Opinion ID: 887551
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: ¶ 11 When a party seeks dismissal of a suit based on the claim that jurisdiction properly lies in a tribal court, the trial judge must determine whether the complaint states facts which, if true, would vest the district court with subject matter jurisdiction. See General Constructors, Inc., v. Chewculator, Inc., 2001 MT 54, ¶¶ 13, 16, 304 Mont. 319, ¶¶ 13, 16, 21 P.3d 604, ¶¶ 13, 16 (citing Liberty Northwest Ins. Corp. v. State Compensation Ins. Fund, 1998 MT 169, ¶ 7, 289 Mont. 475, ¶ 7, 962 P.2d 1167, ¶ 7). A district court's determination that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction is a conclusion of law which we review to ascertain whether the court's interpretation of the law is correct. General Constructors, ¶ 16 (citing In re McGurran, 1999 MT 192, ¶ 7, 295 Mont. 357, ¶ 7, 983 P.2d 968, ¶ 7).