LESLIE E. KOBAYASHI, District Judge.
Before the Court is pro se Plaintiff C. Kaui Jochanan Amsterdam's ("Plaintiff") Motion for Continuance, filed on February 1, 2016 ("2/1/16 Motion"). [Dkt. no. 50.] The Court did not require any further briefing on the 2/1/16 Motion. The Court finds this matter suitable for disposition without a hearing pursuant to Rule LR7.2(e) of the Local Rules of Practice of the United States District Court for the District of Hawai`i ("Local Rules"). After careful consideration of the 2/1/16 Motion, the supporting memorandum, and the relevant legal authority, the 2/1/16 Motion is HEREBY DENIED for the reasons set forth below.
The background of this case is well known to the parties, and the Court repeats only the facts relevant to the instant matter. On August 24, 2015, Plaintiff filed his Complaint Regarding the Thirty Meter Telescope Atop the Sacred Volcanic Mountain of Mauna Kea ("Complaint"). [Dkt. no. 1.] Thereafter: on September 9, 2015, Defendant Governor David Ige, in his official capacity ("the Governor"), filed a Motion to Dismiss Complaint Filed August 24, 2015 ("the Governor's Motion"); [dkt. no. 15;] on September 17, 2015, Defendants University of Hawai`i at Hilo and University of Hawai`i at Manoa (collectively "the University") filed a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's "Complaint Regarding the Thirty Meter Telescope Atop the Sacred Volcanic Mountain of Mauna Kea," Filed on August 24, 2015 ("the University's Motion"); [dkt. no. 18;] and on September 25, 2015, Defendant Suzanne Case, in her official capacity as Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources ("Chairperson Case"), filed a joinder in the Governor's Motion ("Joinder") [dkt. no. 29]. On November 30, 2015, the Court issued its order: (1) Granting Defendant Governor David Ige's Motion to Dismiss Complaint Filed August 24, 2015; (2) Granting Defendant Suzanne Case in her Official Capacity as Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources Joinder in Defendant Governor David Ige's Motion to Dismiss Complaint Filed August 24, 2015; and (3) Granting Defendants University of Hawaii at Hilo and University of Hawaii at Manoa's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's "Complaint Regarding the Thirty Meter Telescope Atop the Sacred Volcanic Mountain of Mauna Kea," Filed on August 24, 2015 ("11/30/15 Order"). [Dkt. no. 39.]
In the 11/30/15 Order, the Court found that Plaintiff lacks standing to bring suit. Additionally, the Court ruled that the following claims were all barred by the Eleventh Amendment: Plaintiff's claim under article XII, section 7 of the Hawai`i State Constitution; "Plaintiff's claims against the State of Hawai`i, associated state agencies, the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources [("DLNR")]"; and Plaintiff's claims against the University. [11/30/15 Order at 15.] The Court dismissed all of those claims with prejudice.
On September 23, 2015, Defendant Henry Yang, in his capacity as Chair of the Board of the Thirty Meter Telescope ("TMT") Observatory Corp. ("Yang"), filed a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint Regarding the Thirty Meter Telescope Atop the Sacred Volcanic Mountain of Mauna Kea Filed on August 24, 2015 ("Yang's Motion to Dismiss").
In an entering order filed on December 8, 2015 ("12/8/15 EO"), [dkt. no. 41,] the Court directed Plaintiff, Yang, the Governor, and Chairperson Case to file memoranda addressing whether or not the case was moot given the Hawai`i Supreme Court's decision in
While on its face the 2/1/16 Motion appears to request a continuance, the Court notes that there is nothing to continue in this case. Further, the 2/1/16 Motion argues, inter alia, that Plaintiff has "new information," [2/1/16 Motion at 2,
Motions for reconsideration are governed by Local Rule 60.1, which states, in relevant part:
This Court has stated that,
The 2/1/16 Motion does not state any ground upon which the Court may grant reconsideration. Plaintiff states that he is "citing CR 54 presenting new information as exemplified with the Ruling made by the Hawai`i Supreme Court with its Impact also on this Case and important information being received by the Plaintiff from parties involved in important matters of the Case." [2/1/16 Motion at 2.] The Court notes that CR 54 does not appear to reference a relevant rule in either the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or the Local Rules. In addition, insofar as Plaintiff states that
Plaintiff also references alleged violations of his constitutional rights that he states were previously discussed in his 11/30/15 Motion for Reconsideration, and that "include his Right to speak freely at the Hearing and exercise his Free Speech as protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, his Right to Due Process as provided for by the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and his Right to Equal Protection as provided for by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution." [Mem. in Supp. of 2/1/16 Motion at 4.] The Court, however, has already addressed Plaintiff's allegations of constitutional violations:
[1/13/16 Order at 8 n.2.] Plaintiff provides neither new evidence to support his constitutional claims nor any argument as to why the Court's previous ruling was incorrect.
Next, Plaintiff asserts that the Court misapplied the mootness doctrine, specifically the exception for wrongs capable of repetition yet evading review. Plaintiff states that "[a]ctivist Native Hawaiians/Kanaka Maoli/Protectors have vowed to block the advancement of the TMT Project with our without a favorable DLNR Ruling regarding the TMT Project. Therefore, approval of a permit for the Project will not void future injury, but rather perpetuate injury to the native Hawaiian People." [Mem. in Supp. of 2/1/16 Motion at 3.] Like Plaintiff's constitutional claims, the Court has already considered and rejected this argument.
Finally, as he has done in past filings, Plaintiff references discussions that he states are ongoing between the interested parties in this case, including "[t]he diplomatic, mutual negotiated approach presently being used by the Plaintiff provides results and resolves the wrongs capable of repetition and evading review in the past and present confrontation judicial approach being used." [Mem. in Supp. of 2/1/16 Motion at 3.] Moreover, Plaintiff "humbly asks consideration for a Continuance until March 1, 2016 to have time for Assessment, Review, and Discovery and to complete the important diplomatic and legal process presently advancing among the parties." [
The Court FINDS that Plaintiff has provided no grounds for reconsideration of the 1/13/16 Order, and the 2/1/16 Motion is therefore DENIED.
On the basis of the foregoing, Plaintiff's Motion for Continuance, filed February 1, 2016, is HEREBY DENIED. The Court DIRECTS the Clerk's Office to enter final judgment and close this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED.