Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-28-1996

Abstract

  • In the Blackfeet Tribal Court, the court determined whether a defendant, Lodgebuilder, must provide the tribe with a warranty deed, pursuant to their agreement, despite the lack of cooperation from the tribe to comply with the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act.  

  • The Court determined that the Act is the law of the State of Montana, not the Blackfeet Indian reservation. Lodgebuilder is a Blackfeet chartered business, and the president of Lodgebuilder is an enrolled member, doing business on the reservation. Therefore, the Tribal Court has exclusive jurisdiction over this action. Williams v. Lee, 358 U.S. 217 (1959), Fisher v. Dist. Ct., 424 U.S. 381, (1982).  

  • Motions to dismiss are considered when there is no genuine issue of material fact. In this case, the Court determined that there was no genuine issue of genuine fact in that the Court had jurisdiction over the matter and the Tribe had jurisdiction over this issue and not the Act from the State of Montana.  

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