Nebraska v. Wyoming, 515 U.S. 1, 23 (1995)

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Cite as: 515 U. S. 1 (1995)

Opinion of Thomas, J.

V

For these reasons, the exceptions to the Special Master's Third Interim Report are overruled.

It is so ordered.

Justice Thomas, concurring in part and dissenting in part.

I agree with the decision of the Court to overrule all of Wyoming's exceptions to the Third Interim Report on Motions to Amend Pleading (Report). Accordingly, I join Parts I, II, and III of the Court's opinion. I do not agree, however, that we should overrule the exceptions of the United States and Nebraska to the Master's recommendation that Wyoming be allowed to proceed with its proposed Fourth Cross-Claim against the United States. I would sustain those exceptions and require Wyoming to pursue that claim in another forum.

Wyoming's Fourth Cross-Claim begins with the following allegation:

"The equitable apportionment which the Decree was intended to carry into effect was premised in part on the assumption that the United States would operate the federal reservoirs and deliver storage water in accordance with applicable federal and state law and in accordance with the contracts governing use of water from the federal reservoirs." App. to Report E-11.

Wyoming then alleges generally that "[t]he United States has failed to operate the federal reservoirs in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and has failed to abide by the contracts governing use of water from the federal reservoirs." Ibid. According to Wyoming, these failures have "caused water shortages to occur more frequently and to be more severe, thereby causing injury to Wyoming and its water users." Id., at E-12. In short, Wyoming alleges

23

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