In the Interest of S.B.G. v. Ho-Chunk Nation Office of Tribal Enrollment

8 Am. Tribal Law 51
CourtHo-Chunk Nation Trial Court
DecidedApril 1, 2009
DocketNo. CV 09-05
StatusPublished

This text of 8 Am. Tribal Law 51 (In the Interest of S.B.G. v. Ho-Chunk Nation Office of Tribal Enrollment) 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
In the Interest of S.B.G. v. Ho-Chunk Nation Office of Tribal Enrollment, 8 Am. Tribal Law 51 (hochunkct 2009).

Opinion

[52]*52ORDER (Petition Granted in Part)

TODD R. MATHA, Chief Judge.

INTRODUCTION

This case concerns whether the parent, Taryn Power Greendeer, can access monies on behalf of her minor child, S.B.G., DOB 04/21/96, from the Children’s Trust Fund (hereinafter CTF) to pay for costs associated with private school tuition. The Court employs the standard enunciated in the Per Capita Distribution Ordinance (hereinafter Per Capita Ordinance), 2 HCC § 12.8c to assess the merit of the parent’s request. The Court partially grants the request of the petitioner due to a failure to demonstrate exhaustion of an available state entitlement.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The petitioner, Taryn Power Greendeer, initiated the current action by filing the January 21, 2009 Petition for Release of Per Capita Distribution (hereinafter Petition). Consequently, the Court issued a [53]*53Summons accompanied by the above-mentioned Petition on January 23, 2009, and served the documents upon the respondent’s representative, Ho-Chunk Nation Department of Justice (hereinafter DOJ),1 by personal service as permitted by HCN R, Civ. P. 5(C)(1). The Summons informed the respondent 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). The Summons also cautioned the respondent that a default judgment could result from failure to file within the prescribed time period.

The respondent, by and through DOJ Attorney Wendi A. Hiding, filed a timely Answer on February 11, 2009, asking the Court to schedule a fact-finding hearing. The Court mailed Notice(s) of Hearing to the parties on February 12, 2009, informing them of the date, time and location of a Fact-Finding Hearing. The Court convened the Hearing on February 25, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. CST. The following parties appeared at the Fact-Finding Hearing: Taryn Power Greendeer, petitioner, and DOJ Attorney Wendi A. Huling, respondent’s counsel. At the Hearing, the Court, upon respondent’s request, required the petitioner to supply additional documentary evidence. Fact-Finding Hr’g (LPER at 11, Feb. 25, 2009, 11:33:52 CST). On March 11, 2009, the respondent filed an amended pleading (hereinafter Amended Answer), ineluding several attachments.

APPLICABLE LAW

PER CAPITA DISTRIBUTION ORDINANCE, 2 HCC § 12

Subsec. 8. Minors and Other Legal Incompetents.

a. The interests of minors and other legally incompetent Members, otherwise entitled to receive per capita payments, shall, in lieu of payments to such minor or incompetent Member, be disbursed to a Children’s Trust Fund which shall establish a formal irrevocable legal structure for such CTFs approved by the Legislature as soon after passage of this Ordinance as shall be practical, with any amounts currently held by the Nation for passage for the benefit of minor or legally incompetent Members, and all additions thereto pending approval and establishment of such formal irrevocable structure, to be held in an account for the benefit of each such Member-beneficiary under the supervision of the Trial Court of the Nation. Trust assets of such CTFs shall be invested in a reasonable and prudent manner, which protects the principal and seeks a reasonable return.

b. Education Criterion.

(1) The trust assets of each such account maintained for a minor shall be disbursed to the Member-beneficiary thereof upon the earlier of (i) said Member-beneficiary meeting the dual criteria if [sic ] (a) reaching the age of eighteen (18) and (b) producing evidence of personal acquisition of a high school diploma to the Department of Enrollment (HSED, GED or any similar substitute shall not be acceptable), or (ii) the Member reaches the age of twenty-five (25); provided that this provision shall not operate to compel disbursement of funds to Members legally determined to be incompetent. In the event a Member, upon reaching the age of eighteen (18) does not produce proof of personal acquisition of a high school diploma, such Member’s per capita funds shall be retained in the CTF account and any and [54]*54all per capita distributions payable to said Member after reaching age 18 will be added to such fund and not be paid to the Member[,] and the CTF account and [sic ] shall be held on the same terms and conditions applied during the Member-beneficiary’s minority until the earliest to occur: (1) the Member produces the required diploma; (2) the Member reaches the age of twenty-five (25); or (3) the Member is deceased.

c. Funds in the CTF of a minor or legally incompetent Member may be available for the benefit of a beneficiary’s health, education, and welfare when the needs of such person are not being met from other Tribal funds or other state or federal public entitlement programs, and upon a finding of special need by the Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court. In order to request such funds, the following provisions apply:

(1) A written request must be submitted to the Trial Court by the beneficiary’s parent or legal guardian detailing the purpose and needs for such funds.

(2) The parent or legal guardian shall maintain records and account to the Trial Court in sufficient detail to demonstrate that the funds disbursed were expended as required by this Ordinance and any other applicable federal law.

(3) Any other standards, procedures, and conditions that may be subsequently adopted by the Legislature consistent with any applicable federal law shall be met. HO-CHUNK NATION RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

Rule 5. Notice of Serv ice of Process.

(A) Definitions.

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. The required papers are delivered to the party in person by the bailiff, or when authorized by the Court, a law enforcement officer from any jurisdiction, or any other person not a party to the action who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and of suitable discretion.

Rule 27. The Nation as a Party.

(A) Actions involving Minor or Adult Incompetents. When the Nation files an action concerning a minor or a legally incompetent adult, the Complaint will identify the following as parties: 1) matters with minors as parties shall be filed using only initials and date(s) of birth or matters with incompetents as parties may be filed using their actual names; 2) the parents or legal guardians by names and residence(s); and 3) any other person having physical custody of the child/children by name, relationship to the child/children and residence.

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

(A) Relief from Judgment. A Motion to Amend

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
8 Am. Tribal Law 51, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-the-interest-of-sbg-v-ho-chunk-nation-office-of-tribal-enrollment-hochunkct-2009.