A street sign on Tsali Boulevard, written in English and in the Cherokee syllabary, in Cherokee, North Carolina. Photo by Chuck Coker
A lawsuit that challenged pay raises for leaders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has been dismissed, The Smoky Mountain News reported. A group called Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for Justice and Accountability asked the council to rescind the $10,600 raises, which were made retroactive to 2010. When that didn't happen, a lawsuit was filed in tribal court that named several present and former Cherokee leaders as defendants in their individual capacities. The case, however, was dismissed due to lack of standing, according to The Smoky Mountain News. The plaintiffs failed to show how the pay raises affected their rights, the judge determined. Council members are paid $80,600 a year, the paper reported. The chair and vice chair of the council earn $86,400 and $83,500, respectively, the paper added. The group hasn't decided whether to appeal to the Cherokee Supreme Court. Read More on the Story:
Case dismissed in council pay raise suit (The Smoky Mountain News 9/14)
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