Western Shoshone National Council v. United States

73 Fed. Cl. 59, 2006 U.S. Claims LEXIS 273, 2006 WL 2686751
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedSeptember 19, 2006
DocketNo. 05-558L
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 73 Fed. Cl. 59 (Western Shoshone National Council v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Western Shoshone National Council v. United States, 73 Fed. Cl. 59, 2006 U.S. Claims LEXIS 273, 2006 WL 2686751 (uscfc 2006).

Opinion

OPINION

SMITH, Senior Judge.

This is the latest litigation involving a claim to approximately 60 million acres that goes back more than fifty years. This action challenges proceedings before the Indian Claims Commission (ICC) and the Court of Claims. The Court has before it Defendant’ Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Second Amended Complaint under Rules of the Court of Federal Claims (RCFC) 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). The Court held oral argument in Reno, Nevada on May 25, 2006 and in Washington, DC on June 14, 2006. For the reasons set forth in this opinion, the Court hereby GRANTS Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint.

FACTS1

Since time immemorial, the Shoshone have occupied certain lands in what is now part of the United States. The Shoshone lived in extended family groups, or bands, and gathered together for ceremonial celebrations or food gathering activities. Today, they live in various communities in the same lands. Some of the bands of Shoshone are recognized by Congress under the Indian Reorganization Act, others are not.

During the United States’ westward expansion, tensions arose between the United States and the western Indian tribes, including some of the Shoshone. When the Civil War began, the Union required additional resources, many of which were found in the West. The United States, seeking to avoid conflict with the Indians, entered into a series of treaties to ensure undisturbed passage to the resources of the West. These five treaties became known as the Doty Treaties after the Government’s negotiator, Mr. James Doty. On October 1, 1863, the United States entered into a treaty with the “Western Shoshoni,” which became known as the Treaty of Ruby Valley. 18 Stat. 689, Ratified June 26,1866, Proclaimed Oct. 21,1869.

In 1946, Congress sought to provide a means for Indian Tribes to bring historical claims against the United States for the taking of land and other related actions. To achieve that goal, Congress passed the Indian Claims Commission Act (ICCA). The ICCA created the Indian Claims Commission (ICC) and provided that Indian tribes could bring claims before the ICC for taken lands and had jurisdiction to hear cases filed within five years of the passage of the ICCA. The limitation provision made clear that “no claim existing before such date but not presented within such period may thereafter be submitted to any court or administrative agency for consideration.” 25 U.S.C. § 70k (1976). Effectively, all claims existing on August 13, 1946 had to be filed by August 13, 1951 or be barred forever. E.g. U.S. v. Lower Sioux Indian Community, 207 Ct.Cl. 492, 519 F.2d [62]*621378, 1383 (1975). This case is brought by Plaintiffs concerning their rights under the Treaty of Ruby Valley of 1863 and issues of validity and enforceability against the Plaintiffs of a judgment rendered in the Indian Claims Commission (ICC).

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

This case was originally filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and was transferred to this Court on a Motion by Defendant.2 After being transferred to this Court, the case was initially assigned to another Judge. Pursuant to this Court’s rules, Defendant then filed a Notice of Directly Related Cases and the case was reassigned. Thereafter, Defendant filed its Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint.3 Both the South Fork Band and National Council filed opposition to Defendant’s Motion, and Defendant replied. The Court then held oral argument over two days and now issues its opinion.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

RCFC 12(b)(1) provides for the dismissal of claims if the Court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter of the claims. It is well settled that “a party seeking the exercise of jurisdiction in its favor has the burden of establishing that such jurisdiction exists,” Rocovich v. United States, 933 F.2d 991, 993 (Fed.Cir.1991) (citing KVOS, Inc. v. Associated Press, 299 U.S. 269, 278, 57 S.Ct. 197, 81 L.Ed. 183 (1936)), and that “subject matter jurisdiction is strictly construed.” Leonardo v. United States, 55 Fed.Cl. 344, 346 (2003).

RCFC 12(b)(6) authorizes a court to dismiss a claim for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Claims must be dismissed if “it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his legal claim which would entitle him to relief.” Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 102, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957).

THE SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

I. Count I

In Count I, Plaintiffs seek either a declaratory judgment that the ICC Judgment is not enforceable against them, or that the ICC Judgment is void under RCFC 60(b) because of alleged due process violations. Defendant argues that the Court should dismiss Count I under RCFC 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) because they are out of time and they fail to state a claim. The South Fork Band responds that they are entitled to relief under RCFC 60(b)(4) because they were denied due process before the ICC and there is no time limit for RCFC 60(b)(4). The National Council takes a somewhat different approach, although they incorporate all of South Fork Band’s arguments. The National Council argues that the “sham” proceeding before the ICC denied them of due process and that they are, therefore, entitled to relief from it and all cases that rely on it, including those handed down by the Supreme Court of the United States. The National Council alleges that they have new evidence that no court has ever examined in the long history of this case. Further, they argue that they are not bringing a motion under RCFC 60(b), but rather an independent action allowed under the rule.

A. Finality Provision of the ICCA

The Supreme Court and the Court of Claims have both made clear that the paramount purpose of the ICCA was to determine meritorious Indian claims with finality. E.g. United States v. Dann, 470 U.S. 39, 44-45, 105 S.Ct. 1058, 84 L.Ed.2d 28 (1985)

[63]*63(quoting H.R. Rep. No 1466, 79th Cong., 1st Sess., 10 (1945)).4 Defendant argues that the finality provision of the ICCA bars the current action. Section 22(a) of the ICCA states that “[t]he payment of any claim, after its determination in accordance with this Act, shall be a full discharge of the United States of all claims and demands touching any of the matters involved in the controversy.” 25 U.S.C. § 70u(a) (1976) (omitted after the dissolution of the ICC). The Government argues that, given Congress’s intent to draw all historic Indian claims to a close, the Court should apply § 22(a) to this count because it attempts to re-litigate long-settled issues. The Court certainly agrees that Congress has long desired to bring these claims to an end. However, it does not appear that Congress intended the finality provision to bar Rule 60 challenges to the ICC process.

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Bluebook (online)
73 Fed. Cl. 59, 2006 U.S. Claims LEXIS 273, 2006 WL 2686751, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/western-shoshone-national-council-v-united-states-uscfc-2006.