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Factual Baclcpround <br />The administrative record will show that, acting without the advice of counsel, Ann'l utum <br />tiled an administrative complaint with DMG concerning the subsidence damage that has occurred <br />to the residence house at Solitario Ranch since this Court's decision in .lames (Jim) and Ann Tatum <br />v. Ilasin Resources. Inc., No. 92-CV-127 (Dist. Ct. Las Animas County, Colo. Dec. 1, 1997). DMCi <br />investigated Ms.'1'a~um's ootttplaint, found that it had merit; and issucdNotice of V iolation No. L V- <br />2000-009 ("the NOV") pttrsoant to Colo. Rev. Slat. § 34-33-123(2). 'The NOV assigned liability for <br />the new subsidence damage to Basin and required the tympany to repair the damage or, altemativcly, <br />to compensate the Tatums adequately. <br />Ptusuantto Colo. Rev. Slat. Q 34-33-124(l)(a), Basin requested adtinistrative review of tt~c <br />NUV before the Board. The Tatums successfully moved the Board fur permission to intervene in <br />the admini strative review proceedings. During the discovery process, the Tatums and DMG teamed <br />that Basin intended to challenge [o theNUV through expert opinion evidence substantially identical <br />to the expert evidence this Court considered and rejected in the Tatums initial subsidence damage <br />action against Aasin. lndeed, the only Bound that Bssin gave For challenging the NO V is the theory <br />that coal mine subsidence in Basin's Golden L•agle Mine could never have damaged the Tatums' <br />residence in the first place, and thus cannot have damaged the structure alter 1997. Thus, Basin's <br />case on administrative review asked the Board to reject this Court's December 1, 1997, <br />tiendings and conclusions on the role of coal mine subsidence in damaging Solitario before that <br />date. <br />lnvokin2 principles ofcollateral estoppel, tlte'1'atums and DMG moved the Board to prohibit <br />Basin from introducing expert opinion evidence chat disputed this Court's findings and conclusions <br />-4- <br />