SECOND DI VI SI ON DOYLE, C. J.

, M I LLER, P. J, and REESE, J.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 19, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 53 5

. CHURCHILL FINANCIAL M ANAGEM ENT CORP.

v . CLEARNEXUS, INC. DO-0 2 2

D O Y LE , Ch ief J ud g e.

Th i s ap p eal ar i s e s f

r o m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n fi rm at i o n o f an arb i t rat i on award

t o C l earNex u s , In c., (“ Cl earNex u s ”) i n t h e am o un t o f $2 5 5,0 21 ag ai ns t Ch u rch i l l

Fi n an ci al M an ag em en t Co rp o rat i o n (“ Ch u rch i l l ”) b as ed o n Ch u rch i ll ’ s al l eg ed

t erm i n at i o n of a s erv i ce co n t ract wi t h Cl earNex u s w i t h o u t p ro p er n o t i ce. Ch u rch i l l

ap p eal s , arg u i n g t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred b y f i n d i n g t h at (1 ) Ch urch i l l wai v ed

s o v erei g n i m

m u ni t y v ia t h e arb i t rat i o n cl au se i n t h e co n tract b et ween t h e p art i es ; (2 )

Ch u rch i ll wai v ed s o v erei gn im m un i t y b y fai l i n g t o fi l e wi t h t h e arb i t rat o r a m o t i o n

t o v acat e o r m o d i fy t h e award ; an d (3 ) Ch u rch i ll co u l d no t as s e r t th e so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y o f th e Gu i d i v i ll e Ban d o f t h e Po m o In di an s u n der wh ich Ch u rch i l l i si n co rp o rat ed

. Fo r t h e reas o ns t h at fo l lo w, we v acat e t he o rd er co n fi rm i n g t h e

a r b i t rat i o n award an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r fu rt her p ro ceed i ng s co n s i st en t wi t h t h i s

o p i n i o n

.

Ou r rev i ew o f th e i s s u e of s o v erei g n im m un i t y , wh i ch is a q u es t i o n o f l aw, i s

d e n o v o

. 1 An d al t h o u g h t h e b ar fo r g ran t i n g rel i ef fro m an award o f arb i t rat i o n i s

h i g h

, t h e i ss u e o f w h et h er t h e arb i t rat o r l ack ed ju ri sd i ct i o n o n t h e b as i s t h at t h e

arb i t rat i on i s b arred b y t h e d o ct ri n e o f t ri b al s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y i s an i s s u e fo r wh i ch

rel i ef can b e g ran t ed

. 2

Th e reco rd rev eal s t h at t h e G u i d i v i l l e Ran ch eri a o f Cal i fo rn i a i s a fed eral l y

reco g n ized tri bal en t i t y (“ t h e Tri b e”). 3 In 20 1 3

, C h u rch i l l

, wh i ch i s a s ecu red

co n su m er l en d i n g en t it y ch art ered b y t h e t ri be, en t ered i n t o a s er v i c e c o n t ract wi th

Cl earNex u s i n wh i ch Cl earNex u s wo u l d p ro v i d e cal l cen t er s erv i ces fo r Ch u rch i l l ’ s

l en d i n g o p erat i o n

. Ch u rch i l l ’ s co rp o rat e ch art er s t at es th at Ch urch i ll “ i s a l eg al en t i t y

1 See Ga

. Dep t

. o

f Na t u r al Res o u r ces v. Cen t er fo r a Su s t ai n a b l e Co a s t

, In c. , 2 9 4 Ga. 5 9 3

, 5 9 6 (2 ) (7 5 5 SE2 d 1 8 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

2 See OCGA § 9 -9 -1 3 (b ). Cf. Fu l t o n Co u n t y v. Lo r d

, 3 23 Ga. A p p

. 3 8 4

, 3 8 8,

3 8 9 (1 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 1 88 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

3 See I n d i a n En ti ti es Reco g n ized & El i gi b l e To Recei v e Serv i ces Fro m t h e Un i ted St at es Bu reau o f In di an Affai rs , 8 1 FR 5 01 9

, 5 0 2 1 (2 0 1 6).

