/new-york-v-reilly-nynd-1992.