Business | Law

Blue Lake Rancheria challenges California over business liens





The Blue Lake Rancheria is suing the California Employment Development Department in federal court over liens against a tribal business.

The tribe shut down Mainstay Business Solutions, a temporary staffing company, after being hit with $16.4 million in liens, interest and penalties. The state claims the company violated state employment insurance laws but the tribe says it is protected by sovereign immunity.

The state's actions "unlawfully encumber tribal lands and other tribal assets, both on and off reservation … in violation of federal law," according to the lawsuit, The Sacramento Bee reported.

Mainstay provided employees to non-Indian businesses across the state. At any given point, it put 8,000 people to work, the tribe said.

Get the Story:
Humboldt tribe fights state's lien on staffing firm (The Sacramento Bee 5/5)

Related Stories:
Blue Lake Rancheria shuts down business staffing company (4/13)
Editorial: Blue Lake Rancheria goes off-reservation with business (7/19)
California tribe's business agrees to state law (3/30)
California imposes fines in tribal insurance flap (01/26)
Calif. bill would recognize tribal insurance coverage (02/20)
Another tribal business investigated in Calif. (2/17)
Calif. agency asserts right to regulate tribe's business (01/09)
Tribe's company sues state for infringement (11/18)
Calif. officials trying to shut down tribe's business (11/03)

Join the Conversation