2wh o l l y o wn ed b y th e Tri b e, b u t d i st i n ct an d s ep arat e fro m th e Tri b e.” T he art i cl es o f

i n co rp o rat io n al s o s t at e t h at “ [n ] o t h i n g i n t h i s Ch art er o f In co rp o rat i o n s h al l b e

d eem ed t o wai v e, o r t o p erm i t t h e Co rp o rat i o n t o wai v e, t h e s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y o f

t h e Tri b e.” Th e art i cl es fu rt h er p ro v i d e t h at

Su b ject t o ap p li ca b l e fed eral l aw, [Ch u rch i l l ] i s au t ho ri zed an d

e m p o wered t o en g ag e i n , carry o n an d co nd u ct an y l awfu l b u si nes s , i n cl u d i n g , b u t wi t h o u t li m i t i n g t h e b ro ad au t h ori zat i o n o f t h e fo reg o i n g ,

t h e fo ll o wi n g :

A

. T o s u e i n i ts co rp o rat e n am e an d t o p erm i t s u i t ag ai n s t i t s el f i n i t s

co rp orat e n am e in t h e Gu i d iv i l l e Tri bal Co urt o r in o t h er co urt s o f

co m p et en t ju ri s di ct i o n , no t wi t h s t an d i n g th e p ri v i l eg es an d i m m u n i t i es

t h e Co rp o rat i o n o t herwi s e en jo y s b y vi rt ue o f i t s s t at u s ; p ro v i d ed

, t hat

[Ch u rch i l l] m ay o nl y ex erci s e t h i s p o w er t o wai v e th e d efen s e o f

s o v erei gn im

m u n i t y fro m su i t b y wr i t t e n res o l u ti o n o f t he Bo ard o f

Di rect o rs an d t h e Gu i d i v i l l e Tri b al Co u n ci l

. . . .

C. No t h in g i n t h i s Ch art er an d n o act i o n t ak en b y [Ch u rch i l l ] p u rs u an t

t o t h i s Ch art er s h al l b e co n s t ru ed as a wai v er o f t h e s o v erei g n i m m u ni t y

co n ferred u po n [Ch u r c h i l l ] b y t h e Tri b e u n l es s t h e Bo ard o f Di rect ors

b y Bo ard Res o l u t io n ex pres s l y wai v es s ai d i m m u n i t y o n a cas e b y cas e

b as i s.

3Th e art icl es co n tai n ed a l i m i t ed wai v er o f s o v erei g n i m m u ni t y , wh i ch req u i red Tri b al

ap p ro v al :

A. No t h wi t h s tan d i n g an y o t h er p ro vi s i o n o f l aw, [C h u r c h i l l] i s

au t h ori zed to wai v e s o v erei g n i m m u ni t y fro m s u i t o f [ C h u r c h il l ]

, th e

Di rect o rs , o ffi cers , em

p l o y ees [,] o r ag en t s fo r an y p art i cu lar ag reem en t

m at t er o r t ran s act i o n, o n a cas e b y cas e b as i s , as m ay b e en t ered i nt o t o

fu rt h er th e p u rp o s es o f [ Ch u rch i ll ]

. S u ch res o l u t io n sh a l l r eq u ir e th e

a p p r o va l o f t h e Tr i b al Co u n ci l

b ef o r e b ei n g va l i d

. 4

B. An y w ai ver o f i m

m u n i t y au t h ori zed b y parag rap h A of t h i s A r t i cl e

s h al l b e i n t h e fo rm o f a res o l u t i o n ad o p t ed b y t h e B o a rd of Di rect o rs

. Th e res o l u t i o n s h al l i n d en t i fy t h e part i es fo r wh o s e b en efi t t h e wai v er

i s gran t ed

, t h e t ran s act i o n o r t ran s act i o n s an d th e cl ai m s o r cl as s es o f

cl ai m s fo r wh i ch t h e wai v er i s g ran t ed

, t h e pro p ert y o f [Ch u rch i l l ] wh ich

m ay b e s u b

ject t o ex ecu t i o n t o s at i s fy an y ju d g m en t w h i c h m ay be

en t ered reg a r d i n g t h e cl ai m o r cl ai m s, an d s h al l i d en t i fy t h e co u rt o r

c o urt s i n wh i ch s u i t ag ai n s t [Ch urch i l l ]

, it s Di rect o rs , o ffi cers ,

em p l o y ees o r ag en ts m ay

b e b ro u g h t

.

