Opinion ID: 773879
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Inadequacy of Tribal Remedies

Text: 69 Demontiney argues that a federal court has jurisdiction over a tribe under an exception to the sovereign immunity doctrine if tribal remedies are nonexistent. We reject this argument for two reasons. 70 First, Demontiney has not demonstrated that his tribal remedies are inadequate or nonexistent. Demontiney did not appeal the Tribal Court's dismissal of his action, the dismissal itself was without prejudice, and the Tribe contends that there are further tribal remedies available. 71 Second, even if Demontiney's tribal remedies are uncertain or inadequate, our precedent that recognizes the inadequacy of tribal remedies as a basis of federal jurisdiction is not applicable here. The case cited by Demontiney is inapposite, in part because it involves habeas review under ICRA. See St. Mark's v. Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy Reservation, Mont., 545 F.2d 1188, 1189 (9th Cir. 1976) (per curiam) (holding that the need to exhaust tribal remedies for habeas review under ICRA is not an inflexible requirement, and that the district court can consider whether any meaningful tribal remedies exist). Because Demontiney's claims are civil and he does not pursue a habeas action under ICRA, inadequacy of tribal remedies does not effect a waiver of the Tribe's sovereign immunity. See Johnson v. Gila River Indian Cmty., 174 F.3d 1032, 1035 (9th Cir. 1999). As we explained in Johnson: 72 As sovereign nations, Indian tribes possess common law immunity from suit in federal court. Accordingly, the district court correctly dismissed Johnson's claims against the Tribe pursuant to the Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA), 25 U.S.C. §§§§ 1302(5) and 1302(8). The only recognized exception to a sovereign immunity defense under the ICRA is a habeas corpus action. Because Johnson does not seek such relief, and the Tribe has not waived its sovereign immunity defense, the district court properly dismissed Johnson's claims against the Tribe. Id. (internal citations omitted). 6 73 Demontiney has not established federal court jurisdiction over the Tribe for his contract claims.