Defs' Reply in Support of Motion for PO Regarding Pltfs' Request for Production of MMS Audit Documents

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTFOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA____________________________________)ELOUISE PEPION COBELL, et al.,)) No. 1:96CV01285 Plaintiffs, ) (Judge Lamberth) v. ) )GALE A. NORTON, Secretary of )the Interior, et al., )) Defendants. ))DEFENDANTS’ REPLY IN SUPPORT OFMOTION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER REGARDING PLAINTIFFS’REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION OF MMS AUDIT DOCUMENTS ANDPLAINTIFFS' NOTICES OF DEPOSITION OF DEBORAH GIBBS TSCHUDYAND LONNIE J. KIMBALL WITH REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTSANDOPPOSITION TO PLAINTIFFS' MOTION TO COMPELAND REQUEST FOR SANCTIONS PURSUANT TO RULE 37On October 29, 2003, Defendants moved for a protective order regarding Plaintiffs'document requests and deposition notices inquiring into the September 26, 2003, ex parte sitevisit and related Site Visit Report of the Special Master to the Dallas, Texas Office of theMinerals Revenue Management Division of the Department of the Interior's MineralsManagement Service ("Report"). For the reasons stated in Defendants' opening memorandum, aswell as below, Defendants respectfully request that the Court enter a protective order and denyPlaintiffs' Motion to Compel and Request for Sanctions.BackgroundOn October 1, 2003, Plaintiffs sent a letter to Defendants' counsel containing requests forproduction of Minerals Management Service ("MMS") Audit files ("Request for MMS AuditDocuments"); on October 17, 2003, Plaintiffs served a Notice of ...