Navajo Nation SCT Decides Navajo v. RJN Construction Management

Here:

Navajo Nation v. RJN Construction Management, Inc., et al, No. SC-CV-13-11.  Opinion.  In this appeal filed by RJN, the Home for Women and Children, and Robert Nelson, the Supreme Court affirms the lower court’s permanent order enjoining appellants from blocking access to the worksite and otherwise interfering with the Navajo Nation’s legal obligation to build a shelter facility pursuant to a business site lease issued to the Home by the Navajo Nation.  The Court stated that a business site leaseholder’s possessory right on tribal trust land is strictly limited by the specific purposes for which the lease has been approved for the holder.  The Court further stated that while the lower court was wrong in excluding contract-based justifications from RJN on the basis of sovereign immunity, the justifications were only relevant insofar as they bear on the consideration of the injunction itself as an equitable remedy. In this case, the Court found harmless error. (January 17, 2012).

This case was argued at Yale Law School.

Navajo Nation SCT Hears Case at Yale Law School

The Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation came to Yale to hear a case on Monday evening.

The Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation came to Yale to hear a case on Monday evening. Photo by Jennifer Cheung.

News coverage here.