Document: 480 U.S. 9 107 S.Ct. 971 94 L.Ed.2d 10 IOWA MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Petitionerv.Edward M. LaPLANTE et al. No. 85-1589. Argued Dec. 1, 1986. Decided Feb. 24, 1987. Syllabus Respondent employee (hereafter respondent) of a ranch located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and owned by Indians, brought suit in Tribal Court seeking compensation from for personal injuries respondent suffered when cattle truck he was driving "jackknifed," compensatory punitive damages petitioner, ranch's insurer, its alleged bad-faith refusal to settle injury claim. Upon petitioner's motion dismiss, held that it had subject-matter jurisdiction, ruling Tribe could regulate conduct non-Indians engaged commercial relations with Indians reservation. Without review Appeals, petitioner an action Federal District Court, alleging diversity citizenship as basis federal declaration no duty defend because respondent's fell outside applicable insurance policies' coverage. The dismissed lack Appeals affirmed, concluding system should be permitted initially determine own which determination reviewed later court. Held: 1. A district court may not exercise jurisdiction over dispute before appropriate tribal has first opportunity jurisdiction. Pp.14-20 (a) rule announced National Farmers Union Ins. Cos. v. Crow Tribe, 471 845, 105 2447, 85 818, requiring exhaustion remedies, applies here even though federal-question case rather than case. Regardless policy supporting self-government requires courts, matter comity, stay their hands order give courts full Pp.15-16 (b) At minimum, requirement remedies means appellate must have lower determinations. Here, since did obtain Court's initial been satisfied intervene. Pp. 16-17 (c) Nothing statute (28 U.S.C. § 1332) or legislative history suggests congressional intent override deference and, absence any indication such intent, civil activities reservation lands presumptively lies courts. Pp.17-18 (d) Petitioner's contention local bias incompetence part justify is without merit among Union's exceptions would contrary promoting courts' development, Civil Rights Act, 25 1302, protects against unfair treatment 18-19 2. Although final Courts will subject court, relitigation resolution claim precluded proper owed system, unless determines fact, lacked P.19. 3. erred affirming dismissal remand, consider whether stayed pending further proceedings under prudential rule. 19-20 774 F.2d 1174 (CA9 1985), reversed remanded. MARSHALL, J., delivered opinion REHNQUIST, C.J., BRENNAN, WHITE, BLACKMUN, POWELL, O'CONNOR, SCALIA, JJ., joined. STEVENS, filed concurring dissenting part, post, p. ---. Maxon R. Davis, Great Falls, Mont., petitioner. Joe Bottomly, respondents. Justice MARSHALL Court. 1 Petitioner, Iowa company, this members resident Tribe's Montana. asserted citizenship. time initiated, involving same parties based were question us 2 * Edward LaPlante, member employed Wellman Ranch Company, Montana corporation. family, who are also residing Reservation. Petitioner Mutual Insurance Company insurer individual owners. 3 On May 3, 1982, LaPlante within boundaries While proceeding up hill, lost control vehicle injured "jackknifed." Agents Midland Claims Service, Inc., independent adjuster represented matter, attempted unsuccessfully LaPlante's In 1983, his wife Verla, Indian, complaint stated two causes action: named owners defendants sought wife's loss consortium; second settle. 4 moved dismiss failure properly allege suit. factual court's but allowed LaPlantes amend facts determined. addressed issue holding Since adjudicative coextensive concluded suit.1 Code establishes see ch. 11, does allow interlocutory appeals jurisdictional rulings. Accordingly, can occur only after decision merits. 5 Subsequent ruling, instant LaPlantes, Wellmans, Company,2 28 1332 indemnify Wellmans sustained coverage policies.3 granted motion. Relying R.J. Williams Co. Fort Belknap Housing Authority, 719 979 1983), given noted state comparable suits companies;4 indicated similarly because, reading Woods Interstate Realty Co., 337 535, 538, 69 1235, 1237, 93 L.Ed. 1524 (1949), sitting operate solely adjuncts system. "[o]nly if decides exclusive . ., free entertain" 1332. 6 Ninth Circuit affirmed order. (1985). It found supra, consistent intervening 818 Quoting Union, at 857, S.Ct., 2454, concluded: "We merely permit 'with benefit [tribal court] expertise matters.' " App. Pet. Cert. 5a-6a. We certiorari. 476 1139, 106 2244, 90 691 (1986). II 7 repeatedly recognized Government's longstanding encouraging self-government. See, e.g., Three Affiliated Tribes Wold Engineering, 877, 890, 2305, 2313, 881 (1986); Merrion Jicarilla Apache 455 130, 138, n. 5, 102 894, 902, 71 21 (1982); White Mountain Bracker, 448 136, 143-144, 10, 100 2578, 2583-2584 65 665 (1980); Lee, 358 217, 220-221, 79 269, 270-271, 251 (1959).5 This reflects fact tribes retain "attributes sovereignty both territory," United States Mazurie, 419 544, 557, 95 710, 717, 42 706 (1975), extent withdrawn treaty. favoring operates areas where affirmatively pre-empted statute. "[A]bsent governing Acts Congress, always infringed right make laws ruled them." U.S., 220, 271. 8 play vital role self-government, cf. Wheeler, 435 313, 332, 98 1079, 1090, 55 303 (1978), Government consistently encouraged development.6 criminal substantial limitation, Oliphant Suquamish 191, 1011, 209 restricted. See 854-855, nn. 16 17, 2453, 17. If state-court interfere generally divested law. Fisher 424 382, 96 943, 47 (1976); supra. matters relating affairs impair authority we Union.7 case, entered default judgment school child property. injunctive relief invoking 1331 claiming non-Indians. agreed injunction execution judgment, reversed, refused foreclose non-Indian. 