Arendt v. Ward

9 Am. Tribal Law 443
CourtHo-Chunk Nation Trial Court
DecidedFebruary 15, 2011
DocketNo. CV 10-83
StatusPublished

This text of 9 Am. Tribal Law 443 (Arendt v. Ward) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Arendt v. Ward, 9 Am. Tribal Law 443 (hochunkct 2011).

Opinion

[445]*445ORDER

TODD R. MATHA, Chief Judge.

INTRODUCTION

The Court must determine whether to grant the defendants’ motion to dismiss. The plaintiffs request for monetary relief is barred by tribal sovereign immunity from suit, which cannot be circumvented under the guise of requesting equitable remedies. The analysis of the Court follows below.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The plaintiff, Duane J. Arendt, by and through Attorney James C. Ritland, initiated the current action by filing a Complaint with the Court on September 17, 2010. Consequently, the Court issued a Summons accompanied by the above-mentioned Complaint on September 17, 2010, and served the documents upon the defendants’ representative, Ho-Chunk Nation Department of Justice (hereinafter DOJ),1 by personal service. See HCN R. Civ. P. 5(A)(1), (C)(1). The Summons informed the defendants of the right to file an Answer within twenty (20) days of the issuance of the Summons pursuant to HCN R. Civ. P. 5(A)(2), 6(A). The Summons also cautioned the defendants that a default judgment could result from failure to file within the prescribed time period.

On October 6, 2010, the defendants prematurely filed a dispositive motion, which the Court declined to consider absent a further filing. Id., Rule 19(A) (permitting the filing of a motion “with any pleading or at any time after their first pleading has been filed”). The defendants, by and through Attorney Heidi A. Drobnick, rectified the deficiency on October 7, 2010, by submitting the Amended Motion to Dismiss & Answer, including a supportive legal memorandum. Id., Rule 18. The plaintiff filed a timely Response to Motion to Dismiss on October 13, 2010. Id., Rule 19(B).

The Court issued Notice(s) of Hearing on October 20, 2010, to inform the parties of the date, time and location of a Scheduling Conference. Prior to the Conference, the defendants filed an untimely October 22, 2010 reply. Id. Thereafter, the plaintiff submitted an Amended Complaint accompanied by a Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint2 Idl, Rule 21. The Court convened the Scheduling Conference on November 3, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. CDT. The following parties appeared at the Con[446]*446ference: Duane J. Arendt, plaintiff; Attorney James C. Ritland, plaintiffs counsel; Angela K. Ward, defendant; and Attorney Heidi A. Drobnick, defendants’ counsel. The Court entered the Scheduling Order on November 3, 2010, setting forth the timelines and procedures to which the parties should adhere prior to trial.

On November 15, 2010, the defendants filed an amended responsive pleading and Second Amended Motion to Dismiss, including Written Motion Arguments & Supplement to Defendants’ Memorandum in Support of Motion to Dismiss in Response to Plaintiffs Amended Complaint (hereinafter Supplemental Memorandum ). Id., Rule 18. The Court convened the Motion Hearing on November 16, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. CST, having earlier afforded notice of the proceeding. Scheduling Order at 7. The following parties appeared at the Conference: Attorney James C. Rit-land, plaintiffs counsel; Angela K. Ward, defendant;3 and Attorney Heidi A. Drob-nick, defendants’ counsel.

APPLICABLE LAW

CONSTITUTION OF THE HO-CHUNK NATION

Art. VI—Executive

Sec. 1. Composition of the Executive.

(b) The Executive Branch shall be composed of any administrative Departments created by the Legislature, including a Department of the Treasury, Justice, Administration, Housing, Business, Health, Social Services, Education, Labor, and Personnel, and other Departments deemed necessary by the Legislature. Each Department shall include an Executive Director, a Board of Directors, and necessary employees. The Executive Director of the Department of Justice shall be called the Attorney General of the Ho-Chunk Nation. The Executive Director of the Department of the Treasury shall be called the Treasurer of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

Art. VII—Judiciary

Sec. 5. Jurisdiction of the Judiciary.

(a) The Trial Court shall have original jurisdiction over all cases and controversies, both criminal and civil, in law or in equity, arising under the Constitution, laws, customs and traditions of the Ho-Chunk Nation, including cases in which the Ho-Chunk Nation, or its officials and employees, shall be a party. Any such case or controversy arising within the jurisdiction of the Ho-Chunk Nation shall be filed in the Trial Court before it is filed in any other court. This grant of jurisdiction by the General Council shall not be construed to be a waiver of the Nation’s sovereign immunity.

Sec. 6. Powers of the Tribal Court.

(a) The Trial Court shall have the power to make findings of fact and conclusions of law. The Trial Court shall have the power to issue all remedies in law and in equity including injunctive and declaratory relief and all writs including attachment and mandamus.

Art. XII—Sovereign Immunity

Sec. 1. Immunity of Nation from Suit. The Ho-Chunk Nation shall be immune [447]*447from suit except to the extent that the Legislature expressly waives its sovereign immunity, and official and employees of the Ho-Chunk Nation acting within the scope of their duties or authority shall be immune from suit.

Sec. 2. Suit Against Officials and Employees. Officials and employees of the Ho-Chunk Nation who act beyond the scope of their duties or authority shall be subject to suit in equity only for declaratory and non-monetary injunctive relief in Tribal Court by persons subject to its jurisdiction for purposes of enforcing rights and duties established by this constitution or other applicable laws.

HO-CHUNK NATION RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

Rule 5. Notice of Service of Process.

(A) Definitions.

(1) Service of Process—The manner in which parties are informed of the Complaint or Citation and of the opportunity to Answer. Personal service is preferred, however, service by registered U.S. mail (return receipt requested) at the person’s home or usual place of business or employment are equally acceptable and effective. Other methods of sendee may be employed when, in the Court’s discretion, they are most likely to result in actual notification of the parties.

(2) Summons—The official notice to the party informing him/her that he/she is identified as a party to an action or is being sued, that an Answer is due in twenty (20) calendar days (See HCN R. Civ. P. 6) and that a Default Judgment may be entered against them if they do not file an Answer in the prescribed time. It shall also include the name and location of the Court, the case number, and the names of the parties. The Summons shall be issued by the Clerk of Court and shall be served with a copy of the filed Complaint attached.

(C) Methods of Service of Process.

1. Personal Service.

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Bluebook (online)
9 Am. Tribal Law 443, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/arendt-v-ward-hochunkct-2011.