The U.S. government held secret meetings with the timber industry to boost sales and weaken habitat protection in Pacific Northwest national forests, several environmental groups charged in a lawsuit. Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund filed the lawsuit in federal court in Seattle to obtain records showing the U.S. Justice Department met with timber industry representatives seeking ways to water down the Northwest Forest Plan.Earthjustice represents several groups involved in the lawsuit, including Biodiversity Northwest and the Oregon Natural Resources Council.