(Abatti petition)... Michael Abatti recently filed a new petition with the U.S. Supreme Court.
Abatti wants to reverse an appellate court decision that ruled the Imperial Irrigation District controlled the Imperial County water rights. At the time, the IID legal counsel said they would not be responding to the Abatti petition unless the High Court asked for a response. The US Supreme Court has now asked for the IID to respond. The request came after a group of farmers and agriculture organizations filed an amicus brief with the court. The brief argues that the high court should consider the matter because of the implications for property rights in the Imperial valley as well as federal water policy ramifications of the case.