Tenth Circuit Reverses Refund Judgment against HUD

The case is Fort Peck Housing Authority v. HUD, and it’s unpublished (again, not sure why cases like these go unpublished).

An excerpt:

This case involves the Native American Housing Assistance and Self- Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA), 25 U.S.C. §§ 4101-4243.1 In that act Congress directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enter into a collaborative process with interested Native American tribes and their designated housing entities (Tribal Housing Entities) to adopt regulations providing for an annual, equitable distribution of available funds for low-income housing assistance. A regulation promulgated in 1998 disqualified funding for housing units which were no longer owned or operated by a Tribal Housing Entity. 24 C.F.R. § 1000.318. In subsequent years HUD mistakenly overpaid Fort Peck Housing Authority (Fort Peck) for dwelling units it no longer owned or operated. After discovering its oversight HUD demanded a refund. Fort Peck partially repaid HUD, but then sued, alleging the “owned or operated” regulation was invalid. The district court agreed but determined Fort Peck was not entitled to a return of all monies it had already refunded. HUD appealed from the court’s invalidation of its regulation and Fort Peck cross-appealed from the denial of return of its repayments. We reverse the invalidation of HUD’s regulation, dismiss Fort Peck’s cross-appeal, and remand.

Navajo Housing Authority v. Crownpoint District Court

This housing case originated in Navajo courts, but has bled over into federal court. Here are the materials:

tso-motion-to-lift-stay

nha-opposition

navajo-housing-authority-v-crownpoint-district-court-dct-order

All Mission Indian Housing Authority v. Magante

Interesting case where a tribal housing authority brought suit in federal court to evict a resident — they brought suit in federal court because there was no tribal court with jurisdiction. The federal court dismissed the action, recommending the that housing authority talk one its sponsoring tribes start a tribal court.

All Mission Indian Housing Authority Complaint

District Court Order to Show Cause re: Jurisdiction

All Mission Response to Order to Show Cause

District Court’s Amended Order of Dismissal