Hiller v. Ho-Chunk Gaming Commission

2 Am. Tribal Law 276
CourtHo-Chunk Nation Trial Court
DecidedJuly 5, 2000
DocketNo. CV 99-72
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2 Am. Tribal Law 276 (Hiller v. Ho-Chunk Gaming Commission) 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
Hiller v. Ho-Chunk Gaming Commission, 2 Am. Tribal Law 276 (hochunkct 2000).

Opinion

[277]*277ORDER (Granting Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment)

TODD R. MATHA, Associate Judge.

INTRODUCTION

The Court must decide whether to uphold or reverse a licensing determination of the Ho-Chunk Nation Gaming Commission [hereinafter Gaming Commission]. The Court finds that the license revocation represents a reasonable civil penalty. The plaintiff forfeited her privilege to a gaming license by posing a potential risk to the public interest.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The plaintiff, Kerry A. Hiller, initiated the current action by filing a Complaint with the Court on September 22, 1999. Consequently, the Court issued a Summons accompanied by the above-mentioned Complaint and attachments on September 22,1999, and served the documents upon the defendant, Gaming Commission. The Summons informed the defendant of the right to file an Answer within twenty (20) days of the issuance of the Summons pursuant to the Ho-Chunk Nation Rules of Civil Procedure [hereinafter HCN It Civ. [278]*278P.], Rule 5(B). The Summons also cautioned the defendant that a default judgment could result from failure to file within the prescribed time period.

The defendant, by and through Attorney Michael B. Wacker, filed a timely Answer and Motion to Dismiss on October 13, 1999, serving such documents on the plaintiff via first class mail. The Court subsequently entered its Order (Motion Hearing) on October 25, 1999 accompanied by Notice(s) of Hearing, informing the parties of the date, time and location of the Motion Hearing!Scheduling Conference. Pri- or to convening the Heariug/Conference, Attorney Paul B. Millis filed an Entry of Appearance on behalf of the plaintiff on November 18, 1999, requesting that the Court postpone the proceeding due to a previously scheduled engagement. The Court granted the postponement in its November 22, 1999 Order (Postponement of Motion Heariug/Sched-uling Conference) pursuant to HCN R. Civ. P. 45, and ordered the parties to reschedule the proceeding within seven (7) days.

On November 24, 1999, the plaintiff proposed a mutually acceptable date to appear in Court. On the same day, the defendant filed a Motion for Summary Judgment accompanied by a Memorandum in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment. The Court responded by mailing Notice(s) of Hearing on November 30, 1999, finalizing the date for the rescheduled Motion Hearing/Scheduling Conference. The following parties appeared at the December 6, 1999 Hearing/Conference: Attorney Paul B. Millis and' Attorney Michael B. Wacker.

The defendant withdrew its standing October 13, 1999 Motion to Dismiss at the Motion Heating,/Scheduling Conference. Therefore, the Court proceeded to schedule the action since the plaintiff received insufficient notice of her need to respond to the Motion for Summary Judgment. See HCN R. Civ. P. 17 and 20. The Court entered the Scheduling Order on December 9, 1999. The plaintiff then filed her Amended Complaint on December 13, 1999. Consequently, the defendant submitted its Amended Answer on December 23, 1999 in accordance with the ten (10) day time limitation set forth in HCN R. Civ. P. 19(A).

On January 6, 2000, the defendant reasserted its earlier motion in the Defendant’s Second Notice and. Motion for Summary Judgment. The defendant accompanied this motion with a Memorandum in Support, of Motion for Summary Judgment. Consequently, the plaintiff submitted her Brief in Opposition of Defendants’ (sic) Motion for Summary Judgment on January 17, 2000 in accordance with the ten (10) day time limitation set forth in HCN R. Civ. P. 19(A). The Court responded by entering an Order (Motion Hearing) on January 18, 2000 accompanied by Notice(s) of Hearing, informing the parties of the date, time and location of the Motion Hearing. The following parties appeared at the January 27, 2000 Hearing: Attorney Paul B. Millis, Kerry A. Hiller, and Attorney Michael B. Wacker.

APPLICABLE LAW

CONSTITUTION OF THE HO-CHUNK NATION .

Article X—Bill of Rights

Section 1. Bill of R ights.

(a) The Ho-Chunk Nation, in exercising its powers of self-government, shall not:
(3) subject any person for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy;

Rule 5. Not ice of Service of Process

(B) Summons. The Summons is the official notice to the party informing him/her [279]*279that 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. Judgement may be entered against them if they do not file an Answer in the limited 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.

Rule 17. Computation of Time

When counting days to meet time limits under these rules, the day identified as the stalling day is not counted in the time limit. For example, if a Complaint is filed on the first day of a month and the Answer is due in twenty (20) calendar days, then the date the Answer is due will be the twenty-first day of the month. If the time limit identified in these rules is less than seven (7) days, then Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays are not counted in the time limit. Legal Holidays are defined as those recognized by the Ho-Chunk Nation. If a time limit falls on a weekend or legal holiday, then the time limit falls on the next working day. Computation of time originates with the actual Court filing date or Court file stamped date of the document and not the date the notice or the document is received by the party.

Rule 19. Filing and Responding to Motions

(A) Motion. Motions may be filed by a party with any pleading or at any time after their first pleading has been filed. A copy of all written Motions shall be delivered or mailed-to other parties at least five (5) calendar days before the time specified for a hearing on the Motion. A Response to a written Motion must be filed at least one day before the hearing. If no hearing is scheduled, the Response must be filed with the Court and served on the other pai'ties within ten (10) calendar days of the date the Motion was filed. The party filing the Motion must file any Reply within three (3) calendar days.

Rule 20. Hearings on Motions

A hearing on a Motion may be held in the discretion of the Court. A party requesting a hearing must (a) schedule the hearing with the Court and (b) deliver or mail notice of the hearing to other parties at least five (5) calendar days prior to the hearing. If the trial is scheduled to begin within the time allowed for- a hearing, all responses shall be made by the time scheduled for commencement of the trial. Motions

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7 Am. Tribal Law 208 (Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court, 2007)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2 Am. Tribal Law 276, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hiller-v-ho-chunk-gaming-commission-hochunkct-2000.