C. An y w ai ver o f i m

m u n i t y s h al l b e l i m i t ed t o t h e as s et s an d / o r i n co m e

o f [Ch u rch i l l]

, an d t he act s o r om i s s io n s o f [ C h u r c h i l l]

, i t s Di rect o rs ,

o ffi cers , em

p l o y ees o r ag en t s s h al l n o t creat e an y l iab i l i t y , o b l ig at io n o r

i n d eb t ed n es s ei t h er o f t h e Tri b e or p ay ab le o u t o f as s et s , rev en u es o r

i n co m e o f t he Tri b e.

4 (Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed .)

4In t h e s erv i c e a greem en t b et ween Cl earNex u s an d Ch u rch i l l

, t h e fo l l o wi n g

p ro v is i o n ap p eared :

1 1. Arb it rat i o n

. Al l cl ai m s , co n t ro v ers i es [,] an d d i s p u t es (o t h er

t h an a cl ai m fo r eq u i t ab l e rel i ef) b et ween [Cl earNex u s ] an d Cl i en t

ari s i ng o u t o f o r i n co n n ect i on wi t h t h i s Ag reem en t o r t h e t ran s act i o n s

an d b us in es s co n t em

p l at ed t h ereb y, s h al l b e s u bm i t t ed t o fi n al an d

b i n d i n g arb i t rat io n, as th e ex cl u s iv e d i s p u te res o l u ti o n m ech an is m

. Al l

arb i t rat io n p ro ceed i n g s s h al l b e h el d i n At l an t a , G e org i a, un l es s
[Cl earNex u s ] an d Cl ien t ag ree i n wri t i ng t o an o t h er l o cat i o n . Is s u an ce

o f an arb i t rat i o n d em an d s h al l s u s p en d an y ju d i ci al o r ad m in i s t rat iv e

p ro ceed i n gs i n s t i t u t ed in co n n ect i o n t h erewi t h (ex cep t fo r eq u i t ab l e

rem e d i es ), fo r t he d u rat i o n of t h e arb it rat i o n p ro ceed i n g s

. A rb i trat i o n

s h al l b e g ov ern ed b y t h e co m m erci al ru l es o f t h e Am eri can A rb i trat i o n

As s o ci at i o n (t h e “ AAA”). Arb i t rat i o n s h al l b e co n d uct ed b y o ne

arb i t rat or wh o sh al l b e ch o s en b y th e AAA w i t hi n fi v e (5 ) d ay s o f

recei p t o f t he arb i t rat i o n d em an d

, u nl es s t h e Part i es s o o n er ag ree u p o n

an arb i t rat o r. Th e arb i t rat o r m ay award at t orn ey [] fees an d co st s t o th e

p rev ai l i n g p art y

. . . [Cl earN e x u s ] a n d Cl i en t h ereb y co n s en t t o th e

en fo rcem en t o f an y arb i t rat i o n award ren d ered p u rs u an t to t h is Sect i o n

i n t h e co u rt s o f co m

p et en t ju ri s d i ct i o n o f each s t at e of t he Un i ted St at es

o f Am eri ca o r el s ewh ere wh ere Cl i en t o r [Cl earNex us ] h av e o ffi ces o r

s i gn i fi can t as s et s

. Al l arb i t rat i o n h eari n g s s h al l b e co n d uct ed i n En g l i sh

,

an d an y m o net ary award o f th e arb i t rat o r s hal l b e g ran ted i n US Do l l ars

.

5Aft er a b u s i n e s s d i s p u t e aro s e b et ween t he p art i es , Cl earNex u s fi led a cl ai m

a g a i n s t Ch u rch i l l wi t h t he Am eri can Arb i t rat i o n As s o ci at i o n , an d Ch u rch i l l fi l ed a

m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s t h e cl ai m b as ed o n i t s im m u n i t y fro m s u it as a t ri b al s o verei g n

. Th e

arb i t rat o r d en ied Ch u rch i l l ’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m is s , fi n d i n g t h at b y s i g n i n g t h e s er v i ce

ag reem en t wi t h i t s arb i t rat i o n cl au s e, Ch u rch i l l h ad wai v ed t h e p ro t ect i o ns o f t ri b al

s o v erei g n i m

m u n i t y

. Th e arb i t rat o r en t er e d a n a w a r d to Cl earNex us , b u t Ch u rch i l l d id

n o t fi l e an ap p l i cat i o n t o v acat e t h e arb i t rat i o n award

. W i th i n a y ear o f t h e arb i t rat o r’ s

d e c i s i o n, Cl earNex us fi l ed an ap p l i cat i o n to co n fi rm t h e award i n t h e t ri al co u rt

.

