United States Tenth Circuit

Resolution of whether Navajo Nation courts may exercise jurisdiction over a case brought by private individuals against a Utah county, alleging violations of Navajo law, requires analysis under Montana v. United States, 450 U.S. 544, which defined the scope of tribes' inherent sovereignty, rather than under state sovereign immunity.

Appellate Information

• Decided 10/07/2002
• Published 10/07/2002

Judges

• LUCERO, Circuit Judge., Before EBEL, McKAY, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Tenth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Susan Rose of Sandy, UT, for the Plaintiffs-Appellants., R. Dennis Ickes, pro se.


• For Appellees:
  
• Carolyn Cox (Blaine J. Benard with her on the brief) of Holme Roberts & Owen L.L.P., Salt Lake City, UT, for Defendants-Appellees San Juan Health Services District, Reid Wood, Roger Atcitty, John Lewis, John Housekeeper, Karen Adams, Patsy Shumway, Gary Holliday, and Lauren Schafer., Jesse C. Trentadue of Suitter Axland, Salt Lake City, UT, for Defendants-Appellees San Juan County, J. Tyron Lewis, Mark Maryboy, Bill Redd, Craig Halls, and Richard Bailey., Kyle M. Finch of Miller, Stratvert & Torgerson, P.A., Farmington, New Mexico, submitted a brief for Defendant-Appellee Farmer's/Truck Insurance., Robert R. Harrison and David W. Slagle, of Snow, Christensen & Martineau, Salt Lake City, UT, submitted a brief for Defendants-Appellees Cleal Bradford, Dr. James Redd, Dr. L. Val Jones, Dr. Manfred Nelson, Marilee Bailey, Ora Lee Black, Lori Wallace, Carla Grimshaw, Gloria Yanito, and Julie Bronson.