9th Circuit to hear case over Hualapai Tribe's Skywalk business

Friday, October 19, 2012  

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments today in a case involving the Hualapai Tribe of Arizona.

The tribe owns the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a popular tourist attraction that was operated by David Jin, a non-Indian developer. Their relationship soured and the tribe took control of the business earlier this year.

Jin sued the tribe in federal court but Judge David Campbell ruled that he must exhaust his tribal court remedies. He wants to remain in federal court and has called the tribe's judicial system "dysfunctional" in filings with the 9th Circuit. He also says, as a non-Indian, he cannot be subjected to the tribe's jurisdiction.

Turtle Talk has posted documents from the case, Grand Canyon Skywalk v. Sa Nyu Wa. Arguments take place at 9am, according to the 9th Circuit's calendar.

Get the Story:
Appeals court takes up jurisdictional issue in case pitting Skywalk developer against tribe (AP 10/19)

Related Stories:
Sherry Counts: Hualapai Tribe can manage business on its own (10/5)
Developer goes back to federal court in Hualapai Tribe feud (9/17)
Hualapai Tribe disputes $28M award in Grand Canyon Skywalk (08/27)
Opinion: A lot at stake with Hualapai tribal court dispute (4/12)
Non-Indian developer appeals ruling in Hualapai Tribe case (3/29)
Developer continues to oppose Hualapai Tribe's jurisdiction (3/23)
Judge backs Hualapai court jurisdiction in Skywalk dispute (3/20)
Chairwoman of Hualapai Tribe seeks to resolve Skywalk fight (03/08)