Cutler v. Dzingle

13 Am. Tribal Law 313
CourtLittle Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Appellate Court
DecidedJune 15, 2011
DocketNo. C-117-0211
StatusPublished

This text of 13 Am. Tribal Law 313 (Cutler v. Dzingle) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Appellate Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cutler v. Dzingle, 13 Am. Tribal Law 313 (odawactapp 2011).

Opinion

ORDER AFTER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS AND/OR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO ENFORCE WOS 2010-009, Sect. X. A

JOANNE GASCO, LTBB Chief Judge.

On February 25, 2011, Plaintiff filed a Summons and Complaint. Defendant filed an Answer to Plaintiffs Summons and Complaint. On April 11, 2011, Plaintiff filed a Motion to Enforce WOS 2010-009, Sect. X., A, Brief in Support of his Motion, Exhibits, and Proof of Service. Defendant’s attorney filed Defendants’ Answer to Plaintiffs Motion Dated April 11, 2011 along with a Proof of Service. The Court held Status Conference (Pretrial Meeting) on April 05, 2011.

On April 07, 2011, Defendants attorney filed Defendants Motion to Dismiss and/or for Summary Disposition, Defendants’ Brief in Support of Their Motion to Dis[314]*314miss and/or Summary Disposition, Notice of Motion Hearing scheduled for May 04, 2011, and Proof of Service. On May 04, 2011, the Court held a hearing on the motions submitted by Plaintiff and Defendant.

DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS AND/OR FOR SUMMARY DISPOSITION

Defendant filed a motion to dismiss on April 07, 2011. Defendants seek dismissal based on two grounds. The first ground claims that sovereign immunity applies to the employees of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB) Dental Clinic as governed in the LTBB Constitution. Second, defendants claim that plaintiffs complaint fails to state a cognizable claim upon which relief can be granted. Therefore, according to Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Rules of Court Procedure (LTBBRCP) XVI (b)(6), failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted provides an additional basis for summary disposition.

Defendants claim that although Plaintiff claims that he was subject to a standard of care “far below a high standard of care” (as stated in Plaintiffs complaint), the complaint fails to specifically allege how Dr. Dzingle breached the standard of care. In addition, Plaintiff does not clearly state what injuries or damages plaintiff suffered as a direct result and proximate cause of the claimed breach.

Defendants assert that their action in this matter does not constitute a breach of any type rather each employee acted within their scope of duties. As such, the employees are immune from suit according to sovereign immunity. Sovereign Immunity is afforded to officials and employees of the Tribe when acting within the scope of their duties or authority.

SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY

Sovereign immunity is a well established area of Indian law that provides for dismissal on the premise that Indian tribes are immune from suit unless the tribe has waived sovereign immunity.

Sovereign Immunity is provided for in the LTBB Constitution, Article XVIII as stated:

“A. Tribal Immunity from Suit
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, including all subordinate entities, shall be immune from suit except to the extent that the Tribal Council clearly and expressly waives its sovereign immunity, and officials and employees of the Tribe acting within the scope of their duties or authority shall he immune from suit.
B. Suit against Officials and Employees
Officials and employees of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians who act beyond the scope of their duties and authority shall be subject to suit in Tribal Court for purposes of enforcing rights and duties established by this Constitution or other applicable laws.”

LTBB’s view on sovereign immunity is not uncommon and is consistent -with sovereign immunity of Indian Tribes and their employees while performing duties in the exercise and discharge of their authority. Tenneco Oil Co. v. Sac & Fox Tribe of Indians, 725 F.2d 572, 574 (10th Cir.1984); Hardin v. White Mountain Apache Tribe, 779 F.2d 476, 478 (9th Cir.1985); Boyd v. Puyallup Tribal Police, 2009 U.S. Dist. Lexis 122715; and Lewis v. Phroper, 2008 U.S. Dist. Lexis, 103394. Cameron v. Bay Mills Indian Community, 843 F.Supp. 334 (W.D.Mich.1994). Also, LTBB Tribal Court has recognized and extended sovereign immunity to the Tribe’s casino em[315]*315ployees. Carey v. Espinona & Eckhom, Case No. C-062-1005.

Plaintiffs complaint involves five (5) employees of the LTBB. Plaintiff claims that each employee acted with malice or reckless indifference to Plaintiffs request for a copy of his dental record. According to Plaintiff, Dr. Dzingle, employed with the LTBB Dental Clinic, did not disclose the records, that Dr. Dzingle provided care that was far below a high standard of care (stated in Plaintiffs complaint) and then Plaintiff states that he (Plaintiff) was unhappy with the services from Dr. Jeremy (stated in Plaintiffs motion dated April 11, 2011) and was referred to another clinic. Upon review of the documents submitted to the Court, it is unclear as to what Plaintiffs allegations are against Dr. Dzingle, it appears that the professional relationship between patient and doctor deteriorated. Plaintiff has not filed documentation that showed Dr. Dzingle acted beyond his scope of authority.

Plaintiff named Maureen Gaseo, LTBB employee, in the complaint because of a phone conversation that was terminated between the two before information could be exchanged about his care at LTBB Dental Clinic (Paragraph 10 of plaintiffs complaint). In addition, Plaintiff alleges Maureen Gaseo was made aware of the history of pain with his teeth and therefore was aware of the situation (Paragraph 3 of plaintiffs complaint). Plaintiff has not filed documentation or provided a legal basis to show that Maureen Gaseo acted beyond her scope of authority.

Plaintiff named Jody Werner, LTBB employee, in the complaint because of a personal face-to-face meeting where Plaintiff was notified of the decision to refer his care to another dentist and because Jody Werner managed the release of his patient records in January 2011 (Paragraph 10 of plaintiff’s complaint). Further, Plaintiff claims that Jody Werner used the Public Documents Act as a reason for not releasing his dental records (Paragraph 15 of plaintiffs complaint). It appears that some time lapsed between the request for records and when Plaintiff actually received his dental records. From the complaint and exhibits, once the request for records was received, multiple levels of administration reviewed the request to ensure release of records were proper, including the legal department. Plaintiff also followed procedure and contacted the LTBB Administrator about his unhappiness with the process. Plaintiff received a response but then chose to file the complaint in LTBB Tribal Court. Plaintiff has not filed documentation or provided a legal basis that shows Jody Werner acted beyond her scope of authority.

Plaintiff named Sharon Sierzputowski, LTBB employee, in the complaint because she acknowledged his patient records were available but he would need to pick them up and could not be mailed because of cost (Paragraph 15 of plaintiffs complaint). Although Plaintiff is unhappy with the response of Sharon Sierzputowski, Plaintiff has not filed documentation or provided a legal basis to show that Sharon Sierzpu-towski acted beyond her scope of authority-

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Related

Cameron v. Bay Mills Indian Community
843 F. Supp. 334 (W.D. Michigan, 1994)
Hardin v. White Mountain Apache Tribe
779 F.2d 476 (Ninth Circuit, 1985)

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Bluebook (online)
13 Am. Tribal Law 313, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cutler-v-dzingle-odawactapp-2011.