Here are the briefs:
Lower court materials here.
Oral argument video:
Here is the opinion:
From the court syllabus:
Plaintiffs Jessica Gingras and Angela C. Given borrowed money from Plain Green, LLC, an online lending operation owned by the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in Montana. The terms of their loan agreements provide for interest rates well in excess of caps imposed by Vermont law. Gingras and Given sued, alleging violations of Vermont and federal law. They seek an injunction against tribal officers in charge of Plain Green and an award of money damages against other Defendants.
Some Defendants moved to dismiss, arguing that tribal sovereign immunity barred the suit. All Defendants moved to compel arbitration under the terms of the agreements. The district court (Geoffrey W. Crawford, Judge) denied both motions. We hold that tribal sovereign immunity does not bar this suit because Plaintiffs may sue tribal officers under a theory analogous to Ex parte Young for prospective, injunctive relief based on violations of state and substantive federal law occurring off of tribal lands. We further hold that the arbitration clauses of the loan agreements are unenforceable and unconscionable.
Briefs and link to lower court materials here.
Here are the materials in JW Gaming Development LLC v. James (N.D. Cal.):
Here is the opinion in Drabik v. Thomas:
Here are the materials in Williams v. Big Picture Loans LLC (E.D. Va.):
23 big picture mtd jurisdiction
Update (4/17/19) — Here are materials in a related matter, Weddle v. Williams (D. Colo.):
12 Response to Motion to Quash
17 Reply in Support of Motion to Quash
18 Response to Motion to Transfer
19 Third Party Motion to Intervene
20 Notice of Third Party Joinder
22 Reply in Support of Motion to Transfer
24 Response to Motion to Intervene
27 DCT Order Granting Motion to Transfer
Update (5/6/19) — Here are updated materials in Big Picture:
Here is the unpublished opinion in WD at the Canyon v. Honga.
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