A jury of the Shoshone and Arapaho Tribal Court recently handed down a $2.5 million verdict against an oil company in a workplace injury case.

Corey Johnston, an employee of R&S Well Service, was working at a production rig on a tribally owned site. Marathon Oil lease the site from the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and the Northern Arapaho Tribe.

Johnston was injured severely when a piece of equipment fell apart. The jury found that Marathon Oil was 47 percent at fault and R&S Well Service was 6 percent at fault for the accident.

The tribal court asserted jurisdiction because Marathon Oil signed a consensual agreement with the tribes. Johnston is not a tribal member but employee safety is considered vital because Marathon agreed to a workforce of at least 50 percent Indians.

Get the Story:
Tribe civil trial finds for worker (AP 10/25)