Legal Document

470 U.S. 39 105 S.Ct. 1058 84 L.Ed.2d 28 UNITED STATES, Petitionerv.Mary DANN and Carrie Dann. No. 83-1476. Argued Nov. 5, 1984. Decided Feb. 20, 1985. Syllabus In 1951, the Shoshone Tribe sought compensation for loss of aboriginal title to lands in several Western States. The Indian Claims Commission (Commission) entered an interlocutory order holding that had been extinguished later awarded $26 million compensation. Court affirmed, award was certified General Accounting Office. Pursuant 31 U.S.C. § 724a (1976 ed., Supp. V), this certification automatically appropriated amount award, which then deposited interest-bearing trust account United States Treasury. Secretary Interior is required by statute, after consulting with Tribe, submit Congress a plan distribution fund, but has not yet done so, owing Tribe's refusal cooperate. Subsequently, brought trespass action Federal District against respondent members, alleging grazing livestock without permit on land involved prior proceeding respondents were violating certain regulations. Respondents claimed they have thus Government precluded from requiring permits. held when Commission's final payment. Appeals reversed, "payment" occurred within meaning 22(a) Act, provided "payment any claim [of tribe], its determination accordance [Act], shall be full discharge all claims demands touching matters controversy." court reasoned until fund question adopted, there remain significant blocks way delivery payee "ordinary meaning" payment satisfied. Held: "Payment" under funds placed into Treasury Tribe. Pp. 44-50. (a) To hold does occur approved would frustrate Act's purpose dispose finality also conflict transferring responsibility determining merits claims. 45-47. (b) construe word as did gives markedly different than it general common-law rule, relied upon Seminole Nation v. States, 316 286, 62 1049, 86 L.Ed. 1480, debtor's fiduciary creditor's benefit satisfies debt. Here, ordered qua judgment debtor pay trustee beneficiary. Once money account, effected. 47-50. 706 F.2d 919 (C.A.9 1983), reversed remanded. Robert A. McConnell, Washington, D.C., petitioner. John D. O'Connell, Salt Lake City, Utah, respondents. Justice BRENNAN delivered opinion Court. 1 presented case whether appropriation pursuant V)1 constitutes 60 Stat. 1055, 25 70u(a) ed.).2 2 * This episode longstanding between over western 1951 members title3 located California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming.4 Eleven years later, latter part 19th century, 11 Ind.Cl.Comm'n 387, 416 (1962), excess Identifiable Group 40 318 (1977). affirmed award.5 Temoak Band Indians 219 Ct.Cl. 346, 593 994 (1979). On December 6, 1979, Clerk 3 Under 1402(a)6 1403(a),7 required, specified period time fund. case, cooperate devising plan. apparently now grown $43 million. Reply Brief 20. 4 1974, two sisters, Mary Dann, autonomous band8 Shoshone, Danns, acting violation regulations issued authority Taylor Grazing 43 315b.9 5,120 acres at issue suit are northeast corner Nevada. response States' suit, Danns possession their family immemorial Nevada rejected Danns' argument ruled collateral-estoppel effect 1962. Civil R-74-60 (Jan. 1977). Ninth Circuit remanded, however, ground "[w]hatever may implicit assumptions both Tribes during litigation . ., extinguishment necessarily issue, actually litigated, decided." 572 222, 226-227 (1978). 5 remand, 1979. (Apr. 25, 1980). appeal, defended "full discharge" language see n. 2, supra, raising defense title. Although maintained requirement satisfied congressional account. argued 6 919, 926 (1983). adopted Congress, remained "significant legal payee," We granted certiorari resolve 22(a). 467 1214, 104 2693, 81 362 (1984). reverse. II 7 legislative purposes Act principles common law applied context relations native American communities require we occurs V). 8 purposes. "chief [Act was] problem finality." H.R.Rep. 1466, 79th Cong., 1st Sess., 10 (1945). effected 22(a): "When report claimant entitled recover filed such ."10 Section states hold, below has, postponing preclusive effects while subjecting continued liability "touch" matter previously litigated resolved Commission. 9 second transfer course hearings creation Commission, Congressman Henry Jackson, Chairman House Committee Affairs, made clear: ". [T]he very act, reason coming being harassed constantly various individual pieces legislation. I do want act separate legislation told those bills, knowing facts, will routine let commission decide what obligation Indians; and, findings appropriate money." Hearings H.R. 1198 1341 before 68 During floor debate Jackson observed study Brookings Institution concluded "there ought prompt settlement citizens, best accomplish set up temporarily sift these claims, subject judicial review, bring them conclusion once all." 92 Cong.Rec. 5312 (1946). Prior adoption Representatives, Attorney Clark following warning: 12 "The bill provide paid like manner judgments Claims. provision make virtually power determine based moral grounds rather fact finding body aid Congress. view vague basis many predicated, extremely novel character functions delegated raised or recognition should rest finally making binding constitute surrender necessary prerogative control unusual type Government." Id., 5311 (letter Cochran his request General's "views respect (H.R. 4497) create Commission." 