Case: CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY v. BURGUM

1:26-cv-01172 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: April 7, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is ongoing while we research the case.] The Center for Biological Diversity, a national non-profit conservation organization incorporated in California and headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, filed suit against Douglas Burgum in his official capacity as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Brian Nesvik in his official capacity as Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service itself. The Center had petitioned the Fish and Wildlife…

[This summary is ongoing while we research the case.]

The Center for Biological Diversity, a national non-profit conservation organization incorporated in California and headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, filed suit against Douglas Burgum in his official capacity as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Brian Nesvik in his official capacity as Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service itself. The Center had petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the coal darter under the Endangered Species Act on April 20, 2010, and the Service issued a positive 90-day finding on September 27, 2011, followed by a proposed listing of the coal darter as threatened on December 21, 2023. However, the Service allegedly failed to issue the required final listing determination by the statutory deadline of December 21, 2024. The Center claimed this violated section 4(b)(A)(i) of the Endangered Species Act, which requires publication of a final listing rule within one year of a 12-month finding that proposes listing a species. The Center sought declaratory and injunctive relief to compel the defendants to issue the final listing determination, along with attorneys' fees and costs.

Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (4/12/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73154574/parties/center-for-biological-diversity-v-burgum/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Waltz, Daniel H. (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-01172

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Center for Biological Diversity v. Burgum

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73154574/center-for-biological-diversity-v-burgum/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12344708) filed by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Secretary Burgum, # 3 Summons Director Nesvik, # 4 Summons US Fish and Wildlife Service, # 5 Summons US Attorney for District of Columbia Pirro, # 6 Summons US Attorney General)(Waltz, Daniel) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons Secretary Burgum

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3 Summons Director Nesvik

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4 Summons US Fish and Wildlife Service

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5 Summons US Attorney for District of Columbia Pirro

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6 Summons US Attorney General

View on PACER

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Waltz, Daniel) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Reggie B. Walton. (znmw)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

MINUTE ORDER. The Court having considered the plaintiff's 4 Motion For Lindsay Reeves To Appear Pro Hac Vice, and it appearing to the Court that the attorney referenced therein meets the requirements for pro hac vice admission under this Court's rules, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that Lindsay E. Reeves, of Center for Biological Diversity, 3436 Magazine Street, FRNT PMB 539, New Orleans, LA 70115, is ADMITTED to practice before the Court pro hac vice in this case. 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 Reggie B. Walton on April 8, 2026. (lcrbw1)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 7, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01172

Recommended Citation