855, 2453. that, although existence presented scope 1331, considerations comity direct exhausted 2454. Promotion self-determination required "the evaluate legal bases challenge" Id., 856, remanded available system.8 alleges citizenship, question, well. directs hand "full jurisdiction." Ibid. cases, well unconditional access forum place competition thereby impairing latter's affairs. Santa Clara Pueblo Martinez, 436 49, 59, 1670, 1677, 56 (1978); 388, 947. Adjudication nontribal infringes upon law-making authority, best qualified interpret apply 11 As indicates, respect institutions they opportunity" issues them "to rectify errors." encompasses development entire including determinations made dispute, yet obtained review, provided Code, 5. Until complete, 12 argues statutory grant overrides do agree. Congress undoubtedly power limit jurisdiction,9 read general implemented significant intrusion sovereignty, more view done so. statute, 1332, makes reference nothing render inoperative established Anglo-American mold virtually unknown 1789 authorized Judiciary Act 1789, Stat. 78-79; original manifest sovereignty. Moreover, until late 19th century, most neither considered citizens located, nor regarded foreign State, see, Cherokee Nation Georgia, 15-18, (1831); Elk Wilkins, 112 94, 102-103, 41, 45-46, 643 (1884), so requirements jurisdiction.10 amended several times judicial systems,11 never expressed 13 important States, 450 565-566, 101 1245, 1258-1259, 67 493 (1981); Washington Confederated Colville Reservation, 447 134, 152-153, 2069, 2080-2081, 387-389, 946-947. limited specific treaty provision "Because retains all inherent attributes Government, inference silence sovereign remains intact." 149, 14, 908, 14. 60, 1678 ("[A] itself plenary area cautions tread lightly clear indications intent"). intended decline invitation hold impaired fashion. 14 contends policies underlying jurisdiction—protection incompetence—justify rejected similar attacks past. 65, 21, 1680, 21. 21,12 provides various protections 15 exhaust instituting Courts' ultimately review. upholds challenge 853, 2452. Unless however, precludes raised LaPlantes' resolved Courts. III correctly instance. However, jurisdiction.13 reverse remand opinion.14 17 ordered. 18 part. 19 questions concerning issued respondents Complaint &Par; 8, (App. 3-4). raise For purposes our decision, therefore assume concurrent dispute. sufficient reason decided my not. 20 show other tribunals. Specifically, extraordinary circumstances enjoin litigation Thus, (1985), entertain Our belief Congress' "favors provide whose being challenged challenge." 2454 (emphasis added; footnote omitted). enforced cases challenging Juidice Vail, 430 327, 335-336, 97 1211, 1217-1218, 51 376 (1977). deliberations merits separate offers controlling precedent. Indeed, necessary, explicitly contemplated federal-court consideration orderly administration justice served allowing record developed either addressed." (footnote I why receive unusual some terminated, Colorado River Water Conservation 800, 813-816, 1236, 1244-1246, 483 (1976), held, "[a]bstention exception, rule." 813, 1244. mere another excuse performing adjudicate controversy it." County Allegheny Frank Mashuda 360 185, 188, 1060, 1063, 1163 (1959). contrary, between pendency bar having ." McClellan Carland, 217 268, 282, 30 501, 505, 54 762 (1910). Court.* That raises 22 Adherence doctrine, declaratory proceed imply disrespect judiciary. avoid what regard anomalous suggestion tribe respects greater State Montana, example. 23 today, suggested tribe's entitled degree State. Today's opinion, adjudicating reach those instead course agree conclusion respectfully dissent holding. renewed motions set forth summarily denied motions. Brief Amicus Curiae 3-4. initiated intervened plaintiff. companies settle, barring 1331. appealed. appeal pending, reconsideration light Union. prejudice, remedies. us. affirmative defense answer respondents' complaint. Reply Pub.L. 280, originally consent, take Tribe. Kennerly 400 423, 91 480, 27 507 (1971). consent now prerequisite assumption 1326, consented contend 7; Milbank Eagleman, 218 Mont. 58, 705 P.2d 1117 (1985) (Montana non-Indian arising out on-reservation conduct). Numerous statutes designed promote government embody policy. §§ 450, 450a (Indian Self-Determination Education Assistance Act); 476-479 Reorganization 1301-1341 Act). example, Title "for establishing educational classes training judges offenses." 1311(4). 1678, (1978) (providing claims interferes autonomy self-government). directions indicate, enunciated deprive Exhaustion prerequisite. respect, analogous principles abstention articulated Dist. (1976): there renders certain circumstances. River, here, strong concerns favored nonfederal forum. id., 819, 1247. "Congress limit, modify eliminate powers otherwise possess." 56, 1676. F. Cohen, Handbook Law 207-216 (1982). 1924, declared born citizens, June 2, 233, 43 253, codified 1401, therefore, Fourteenth Amendment, reside. There affect protection recent amendment occurred 1976. Oct. 1976, 94-583, 2891. "an assertion 'is motivated desire harass conducted bad faith,' patently violative express prohibitions, futile adequate (citation outsiders "is questionable best," 6, argue present "patently prohibitions," understand invoke enumerated relied 1949), dismissal. Following earlier 979, 982 barred long sits suit, apparently assuming contravene substantive policy, seems application non-infringement, whether, governed "tribal law." ante, at16. choice-of-law question.

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