Washington Court of Appeals

Washington SCT Rejects Immovable Property Exception to Sovereign Immunity

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion in Flying T Ranch Inc. v. Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians:

103430-0 Opinion.pdfDownload

Briefs here.

Washington COA Affirms Dismissal of Tulalip Suit against Insurance Cos. Over COVID Business Losses

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the available materials in Tulalip Tribes v. Lexington Insurance Co.:

Opinion.pdfDownload
Lexington Brief.pdfDownload
Alliant Brief.pdfDownload
Tulalip Reply.pdfDownload

Washington SCT Oral Argument in Immovable Property Case

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the oral argument video in Flying T Ranch v. Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians.

Briefs here.

S’posed to be immovable property.

Washington SCT Briefs in Immovable Property Immunity “Exception” Appeal

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the briefs in Flying T Ranch v. Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians:

13 – Respondent’s Supplemental Brief.pdfDownload
14 – Petitioners Supplemental Brief.pdfDownload

Washington COA materials here.

Washington COA Affirms Tribal Immunity Applies to Tribally-Owned Fee Land

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the available materials in Flying T Ranch Inc. v. Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians:

Opinion.pdfDownload
17 – Brief of Appellant 5.19.23.pdfDownload
30 – Respondents Brief 6.21.23.pdfDownload
11 – Amicus Brief ISO STI – Multiple Tribes – 11.30.2023.pdfDownload
15 – Appellants Answer to Multiple Tribe’s Brief 1.2.24.pdfDownload
Sauk-Suiattle Amicus Brief.PDFDownload
Answer to Sauk-Suiattle Amicus Brief .PDFDownload
32 – Reply Brief of Appellant 7.21.23.pdfDownload

Washington COA Holds Swinomish Golf Course Possesses Immunity

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in Howson v. Similk Inc.:

Unpublished Opinion.pdfDownload
846281 Appellant Richard Howson’s.PDFDownload
846281 Respondent ‘s.PDFDownload
846281 Appellant ‘s Reply.PDFDownload

State and Tribes Prevail over Big Tobacco in Washington COA Decision about Boring Taxes

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in State of Washington v. American Tobacco Co. (Wash. Ct. App.):

Opinion.pdfDownload
Appellant Brief.PDFDownload
Respondent Brief.PDFDownload
Tribal Amicus Brief.PDFDownload
Answer to Amicus Curiae .PDFDownload
Reply.PDFDownload

Washington COA Rejects Tribal Employee Immunity Defense, But Rejects Liability on the Merits [DV Wrongful Death @ Tulalip]

ilpc

Here are the available materials in Pitoitua v. Gaube (Wash. Ct. App.):

Opinion.pdfDownload
Respondent’s Brief.PDFDownload

Washington COA Restores Sauk-Suiattle Nuisance Claim against City of Seattle

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe v. City of Seattle (Wash. Ct. App.):

Opinion.pdfDownload
836323 Appellant’s Brief.PDFDownload
836323 Respondent’s Brief.PDFDownload
836323 Appellant’s Reply.PDFDownload
836323 Amicus Curiae Skagit County.PDFDownload
836323 Answer to Amicus Curiae Respondent City of Seattle.PDFDownload
“American Indians protesting a hydroelectric dam.”

Washington Court of Appeals on Standard of Proof at Initial Removal

Kate Fort

827995 orderandopinion

We also conclude that when the Department has reason to believe that a child is an Indian child under ICWA and WICWA, the heightened removal standard in those statutes applies to ex parte pick-up order requests. Because the Department had reason to know A.W. is an Indian child–information not shared with the trial court–and the trial court appliced an incorrect legal standard in assessing the Department’s evidence at that stage of the proceeding, the trial court erred in not vacating the pick up order.