SCOTUS Grants Cougar Den Tax Case; Denies Shingle Springs Gaming and Wind River Reservation Boundaries Cases; Issues CVSG in Ute Tribal Court Jurisdiction Matter

Here is today’s order list.

Here are the materials in the Cougar Den matter.

Here are the materials in the Shingle Springs matter.

Here are the materials in the Wind River matter.

Here are the materials in the Ute Tribe matter.

Post-Trial Briefs in Tulalip Tribes v. Washington [Quil Ceda]

Here are the post-trial briefs in Tulalip Tribes v. State of Washington (W.D. Wash.):

stateposttrialbrief

tulalipposttrialbrief

Case tag here.

NY Court of Appeals Affirms State Tax Collection Powers over Indian Retailers

Here is the opinion in White v. Scheiderman.

Briefs:

record on appeal

native outlet motion for leave to appeal

appellant brief

seneca nation amicus brief

cayuga nation amicus brief

state appellee brief

state response to tribal amici

reply brief

Eleventh Circuit Rules Against Miccosukee Tribe and Sally Jim over Taxes

Here is the opinion in United States v. Jim.

Briefs here.

United States Tax Court Holds Income Earned from Seneca Lands is Taxable

Here is the opinion in Perkins v. Commissioner:

Opinion

Ninth Circuit Briefs in Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Riverside County

Here:

Opening Brief 

NCAI  Amicus Brief 

NITA Brief of Amicus Curiae

county answer brief

desert water agency answer brief

county association amicus brief

reply

Oral argument video here.

Lower court materials here.

Update in Comenout Litigation II

Here are updated materials in Comenout v. Pittman (formerly Comenout v. Pierce County Superior Court) (W.D. Wash.):

70 DCT order dismissing complaint

77 DCT order granting motion to file amended complaint

103 state official motion to dismiss

105 opposition

108 reply

110 DCT order

Prior posts here.

Update in KBIC Suit against Michigan Treasury Dept.

Here are the materials in Keweenaw Bay Indian Community v. Khouri (W.D. Mich.):

99 state motion re state prosecutions

115 kb motion for protective order

126 kb motion for summary j re sales and use taxes

143 magistrate order granting protective order

Federal Court Dismisses Seminole Challenge to Florida Utilities Tax

Here are the materials in Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Biegalski (S.D. Fla.):

10 Motion to Dismiss

18 Response

21 Reply

41 DCT Order

Federal Court Issues Split Decision in Flandrea Santee Sioux — South Dakota Tax Dispute

Here are the materials in Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe v. Gerlach (D. S.D.):

79 State Motion for Summary J

117 Flandreau Motion for Summary J

124 State Opposition

130 Flandreau Opposition

136 Flandreau Reply

154 DCT Order

An excerpt:

1. The Tribe’s Motion for Summary Judgment, Doc. 115, is GRANTED to the extent that:

a. The State cannot impose a use tax on nonmember purchases of goods and services as to the Casino’s slots, table games, food and beverage services, hotel, RV park, live entertainment events, and gift shop (claim one).

2. The Tribe’s Motion for Summary Judgment, Doc. 115, is DENIED as to the following:

a. The State can impose a use tax on nonmember purchases of goods and services at the Store (claims one and three).

b. The State’s use tax on nonmember purchases of goods and services at the Store is not discriminatory (claim four)

3. The Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, Doc. 78, is GRANTED to the extent that:

a. The State’s use tax on nonmember purchases of goods and services at the Store is not preempted by IGRA (claim one).

b. The State’s use tax on nonmember purchases of goods and services at the Store is not discriminatory (claim four).

c. The collection and remittance of taxes on nonmember consumer purchases at the Store are not preempted by federal law and do not infringe on tribal sovereignty (claims two and five).

4. The Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, Doc. 78, is DENIED as to the following:

a. The State cannot impose a use tax on nonmember purchases of goods and services as to the Casino’s slots, table games, food and beverage services, hotel, RV park, live entertainment events, and gift shop (claim one).

b. The State cannot condition renewal of the Tribe’s beverage license on the collection and remittance of a use tax on nonmember consumer purchases (claims six and eight).

5. The State does not have jurisdiction to assess a use tax on nonmember purchases at the Casino’s slots, table games, food and beverage services, hotel, RV park, live entertainment events, and gift shop. However, the State does have jurisdiction to assess a use tax on nonmember purchases at the Store (claim seven).

6. Each party requested declaratory relief. Tribal sovereign immunity is jurisdictional in nature. This Court has no jurisdiction due to tribal sovereign immunity to order the ‘payment to the State from the escrow funds held pursuant to the Deposit Agreement. The Tribe, however, agreed in the Deposit Agreement that those funds would be held by the escrow agent pending the outcome of this lawsuit. Accordingly, the escrow agent may now, subject to any stay granted pursuant to an appeal, pay the funds held in escrow to the Tribe and to the State in their respective shares under the guidance provided by this declaratory judgment.