Ho-Chunk Nation v. B & K Builders, Inc.

3 Am. Tribal Law 381
CourtHo-Chunk Nation Trial Court
DecidedJune 20, 2001
DocketNo. CV 00-91
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 3 Am. Tribal Law 381 (Ho-Chunk Nation v. B & K Builders, Inc.) 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
Ho-Chunk Nation v. B & K Builders, Inc., 3 Am. Tribal Law 381 (hochunkct 2001).

Opinion

[382]*382ORDER

(Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction)

TODD R. MATHA, Associate Judge.

INTRODUCTION

The Court must determine whether to grant the November 7, 2000 Motion to Dismiss filed by the defendant, Ruka & Associates, and joined in by the co-defendant, B & K Builders, Inc. The plaintiff, Ho-Chunk Nation, has failed to substantiate a proper delegation of contractual authority to the signatories of the contracts in question. Therefore, the contracts provide no binding law for the Court to apply, resulting in a lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The Court recounts the procedural history in significant detail in its Order (Insufficient Evidence), CV 00-91 (HCN Tr. Ct., April 10, 2001). For purposes of this decision, the Court notes that the plaintiff complied with the Court’s order to file additional historical evidence through submission of the April 17, 2001 Plaintiffs Response to Order (Insufficient Evidence). See Id. at 10. Thereafter, the Court entered its May 9, 2001 Order (Notice), informing the parties of its intent to consider the instant case in light of recent United States Supreme Court caselaw.

APPLICABLE LAW

HO-CHUNK RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

Rule 3. Complaints.

(A) General. A civil action begins by filing a written Complaint with the clerk of court. The Complaint shall contain short, plain statements of the grounds upon which the court’s jurisdiction depends; the facts and circumstances giving [383]*383rise to the action; and a demand for any and all relief the party wants awarded. Relief should include, but is not limited to the dollar amount that the party is requesting. The Complaint must contain the full names, addresses and telephone numbers of all parties and any counsel and shall be signed by the filing party and his/her counsel, if any. The Court shall have jurisdiction from the time the Complaint is filed.

Rule 56. Dismissal, of Actions.

(B)Involuntary Dismissal. At any other time in the action, a party must file a Motion to Dismiss. A Motion to Dismiss may be granted (1) if there has been no Order or other action in a case for six (6) months, or, (2) if a party substantially fails to comply with these rules, or, (3) if a pai'ty substantially fails to comply with an order of the Court, or, (4) if a party fails to establish the right to relief following presentation of all evidence at trial. An Order to dismiss a claim is a dismissal with prejudice.

Rule 58. Amendment to or Relief from Judgement or Order.

(A) Relief from Judgement. A Motion to Amend or for relief from judgement, including a request for a new trial shall be made within ten (10) calendar days of the filing of judgement. The Motion must be based on an error or irregularity which prevented a party from receiving a fair trial or a substantial legal error which affected the outcome of the action.

(B) Motion for Reconsideration. Upon motion of the Court or by motion of a party made not later than ten (10) calendar days after entry of judgement, the Court may amend its findings or conclusions or make additional findings or conclusions, amending the judgement accordingly. The motion may be made with a motion for a new trial. If the Court amends the judgement, the time for initiating an appeal commences upon entry of the amended judgement. If the Court denies a motion filed under this rule, the time for initiating an appeal from the judgement commences when the Court denies the motion on the record or when an order denying the motion is entered, whichever occurs first. If within thirty (30) days after the entry of judgement, the Court does not decide a motion under this Rule or the judge does not sign an order denying the motion, the motion is considered denied. The time for initiating an appeal from judgement commences in accordance with the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

(C) Erratum Order or Reissuance of Judgement. Clerical errors in a court record, including the Judgement or Order, may be corrected by the Court at any time.

(D) Grounds for Relief. The Court may grant relief from judgements or orders on motion of a party made within a reasonable time for the following reasons: (1) newly discovered evidence which could not reasonably have been discovered in time to request a new trial; or (2) fraud, misrepresentation or serious misconduct of another party to the action; or (3) good cause if the requesting party was not personally served in accordance with Rule 5(c)(1)(a) or (b); did not have proper service and did not appear in the action; or (4) the judgement has been satisfied, released, discharged or is without effect due to a judgement earlier in time.

Rule 61. Appeals.

Any final Judgement or Order of the Trial Court may be appealed to the Ho-Chunk Nation Supreme Court. The Appeal must comply with the Ho-Chunk Nation Rules of Appellate Procedure, specifically Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 7, Right of Appeal. All subsequent actions of [384]*384a final Judgement or Trial Court Order must follow the HCN Rules of Appellate Procedure.

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS 01 THE WISCONSIN WINNEBAGO TRIBE (approved by the Asst. Sec. of the Int. on Mar. 19, 1963)

CONSTITUTION

Article IV — Organization of the Governing Body

Section 2. The business committee shall select from within the committee a vice chairman, and may select from within or without the committee a secretary and a treasurer. When selected from without the committee, the secretary and treasurer shall have no vote in the proceedings of the committee.

Article X — Powers of the Business Committee

Section 1. The business committee of the Wisconsin Winnebago Tribe shall have the following powers, subject to any limitation imposed by the Constitution or the Statutes of the United States, and subject further to all expressed restrictions upon such powers contained in this constitution and bylaws.

(a) To consult, negotiate, contract, and conclude agreements on behalf of the tribe with Federal, State or local governments and other corporations, associations, partnerships, and other organizations or individuals on all matters within the power of the tribal business committee expressed herein.

2 Section 2. To delegate by ordinance or resolution to tribal officials, district councils, or associations any of the foregoing powers of the business committee reserving the right to review any action taken by virtue of such delegated power.

BYLAWS

Article I — Duties of Officers

Section 1. The chairman of the business committee shall preside over all meetings of the business committee and exercise any authority specifically delegated to him as provided in Article X, Section 2, of this constitution. As chairman of the business committee and the executive committee, he shall at all times have general supervision of the affairs of the business committee, executive committee and the tribe. He shall call all meeting of the general council required by this constitution and bylaws. He shall preside at all general council meetings.

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Related

Ho-Chunk Nation v. Money Centers of America, Inc.
9 Am. Tribal Law 308 (Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court, 2010)
Ho-Chunk Nation v. Bank of America, N.A.
6 Am. Tribal Law 275 (Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court, 2006)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
3 Am. Tribal Law 381, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ho-chunk-nation-v-b-k-builders-inc-hochunkct-2001.