Ch u rch i ll o b

ject ed t o t h e co n fi rm at i on , arg u i n g th at t h e arb it rat o r’ s award w as v o id

b ecau s e Ch u rch il l was i m m u ne fro m s ui t o n t h e bas i s o f t ri b al s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y

.

Th e su peri o r co u rt co n fi rm ed t h e award

, fi n d i n g t h at Ch u rch il l fai l ed t o t i m el y

ch al l en g e t h e arb it rat o r’ s award w i t h in t h ree m o nt h s. Th e co u rt fu rt h er d et erm i n ed

t h at Ch urch i l l was au th o ri zed b y t h e Tri b e t o en t er i n t o co n tract s , an d b y d o i n g s o in

t h i s i n s tan ce, wai v ed s o v erei gn i m m u n i t y fo r t he p u rp o ses o f th i s co n t ract

. Th u s , t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt co n fi rm ed t h e arb i t rat i on award

.

1

. As an i n i ti al m at t er, Ch u rch i l l arg u es t h at t h e su p eri o r co u rt erred b y fi n d i n g

t h at i t wai v ed s ov erei g n i m m u n i t y b y fai l i n g to fi l e wi t h t he arb i t rat or a m o t i o n to

v acat e o r m o d i fy

t h e award u n d er OCGA § § 9 -9 -1 3 o r 9 -9 -1 4

.

6To t h e ex t en t t h at th e su p eri o r co u rt ’ s o rd er was d eci d ed p art i al l y on t h i s b as i s ,

t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred

. Cl earNex u s h as po i n t ed t o n o St at e au th o ri t y s u p p ort i n g t h e

p r o p o s i t i o n t h at an en t it y i s p ro h ib i t ed fro m rai s i n g t he i s s u e o f t ri bal s o v erei g n

i m m u ni t y as a defen s e t o a p et i ti o n t o co n fi rm an arb i t rat io n award

. A deart h o f cas e

l aw ex i s t s o n t h e i ss u e o f t ri b al s o v erei gn im m un i t y , bu t

, fo r i n s t an ce, wh en

ad d res s i n g St at e so v erei g n i m m u n it y “ t h e gen eral ru l e i s t h at in t h e ab s en ce o f

ex p res s s t at u t o ry o r co n s t it u t i o n al au t h o ri zat i on , n ei t h er co u n s el fo r t h e [ S ]t at e n o r

an y o f i ts ag en ci es m ay , b y affi rm at i v e act i o n o r by fai lu re t o p l ead

, wai v e t h e d efen s e

o f g o vern m en t al i m

m u n i t y .” 5 M o reo v er, as t h e U.S. Su prem e Co u rt h as ex pl ai n ed

,

t h e i m m u n i t y p o s s es sed b y In d i an t ri bes i s n ot co ex t en s i ve wi t h t h at o f

t h e St at es

. [Fo r i n st an ce,] s t at e s o verei gn im m u n i ty [d i v erg es ] fr o m

t ri b al so v erei g n i m

m u n it y , as t ri b es were n o t a t t h e Co n s t i t u t i o nal

Co n ven t i on

. Th ey were t h u s n o t p art i es t o t h e m u t u al i t y o f co n ces s i o n

t h at m ak es t h e St at es ’ s u rren d er o f im m u n i ty fro m s ui t b y s i s t er St at es

p l au si b l e. So t ri b al i m

m u n i t y i s a m at t er o f fed eral l aw an d i s n o t s u b ject

t o d i m i n u ti on b y

t h e St at es

. 6

5 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). Kel leh er v. St a te

, 1 8 7 Ga. A p p

. 6 4

, 6 5 (1 ) (3 6 9 SE2 d

3 4 1 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

6 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Ki o wa Tr ib e v. Mf g. Tech no l o g i es

