Dave Stix

I own and operate a farm and ranch within the Newlands Project in Churchill County, Nevada. I am a longtime client of Schroeder Law Offices, P.C. I first contacted Laura Schroeder in the early 1990s upon the recommendation of an Oregon Cattlemen's Association contact to secure legal representation in a water rights transfer matter. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe had protested my intra-farm water right transfer application on the basis of abandonment, forfeiture, and lack of perfection. With Schroeder Law Offices' help, I was able to combat the Tribe's allegations and ultimately prevail before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2007.

Over the course of the litigation, Schroeder Law Offices, P.C. worked to develop an evidentiary record that supported my intra-farm transfer. The transfer, along with several other similar transfers, wound its way back and forth from the Nevada State Engineer's office to the Nevada Federal District Court, and finally on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Over the course of the litigation, Schroeder Law Offices helped to develop and present evidence in several administrative hearings before the State Engineer to demonstrate that my water rights were not subject to forfeiture or abandonment. In addition, the case proceeded to the appellate court several times. The attorneys at Schroeder Law Offices developed legal arguments to help set favorable precedent for forfeiture and abandonment law in Nevada. Ultimately, the Ninth Circuit issued a favorable ruling and I was able to keep my water rights and continue farming.

Throughout the process Laura Schroeder has provided the advice necessary to allow me to make informed decisions. Laura and her team has always provided excellent legal representation and personal attention. She has been a great resource for information about water rights in Nevada and the western United States, and has assisted me with a number of other water right related issues.