Federal Court Asks for Additional Briefing re: “Bad Faith” Exception to Tribal Court Exhaustion Doctrine in Grand Canyon Skywalk Case

Here is yesterday’s order:

DCT Order 2-28-12

The court stated:

On the day before oral argument, Plaintiff filed a supplemental statement of facts, including thirteen new exhibits, purportedly showing bad faith on the part of the tribe. Doc. 21. Plaintiff asserted for the first time at oral argument that this new information and the proffered testimony from the chairwoman of the tribal council would show that the bad faith exception applies. See Redwolf, 196 F.3d at 1065 (a party is exempt from exhausting its claims in tribal court where “an assertion of tribal jurisdiction is motivated by a desire to harass or is conducted in bad faith”).

By raising this issue at the last minute, Plaintiff has provided the Court with no briefing on the contours of the bad faith exception and has afforded Defendants little meaningful opportunity to respond. The Court cannot conclude that the bad faith exception applies on such an incomplete record. Because Plaintiff’s bad faith argument appears to be colorable, the Court will afford the parties an opportunity to brief the issue. The parties should address relevant case law on the bad faith exception, what evidentiary showing of bad faith is required, and the evidence each side claims in support of its position. Because time is important in Plaintiff’s claim, the Court will require the briefing in short order.

Materials are here:

Motion for TRO and Complaint

Hualapai Opposition

Supplement to Opposition to TRO

Update in Grand Canyon Skywalk Controversy (Another One)

Here:

Supplement to Opposition to TRO

News Article

Update in Alaska Native Challenge to USFWS Designation of Critical Habitat for the Polar Bear

Here are the new materials (excluding all the oil and gas industry briefs):

Alaska Native Motion for Summary J

US Response to Motion for PI

NYTs on Indian-Manufactured Cigarettes

Here.

Excerpt:

Inside, employees of the Oneida Indian Nation dump the shredded tobacco leaves into rolling machines and fashion them into cigarettes to be sold at a dozen tribal convenience stores midway between Syracuse and Utica.

The cigarettes, branded with names like Niagara’s and Bishop, sell for as little as $39.95 for a 10-pack carton — much cheaper than those at non-Indian retailers — and bring in millions of dollars a year to the tribe, which also has a resort casino, five golf courses and a multimedia production house.

“We tried poverty for 200 years,” the Oneidas’ leader, Ray Halbritter, said in an interview. “We decided to try something different.”

Thanks to T.W.

Update in Grand Canyon Skywalk Controversy

New materials in the developer’s effort to avoid the tribe’s move to using eminent domain to end the controversy:

GCSD Complaint 2-16-12

GCSD Motion for TRO

GCSD Emergency Request for Service

Tribal Court Order 2-17

GCS Tribal Court Opposition

Additional news coverage here.

Wisconsin COA Affirms Stockbridge-Munsee Immunity in State Courts

Here are the materials in Koscielak v. Stockbridge-Munsee Community:

Wisc. COA Opinion

Kscoielak Opening Brief

Stockbridge-Munsee Brief

Kscoielak Reply Brief

Colorado Trial Court Quashes Subpoenas and Vacates Bench Warrants in Cash Advance Remand

Here is that opinion:

Order

Here is the Colorado Supreme Court decision remanding the case back to the trial court.

News Coverage of Campbell v. BIA and Tulalip

Here.

Two Shields’ Motion to File Surreply

Here:

RAMONA TWO SHIELDS MOTION 2-10-12

Federal NAGPRA/NHPA Claims re: Mt. Hood Road Construction Survive Motions to Dismiss … For Now

Here are the materials in Slockish v. FHA (D. Or.):

Magistrate Report in Slockish

DCT Order in Slockish