, In c. , 5 2 3 U. S. 7 5 1, 7 5 5 -7 56 (II) (1 1 8 SCt 1 7 0 0

, 14 0 LE2 d 9 8 1 ) (1 9 9 8). See al s o Amer i n d

Ri s k M gmt

. Co rp

. v. M

a l a t er r e , 6 3 3 F3 d 6 8 0

, 6 8 6 (II) (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 1) (“ Th e p l ai n t i ffs

as s ert t h at Am eri n d wai v ed i t s s o v erei g n i m m u n i ty b y fai l in g t o rai s e th e i ss u e b efo re

7Acco rd in g ly

, we d ecl i ne t o h o ld t h at a p art y i s req ui red t o fi rs t fi l e an ap p l i cat i o n to

v acat e an arb i t rat i o n award u n der O CGA §§ 9

- 9

- 1 3 o r 9

- 9

- 1 4 i n o rd er to arg u e t h e

d efen s e o f t ri b al s o v erei gn i m m u n i t y t o t h e co n fi rm at i o n o f an arb i t rat i on award

. 7

2

. Nex t

, Ch u rch i l l arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fi n d i n g t hat i t co u l d n ot

as s ert t h e t ri b al so v erei g n i m m u n i t y o f t h e T r i b e un d er wh i ch Ch u rch i l l i s

i n co rp o rat ed

, o r al t ern at i vel y , Ch u rch i l l wai v ed an y t ri bal s o ve r ei g n i m m u n i t y by

s i gn i n g t h e ag reem en t wi t h t h e i n cl u d ed arb i t rat io n cl au s e. 8

(a) Gen eral l y s p eak in g , “ [ t ]ri b es en jo y i m m u n it y fro m s u it s o n co n t ract s ,

wh et h er t h o s e co n t ract s i n v o lv e g o v ern m en t al o r co m m erci al act i v it i es an d wh et h er

t h ey were m ad e on o r o ff a res erv at i o n

. [Th u s , a] n In d i an t ri be is s ub ject t o s u i t o n l y

t h e d i s t r i ct co u rt i n Am eri n d II. Ho w ev er, o u r co u rt h as h el d th at [t ri bal ] so v erei g n i m m u ni t y i s a t hres h o l d j u r i s d i ct i o n al m at t er an d a ju ri s d ict i o n al p rereq u i s i t e. Th erefo re, t ri b al s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y m ay be rai s ed fo r th e f i rs t t i m e o n ap p eal

, o r rai s ed s ua s

po n t e b y t h e co u rt .”) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i on o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s in

o ri g i nal ).

7 Co m p are Ra l st o n v. Ci t y o f Da h l on eg a , 2 36 Ga. Ap p

. 3 86

, 3 9 0 -3 9 1 (6 ) (5 1 2

SE2 d 3 00 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t h e p art i es ’ fai lu re t o arg u e go v ern m en t al i m m u n i t y b efo re t h e arb i t rat o r an d s u p eri o r co u rt at t h e co n fi rm at io n h eari n g effect i vel y wai v ed

t h ei r cl ai m s o f g ov ern m en t al i m m u n i ty o n ap p eal ).

8 Fo r cl ari ty , we ad dres s t h e i s s u es rai s ed in two o f Ch u rch i l l ’ s en u m erat i on s

o f erro r t o g et h er.

8wh ere Co n g res s h as au t ho ri zed t h e s u i t o r t h e t ri b e h as wai v ed i t s i m m u n it y .” 9 In C

& L En t er p r is es

, In c. , 1 0 t h e U.S. Su p rem e Co u rt h el d t h at a t ri b e m ay wai v e i m m u n i t y

fro m s ui t b y ag reei n g t o arb i trat e d i s p u t es rel at i n g t o a co n t ract as l o n g as t h e

ag reem en t i s “ cl ear.” 1 1 T h u s , i f t h e ag reem en t i n t hi s cas e h ad been m ad e b et ween t h e

Tri b e an d Cl earNex u s , t h en t h e arb i t rat i o n cl au s e wo u l d hav e effec t u at ed a cl ear

wai v er o f t ri b al s ov erei g n i m m u n i ty

. 1 2 N e v e r t h el es s, Ch u rch i l l i s no t t h e Tri b e, b ut

a co rp o rat e en t i t y ch art ered u n d er t ri bal l aw.

