S-18-0082 Robert J. Prokop (Petitioner-Appellant) v. Lower Loup Natural Resources Dist.; Joseph Citta, Jr., Chairman; Leon “Butch” Koehlmoss, General Manager; and Russel Callan, Assistant General Manager (Respondents-Appellees)
Valley County District Court, Judge Karin L. Noakes
Attorneys: Donald G. Blankenau, Kennon G. Meyer (Blankenau Wilmoth Jarecke L.L.P.) (Attorneys for Amicus Curiae, Nebraska Groundwater Coalition) --- Blake E. Johnson, Katherine J. Spohn (Bruning Law Group) (Appellees) Brian C. Buescher, Dwyer Arce (Kutak Rock L.L.P.)(Appellant)
Civil: Cease and desist; Due Process
Proceedings below: The trial court found that 1) the LLNRD complied with its own Rules and Regulations when issuing a cease and desist order on Appellant; 2) the LLNRD provided due process when issuing the cease and desist order; 3) the LLNRD’s cease and desist order did not result in the taking of a constitutionally-protected property right requiring compensation; 4) the LLNRD complied with the requirements of the APA in delivering a copy of the administrative record to the trial court; and the trial court declined to consider certain evidence outside of the administrative record. Appellant filed a petition to bypass, which was granted by the Supreme Court.
Issues: Whether the trial court erred 1) in affirming the LLNRD’s penalty on Appellant for failing to provide information in his annual reports; 2) in affirming a one-year suspension of Appellant’s access to groundwater on his own property, and affirming in part the LLNRD’s imposition of a four-year suspension of Appellant’s access to groundwater, as a penalty; 3) in affirming the LLNRD’s order in part because it violated Appellant’s right to procedural due process; 4) in affirming the LLNRD’s order in part because it violated Appellant’s due process rights of limiting the possibility of competent judicial review; 5) in holding that the LLNRD’s suspension of Appellant’s access to groundwater did not constitute a taking without just compensation; 6) in granting the LLNRD’s motion to strike exhibits offered by Appellant for limited purpose; and 7) in failing to reverse the LLNRD’s order banning Appellant from irrigating with groundwater and failing to award Appellant fees