Source: http://www.ncai.org/resources/resolutions/supporting-efforts-to-reform-or-repeal-28-u-s-c-1500
Timestamp: 2020-01-27 21:19:19
Document Index: 382411401

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1500', '§ 1500', '§ 1500', '§ 1500', '§1500', '§1500', '§ 1500']

Supporting Efforts to Reform or Repeal 28 U.S.C. § 1500
Resolution #SAC-12-061
TITLE:	Supporting Efforts to Reform or Repeal 28 U.S.C. § 1500
WHEREAS, it is well-established that a trust relationship exists between the United States Government, as trustee, and Indian tribes, as beneficiaries, and this sacred trust includes the fiduciary duty of the United States Government to properly manage the assets and funds it holds for the benefit of Indian tribes and, when those assets and funds are mismanaged, a fundamental right of an injured beneficiary to sue the United States, as trustee, for damages resulting from a breach of trust; and
WHERAS, Indian tribes, as beneficiaries, are entitled to an accurate accounting of the assets and funds held for their benefit, and to sue the United States, as trustee, for such an accounting; and
WHEREAS, many Indian tribes have pursued claims against the United States for the loss or mismanagement of tribal assets and funds, and for an accurate accounting of these assets and funds, held in trust by the United States; and
WHEREAS, the different nature of relief sought under these claims has necessitated the pursuit of such claims in both the Court of Federal Claims and other federal courts; and
WHEREAS, in United States v. Tohono O’odham Nation, 131 S.Ct. 1723 (2011) the United States Supreme Court held that a federal law, 28 U.S.C. § 1500, prevents a plaintiff from pursuing a claim against the United States in the Court of Federal Claims if the claim shares substantially the same operative facts as a claim pending in another court; and
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court’s decision reversed long-standing Federal Circuit precedent that allowed the Court of Federal Claims to retain jurisdiction over a claim under Section 1500 if a plaintiff sought different relief in the Court of Federal Claims than it sought in another forum; and
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court’s interpretation of 28 U.S.C. § 1500 has led to the dismissal of lawsuits brought by several Indian tribes against the United States, and may otherwise adversely affect the ability of Indian tribes to pursue valid claims against the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court’s interpretation of 28 U.S.C. §1500 also restricts Tribes’ abilities to obtain complete relief against the United States in many other contexts where a single factual predicate gives rise to two or more claims against the United states and different courts have jurisdiction over those claims; and
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court observed in its decision that “[i]f indeed the statute leads to incomplete relief” or causes “undue hardship for plaintiffs," citizens are “free to direct their complaints to Congress;” and
WHEREAS, the Committee on Judicial Review for the Administrative Conference of the United States, an independent federal agency dedicated to improving the federal administrative process; is considering a draft recommendation to reform or repeal 28 U.S.C. §1500; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of NCAI to support tribes in holding the United States accountable for the misuse of, or injury to, tribal interests, assets, and funds, and to remove procedural barriers to such accountability.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NCAI supports the reform or repeal of 28 U.S.C. § 1500 in a manner that would protect the ability of tribal plaintiffs to pursue claims involving substantially the same operative facts against the United States in both the Court of Federal Claims and in other federal courts; and
Author: Leonard Masten Jr. Chairman, Hoopa Valley Tribe
SAC-12-061
NCAI President Fawn Sharp signed the Bristol Bay Proclamation at the Burke Museum in Seattle, Washington: https://t.co/RZpghSv5mt about 4 hours ago