(b ) M o s t co u rt s t h at h av e ad d res s ed t h i s i s su e hav e d et erm i n ed t h at t ri b al

s o v erei g n i m

m u ni t y ex t en ds t o en t it i es k n o wn as ch art ered t ri b al co rp orat i o n s wh en

t h ey are “ arm s o f t h e t ri b e.” 1 3 W h et h er a co rp o rat i o n i s an “ arm o f t he t ri b e” p ro t ect ed

9 C & L En t er

p r i s es

, In c., v. Ci t i

z en Ba nd Po t a wa t o mi In d i a n Tr ib e , 53 2 U. S.

4 1 1

, 4 16 (I) (1 21 SCt 1 5 89

, 1 4 9 LE2 d 6 2 3 ) (2 00 1 ). See al s o Ki o wa Tr i b e , 5 2 3 U. S.

at 7 5 1 (p ro v i d i n g an h i s t o ri cal o v erv i ew o f t r i b a l s ov erei g n im m u n i ty ); Ro s eb u d

S i o u x Tr i b e v. Va l -U Co n st r . Co

. , 5 0 F3 d 5 6 0

, 5 62 -5 6 3 (8 t h Ci r. 1 99 5 ).

1 0 5 3 2 U. S. at 4 1 1.

1 1 Id . at 41 8 -4 1 9 (II).

1 2 See i d

.

1 3 See, e.g ., Al a b ama v. PCI Ga mi n g A u t h

. , 8 0 1 F3 d 1 2 7 8

, 1 2 8 7 -1 28 8 (IV) (A) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 5 ) (fi n d i n g th at a wh o ll y o w n ed g am i n g au t h o ri t y t h at o perat es t ri b al

cas i n o s was an arm o f t h e t ri be p ro t ect ed b y s ov erei g n i m m u n i t y ); A mer i n d Ri s k Mg mt

. Co r

p. , 6 3 3 F3 d at 6 8 8 (II) (fi n di n g th at a s el f-i n s u ran ce ri s k po o l fo r m u l t i p l e

t ri b es was pro t ect ed b y t ri b al s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y ); Br ea kt h r o u g h M

g mt

. Gr o u p

, In c.

9b y t ri b al s o v e rei g n i m m u n i t y gen eral l y i s det erm in ed b as ed o n a co ns i d erat i o n o f

t ri b al i n vo lv em en t i n t h e creat i on an d co n t ro l of th e en t i t y , i n t en t t o cl o t h e t h e en t i t y

wi t h i m m u n i t y , an d wh et h e r t h e en ti t y s erv es t ri b al s o v erei g n i nt eres t s s u ch as

eco n om i c d ev el op m en t

. 1 4

v. Ch u kch a n s i Go l d Ca s in o & R es o r t

, 6 2 9 F3 d 1 1 7 3

, 1 1 91 -1 19 5 (I) (B) (2 ) (b ) (1 0 th

C i r

. 2 0 1 0 ) (fi n d i n g t hat a t ri b al cas i n o an d eco no m i c d ev el o p m en t au t h o ri t y wer e

p ro t ect ed b y t ri b al s o verei gn i m m u n i t y ); Memp h i s B iofue ls, L L C v

. C hic k a saw N ation

In d u s., In c. , 5 8 5 F3 d 9 1 7

, 9 2 0 -9 2 1 (II) (A) (1 ) (6 t h Ci r. 2 00 9 ) (fi nd i n g t h at a t ri b al

co rp o rat i o n ch art ered u n d er fo rm er 2 5 USC § 47 7 was an arm o f t h e tri b e); Al l en v. Go l d Co u n t r

y Ca s i n o , 4 6 4 F3 d 1 0 4 4

, 1 0 46 -1 0 4 7 (9 th Ci r. 2 0 0 6) (cas i no act ed as arm

o f t he t ri b e); Ta

yl o r v. Al a

. In ter t r i b al Co u n ci l Ti tl e IV J.T.P.A.

