Case: Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1:26-cv-00043 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Jan. 8, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.)

On January 8, 2025, Plaintiffs brought this case against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to challenge the removal of the the Rio Grande cooter's "threatened" designation. Filing under the Administrative Procedure Act and Endangered Species Act, Plaintiffs alleged that Defendants' re-designation of the species was undertaken despite mounting evidence showing that the turtle is in danger of extinction. Plaintiffs sought a declaration that the Service violated the ESA and APA by determining that the Rio Grande cooter does not warrant listing under the ESA, and an injunction directing the Service to issue a revised listing decision.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72118447/parties/center-for-biological-diversity-v-us-fish-and-wildlife-service/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Cossio, Camila (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-00043

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72118447/center-for-biological-diversity-v-us-fish-and-wildlife-service/

Last updated Jan. 17, 2026, 12:21 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12173943) filed by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons)(Cossio, Camila) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons

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3 Summons

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4 Summons

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5 Summons

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6 Summons

View on PACER

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Cossio, Camila) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

3

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Lia Comerford, Fee Status: Paid. Receipt No.: ADCDC-12174625. by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Proposed Order)(Cossio, Camila) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

4

SUMMONS (5) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Jia M. Cobb. (znmw)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

5

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Brian Segee, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12180230. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Good Standing)(Cossio, Camila) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

6

ERRATA by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY re 5 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice,. (Attachments: # 1 Motion for pro hac vice, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Certificate of Good Standing)(Cossio, Camila) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

Notice of Error

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

NOTICE OF ERROR regarding 5 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Brian Segee. The following error(s) need correction: No motion included. Please file the motion as an Errata. (znmw)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

7

NOTICE of Appearance by Brian Paul Segee on behalf of CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Segee, Brian) (Entered: 01/14/2026)

Jan. 14, 2026

Jan. 14, 2026

MINUTE ORDER granting 5 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice: Attorney Brian P. Segee is hereby admitted pro hac vice to appear in this matter. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on January 14, 2026. (lcjmc1)

Jan. 14, 2026

Jan. 14, 2026

ORDER granting 3 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice: Attorney Lia Comerford is hereby admitted pro hac vice to appear in this matter. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on January 14, 2026. (lcjmc1)

Jan. 14, 2026

Jan. 14, 2026

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Jan. 14, 2026

Jan. 14, 2026

8

Notice of Appearance

Jan. 15, 2026

Jan. 15, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 8, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-00043

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket