Opinion ID: 1438862
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Federal Action to Enjoin State Court

Text: The Tribe filed the present matter, on March 16, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. The Tribe sought: (1) a declaratory judgment holding the South Dakota state court lacked jurisdiction to confirm or allow execution on the arbitral award; (2) an injunction barring the state court from proceeding in these matters; and (3) a declaration that the Oglala Sioux Tribal Court had exclusive jurisdiction to confirm or vacate the award; or (4) alternatively, that the district court vacate the arbitration award. On August 16, 2007, the Tribe moved the district court to stay C & W's state court action. The district court consolidated the Tribe's motion for temporary relief with its action for declaratory judgment and permanent injunction, pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 65(a)(2). On September 10, 2007, the district court found the state court lacked jurisdiction to confirm the arbitral award, and permanently enjoined it from exercising jurisdiction over the matter. The order vacated the state court's executions, and found the parties must exhaust their Tribal Court remedies respecting the arbitral award. C & W appeals.