, 2 61 F3 d 1 0 3 2

, 1 0 3 7 (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 1 ) (fi nd i n g t h at an i n t er-t ri b al co u n ci l was p ro tect ed b y tri al so v erei g n i m m u ni t y ); Ha g en v. S is s et o n-W a hp et o n Co mmu n i t

y Co l l eg e , 2 05 F3 d 1 0 4 0

, 1 0 4 3

- 1 0 4 4 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 0 ) (fi n d i n g t h at a t ri b al co m m u n i t y co l l eg e was an arm o f t h e t ri b e

an d t h u s p ro t ect ed b y t ri b al s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y ). See al so In

yo Co u n t

y v. Pa i u te-S h o s h o n e I

n d i an s , 5 3 8 U. S. 70 1

, 7 0 5 n .1 (1 2 3 SCt 1 88 7

, 1 55 LE2 d 9 3 3 ) (2 0 0 3) (accep t i n g Un i t ed St at es ’ u n d i sp u t ed as s ert io n th at t ri bal g am i ng co rp o rat i o n

was an arm o f th e t ri be fo r s ov erei g n i m m u n i t y pu rp o s es ). Bu t s ee S o mer l o tt v. Ch er o kee Na t io n Di st r i b s

. , In c. , 6 86 F 3 d 1 1 4 4

, 1 1 49 -1 1 5 0 (1 0 t h Ci r. 20 1 2 ) (t ri b al

en t i t y i n co rp o rat ed un d er s t at e law i s n o t i m m u ne f r om a n e m pl oy m en t d i s cri m i n at i o n

s u i t

, b ut p l ai n t i ff f

a i l e d t o p res erv e t h i s arg u m en t o n ap p eal ); Ru n yo n v. As s n

. of

V i l l a g e Co u n ci l Pr es i d

en t s , 8 4 P3 d 4 3 7

, 4 41 (Al as ka 2 00 4 ) (d et erm i n i n g t h at

co rp o rat i o n creat ed b y t ri b al v i l l ag es w as n o t arm o f t h e s ev eral p art i ci p at i n g t ri b es

s u ch th at t ri b al s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y ap p li ed ).

1 4 See, e.g ., S ta t e o

f Co l or a d

o v. Ca s h Ad

va n ce , 2 05 P3 d 38 9 ,4 0 3-4 0 6 (VIII) (Co l. Ap p

. 2 0 0 8) (co l l ect i ng cas es an d d es cri b i n g v ari o us tes t s t o d et erm i n e s t at u s o f

co rp o rat i o n).

10Al t h ou g h n ei t h er t h e arb i t rat o r n o r th e s u p eri or co u rt en g ag ed in an a n a ly s i s

b as ed o n a n y f

a ct ors to d et erm i n e wh et h er Ch urch i l l i s an arm o f t h e Tri be,

Cl earNex u s h as co n ced ed t hat Ch u rch i l l i s an arm o f t h e Tri b e. Ad d it i o n al l y ,

C h u rch i l l ’ s art icl es of i n co rp o rat i o n s t at ed t h at “ [t ] h e Co rp o rat i o n s h al l b e wh o l l y

o wn ed by t h e Tri b e fo r th e ben efi t o f t h e Tri b e an d i t s m em b ers ” an d is cl o t h ed wi th

t h e i m m u n i t y o f t h e T r i b e

. T h erefo re, we need n o t ad o p t a part i cu lar ap p ro ach to

d et erm i n e t h i s i s s u e at t h i s t i m e, an d we n eed n o t rem an d i n o rd er fo r t h e s u p eri o r

co u rt t o m ak e t h is d et erm i n at i on

. 1 5

(c ) C l e a r N ex u s arg u es , an d b o t h t h e arb i t rat o r an d t h e s u p eri o r co u rt fo u n d,

t h at reg ard l es s o f wh et h er Ch u rch i ll was an arm o f t h e Tri b e an d p ro t ect ed b y t ri b al

s o v erei g n i m

m u n i t y , i t h as wai v ed t h at i m m u n i t y b y s i g n in g t h e s erv i ce ag reem en t

co n tai n i n g t h e arb i t rat i o n cl au s e, s i m i l ar to t h e d et erm i n at i o n i n C& L En t er p r i s es

. 1 6

Ch u rch i ll arg u es i n s t ead t h at i t i s req u i red to fo l l o w a s p eci fi c pro ced u re in o rd er to

wai v e t ri bal so v erei g n i m m u ni t y u n d er i ts ch art er, an d t h e n eces s ary p ro ced u re was

n o t fo l l o wed

. Bas ed o n p ers u as i v e au t h o ri t y o f o t h er ju ri s di ct i o n s , we ag ree. In

1 5 Co m p are i d. at 3 9 7 (III).