5310). 13 Despite warning, left unchanged. Senate, deleted asserted give decisions Conference version "in perfectly clear intention houses determinations should, unless [by Claims], same Claims." H.R.Conf.Rep. 2d As enacted, explicitly incorporated standard 14 justified decision turn submission approval distribution, one last opportunity review F.2d, 927. justification delay obviously conflicts relieving burden having B 15 Aside departure Appeals' interpretation accepted uses "payment"—uses assume intended adopt enacted accept differs meaning, long tribes 16 recognizes despite absence actual creditor. Funds transferred agent creditor payment, no consequence refuses misappropriates funds.11 rationale obligations rules agency so bind (i.e., beneficiary principal) confer effective 17 1480 (1942), obligated treaty annual annuities Nation. Instead, Council. Members because Council misappropriated money, disposing rule "a third party who pays beneficiary, knowledge intends misappropriate otherwise false trust, participant breach liable therefor beneficiary." 296, S.Ct., 1054. Court's traditional debt.12 Absent fraudulent intent trustee—or some other recognized exception rule—the Government's discharged obligations. Ibid. remanding intent, id., 300, sense only if believed that, absent knowledge, discharged. 18 reliance our dual role Tribe: debtor, responsible ensuring put productive use ultimately distributed consistent interests Tribe.13 short, III 19 possess well tribal rights "final bar action. Though exist contexts,14 contention addressed lower courts open, first below. express merits. 20 remanded proceedings opinion. 21 It ordered. statute provided: "There appropriated, out sums for, Comptroller General, judgments, awards, compromise settlements, payable terms awards rendered ." Claims, authorized claim, terminated September 30, 1978, 70v ed.). For discussion title, Oneida County Oneida, 414 661, 667, 94 772, 777, 73 (1974); Johnson McIntosh, Wheat. 543, 573-574, 681 (1823); Cherokee Georgia, Pet. 1, 17, (1831); F. Cohen, Handbook Law 486-493 (1982). theoretical origins rights, J. Scott, Spanish Origin International Law: Francisco de Vitoria His Nations (1934); Rights, Geo.L.J. (1942); Original Title, 32 Minn.L.Rev. (1947). 1050, amended, 70a ed.), behalf "any tribe, band, identifiable group Indians" "claims arising taking result cession otherwise, owned occupied agreed 20(b) 1054, 70s(b) appeal determination" provides: "Within year prepare funds." serve entities individuals receive each judgment. preparation plan, shall— "(1) consider resolution communication, together suggested affected tribe wish him; "(2) hearing record, public notice, obtain testimony leaders portion, See Steward, Foundations Basin-Plateau Shoshonean Society, Languages Cultures North America 113, 115 (E. Swanson ed. 1970) (" '[B]and' can precise definition. generally signifies cohesion interaction families permanent membership, range size few closely related include related, structured unilineal bilateral principles, take forms"). cause permits graze districts bona fide settlers, residents, stock owners participate range, annually reasonable fees fixed determined governing law." 2519 ed.) ("A plaintiff forever further demand controversy"); O'Grady, 22 Wall. 641, 647, 772 (1875); W. Cowen, P. Nichols, & M. Bennett, Part II, pp. 22-25 G. Bogert, Trusts Trustees 902 (2d rev. 1982) (footnotes omitted) ("[It] universally purchaser property purchase inquiry money. purchaser, notice contrary, safely price property"); 321 (3d 1967); Stone, Some Legal Problems Involved Transmission Funds, Colum.L.Rev. 507 (1921). also, Uniform Fiduciaries 7A U.L.A. 135 (1978) person good faith transfers receive, proper application thereof fiduciary; right acquired consideration invalid misapplication fiduciary"). acknowledgment apparent citation 901 (1935), stated: "It trustee, where sell properly executed power, property, special circumstances come indicating opposite." suggesting obstacles failed recognize strictures have, example, fiduciary, fully accountable converted mismanaged. See, e.g., Mitchell, 463 206, 226, 103 2961, 2972-2973, 77 580 (1983); Sioux Indians, 448 371, 408-409, 100 2716, 2737, 65 844 (1980); 304 111, 115-116, 58 794, 797, 82 1213 (1938); 299 476, 497, 57 244, 251, 360 (1937). Cramer 261 219, 227, 342, 344, 67 622 (1923); Santa Fe Pacific R. Co., 314 339, 357-358, 248, 256-257, 260 (1941); Minn.L.Rev., 53-54.

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