Appellate Court of Connecticut

Connecticut COA Affirms Eviction of Individual from Schagticoke Lands

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion in Schaghticoke Indian Tribe v. Rost.

An excerpt:

The self-represented defendant in this summary process eviction action, Michael J. Rost, appeals from the trial court’s judgment of possession rendered in favor of the plaintiffs, the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe (SIT) and the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation (STN). The defendant claims that the court improperly (1) exercised jurisdiction by adjudicating a summary process action involving sovereign reservation land, (2) decided a dispute over tribal leadership, (3) rendered judgment without one of the plaintiffs being represented at the summary process trial and (4) ignored prior judicial decisions impacting STN’s authority to represent the interests of the Schaghticoke Indians. We affirm the judgment of the court.

Tribal Suit in Conn. Courts against Insurer Succeeds

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion in Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians v. Lorinsky, in the Appellate Court of Connecticut. The tribe sued and won in the trial court over an insurance policy for casino employees.

An excerpt:

The named defendant, Jay Lorinsky, appeals from the judgment of the trial court, rendered after a jury trial, in favor of the plaintiff, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians (Viejas). On appeal, Lorinsky claims that (1) the court incorrectly concluded that the accidental failure of suit statute, General Statutes § 52-592, permitted Viejas’ case to be filed in state court, (2) the evidence was insufficient to support the jury’s award of damages and (3) the court improperly denied the defendants’ motions for a mistrial and to set aside the verdict. We disagree, and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of the trial court.