Exxon Shipping Co. v. United States Department of Interior

GOODWIN, Circuit Judge:

Exxon Corp. and Exxon Shipping Co. (“Exxon”) appeal the dismissal of their complaint against five federal administrative agencies and their employees seeking to compel discovery. Exxon made the discovery requests as part of its defense in an underlying damage action arising out of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

The government instructed eight federal employees not to submit to depositions and restricted the testimony of two others. Exxon contends that the government’s action violated the Federal Housekeeping Statute, 5 U.S.C. § 301, and the Administrative Procedure Act…