1 6 5 3 2 U. S. at 4 1 6 (I).

11Memp hi s Bi o f u el s , 1 7 t h e U.S. Co u rt of Ap p eal s fo r th e Si x t h Ci rcu i t d et erm in ed t h at

al t h o u g h a w h o l l y o w n ed t ri b al co rp o r a t i on co ul d hav e wai v ed t ri b al so v erei g n

i m m u n i t y, a cl ear co n t ract p ro v i s i o n bet ween th e p art i es di d n o t act as a wai v e r

b ecau s e t h e req u i red ap p ro v al o f t h e co n t ract a n d i n co rp o rat ed wai v er was n ot

ap p ro v ed as req ui red u n der t h e co rp o rat e ch art er. 1 8

Fi n al l y , t o t h e ex ten t t h at t h e s up eri o r c o u r t ’ s d eci s i o n was b as ed o n

Ch u rch i ll ’ s i m

p l i ed wai v er b y p art i ci p at i n g i n t h e arb i trat i o n pro ceed i n g, t h e reco rd

s h o ws t h at t h e p art i ci pat i o n was m i n i m al

, i n v o l v i n g o n l y t h e i s s u e o f t ri bal so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y , an d t h u s i n s u ffi ci en t t o res u l t i n wai v er. 1 9 Acco rd i n g l y , th e t ri al co u rt erred

b y co n fi rm i n g t h e arb i trat io n award an d b y fi n d in g t h at t h e arb i t rat or h ad j u ri s d i ct i o n

o v er t h e p ro ceed i n g o n t h e b as i s t h at Ch u rch i l l h ad wai ved tri b al s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y

.

Th u s, w e v acat e t h e s u p eri o r co u rt o rd er co nfi rm i n g t h e award an d rem an d t h e cas e

1 7 5 8 5 F3 d at 9 21 -9 2 2 (II) (A) (2 )

1 8 See id

. See al s o Bu c h w a l d Ca p i t a l Ad vi s o r s v. Pa p a s , 5 5 9 B.R. 8 4 2 (Cas e No

. 0 8-5 3 1 0 4 ; E.D. M i ch

. 2 0 1 6 ); Amer i n d Ri s k Mg mt

. Co rp

. , 6 3 3 F3 d at 6 8 7 -6 8 8 (II). Cf. Sa n d

er l i n v. S emi n o l e Tr i b e o

f Fl a

. , 2 4 3 F3 d 1 2 8 2, 1 28 7 -1 2 89 (III) (A) (1 1 th

Ci r. 2 0 01 ) (h o ld i n g t h at an ag en t o f a t ri b e can n o t wai v e t ri b al s ov erei g n i m m u n i t y

reg ard l es s of t h e ex i st en ce o f a co n t ract co n t a i n i n g wai v er o n b eh al f o f tri b e i f t h e

ag en t fai l ed t o recei v e ap p ro v al as req u i red b y t ri b e i n o rd er t o wai v e i m m u n i t y ).

1 9 Co m p are wi t h Og l a l a S i o u x Tr i be v. C& W En ter p r i s es , 5 4 2 F3 d 2 2 4

, 2 3 3 (II) (B) (5 ) (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 08 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t h e t ri b e fu l ly p art i ci p at ed i n arb it rat i o n ).

12fo r en t ry o f an o rd er v acat i n g t h e arb i trat i o n award fo r l ack o f ju ri s d ict i o n b as ed o n

t ri b al s o v erei g n i m

m un i t y

.

“ Th i s res ul t m ay s eem u n fai r, b ut t h at i s t h e real i t y o f [t ri b al ] so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y .” 2 0

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a nd ca s e r ema n d

ed . Mi l l er , P. J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

2 0 Memp h i s Bi o

fu el s , 5 8 5 F3 d at 9 22 (II) (A) (3 ), q u ot i n g Ki o wa Tr ib e o f Ok.

, 5 2 3 U. S. at 7 5 8 (II).

13