Western District of Washington

Washington Federal Court Remands Wage and Hour Claims against Tribal Member Owned Business to State Court

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in Kwate v. Reece Construction Co. (W.D. Wash.):

1-3 State Court Complaint.pdfDownload
25 Motion to Remand.pdfDownload
29 Response.pdfDownload
32 Reply.pdfDownload
33 DCT Order.pdfDownload

Ninth Circuit Affirms Tribal Jurisdiction in Lexington Insurance Co. v. Smith [Suquamish]

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Opinion here.

Briefs here.

Ninth Circuit Materials in United States v. Washington Subproceeding 17-03 — Stillaguamish U&A

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Oral argument here:

Briefs here:

Stillaguamish Brief.pdfDownload
Hoh Answer Brief.pdfDownload
S’Klallam Tribes Answer Brief.pdfDownload
Swinomish Answer Brief.pdfDownload
Tulalip Answer Brief.pdfDownload
Upper Skagit Answer Brief.pdfDownload
Reply.pdfDownload

Lower court materials here.

Washington Federal Court Rejects ICRA Habeas Petitions Challenging Assault Conviction of Council Member

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in Sellards-Reck v. Shook (W.D. Wash.):

1 Habeas Petition.pdfDownload
21 Cowlitz Response to Petition.pdfDownload
25 Petitioner Reply.pdfDownload
30 Cowlitz Reply.pdfDownload
31 Magistrate Recommendation.pdfDownload
32 DCT Order Adopting Recommendation.pdfDownload

Ninth Circuit Briefs in Maverick Gaming Appeal [updated with oral argument video]

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the briefs in Maverick Gaming LLC v. United States:

Maverick Opening Brief.pdfDownload
US Brief.pdfDownload
Shoalwater Bay Brief.pdfDownload
Washington Brief.pdfDownload
Tribal Amicus Brief.pdfDownload

Lower court materials here and here.

Lexington Insurance Co. v. Smith [Suquamish] Ninth Circuit Oral Argument Video

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Briefs here.

Washington Federal Court Affirms Muckleshoot Tribal Court Jurisdiction over Marriage Dissolution

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in Turpen v. Muckleshoot Tribal Court (W.D. Wash.):

45 Turpen Motion for Summary J.pdfDownload
46 Tribe Opposition.pdfDownload
47 Turpen Reply.pdfDownload
49 Tribe Motion for Summary J.pdfDownload
50 Tribe Surreply re 45.pdfDownload
52 Turpen Response to 49.pdfDownload
53 Tribe Reply in support of 49.pdfDownload
56, Order on CMSJ 7-12-23.pdfDownload

Washington Federal Court Dismisses Sauk-Suiattle Online Sales Tax Complaint

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in Sauk-Suiatte Indian Tribe v. Ryser (W.D. Wash.):

5 Amended Complaint.pdfDownload
9 Motion to Dismiss.pdfDownload
10 Response.pdfDownload
11 Reply.pdfDownload
12 DCT Order.pdfDownload
Tax

Ninth Circuit Briefs in Lexington Insurance v. Suquamish

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Lexington Opening Brief.pdfDownload
Suquamish Answer Brief.pdfDownload

Reply TK.

Lower court materials here.

Sauk-Suiattle v. Seattle Cert Petition

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Cert Petition.pdfDownload

Questions presented:

  1. Is the court-created “futility” doctrine, which allows a United States court to decide a case removed from state court even though it lacks jurisdiction, repugnant to Article III of the Constitution?
  2. Does application of the so-called “futility” doctrine by a United States court to decide a case over which it lacks jurisdiction contravene 28 U.S.C. 1447(c), the plain language of which requires remand of the cause to the state court from which it was removed?
  3. Should the Supreme Court grant certiorari to reconcile a conflict among the circuit courts of appeal regarding the validity of the futility doctrine?

Lower court materials here.