in the united states court of appeals for the ninth ... · robert e. kovacevich, #2723 attorney for...
TRANSCRIPT
No. 11-36001________________________________________________________________
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALSFOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
________________________________________________________________TERRY TONASKET, dba STOGIE SHOP, and DANIEL T. MILLER, anindividual;
Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
TOM SARGENT, TOBACCO TAX ADMINISTRATOR; THE COLVILLEBUSINESS COUNCIL; MICHAEL O. FINLEY, CHAIRMAN; HARVEYMOSES JR.; SYLVIA PEASLEY; BRIAN NISSEN; SUSIE ALLEN;CHERIE MOOMAW; JOHN STENSGAR; ANDREW JOSEPH; VIRGILSEYMOUR SR.; MIKE MARCHARD; ERNIE WILLIAMS; DOUGSEYMOUR; SHIRLEY CHARLEY; RICKY GABRIEL; and THECOLVILLE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE COLVILLE INDIANRESERVATION, a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe;
Defendants-Respondents.________________________________________________________________ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FORTHE EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, NO. CV-11-073-LRSTHE HONORABLE LONNIE R. SUKO, UNITED STATES DISTRICTCOURT JUDGE________________________________________________________________
REPLY BRIEF OF APPELLANTS________________________________________________________________
Robert E. Kovacevich, #2723Attorney for Appellants818 W. Riverside Avenue, Ste 525Spokane, WA 99201(509) 747-2104
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii
COUNTER-STATEMENT OF ISSUES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
COUNTER-STATEMENT TO RESPONDENTS’ STATEMENT OFFACTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
A. The Colville Tribe has no Sovereign Immunity fromFederal Anti-trust Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
B. The Sherman and Clayton Anti-trust Acts Apply toGovernments that Compete with Individuals by Selling tothe Public At Retail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
C. The Land Is Not Tribal Land but an Exclusive TrustAllotment Held in Trust by the United States. . . . . . . 18
D. Prospective Relief is Alleged and Prohibits Sovereignty ofBoth the Tribe and Tribal Officials When Acting BeyondTheir Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
E. The Individual Defendants have no Immunity . . . . . . . 24
F. Other Contentions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
G. The Indispensable Party Issue is not Before the AppealsCourt; in any Event, the Tribe is Fully Protecting theState’s interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
H. The Appellants Have Standing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
CONCLUSION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Superior Court, 40 Cal.4th239, 148 P.3d. 1126 (Cal. 2006). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Arizona v. Maricopa County Medical Society, 457 U.S. 332, 348, 102S.Ct. 2466, 73 L.Ed.2d 48 (1982) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Associated Industries v. Lohman, 511 U.S. 641, 114 S.Ct. 1815, 128L.Ed.2d 639 (1994). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Atkinson Trading Co. v. Shirley, 532 U.S. 645, 121 S.Ct. 1825, 149L.Ed.2d 889 (2001). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 11, 20
Attorney General of Canada v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings, Inc.,268 F.3d 103 (2 Cir. 2001). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26nd
Bittle v. Bahe, 192 P. 3d 810, 826-8 (S.C. Okla 2008). . . . . . . . . . 26
Bradley v. Crow Tribe of Indians 67 P.3d 306, 81-2 (Mont. 2003). .31
Brayton Purcell LLP v. Recordon & Recordon, 606 F.3d 1124 (9 Cir.th
2010). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad v. Assiniboine and SiouxTribes, 323 F.3d 767 (9 Cir. 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 30th
Burlington Northern Co. v. Vaughn, 509 F.3d 1085, (9 Cir. 2007) .th
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 24
C & L Enterprises Inc. v. Citizen Band Potawatomi Tribe of Oklahoma,532 U.S. 411, 121 S.Ct. 1589, 149 L.Ed.2d 623 (2001). . . . . . . . 12
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Colorado National Bank v. Bedford, 310 U.S. 41, 60 S.Ct. 800, 84L.Ed.2d 1067 (1940). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Indian Nation v.Gregoire, 658 F.3d 1078 (9 Cir. 2011). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21th
Costco v. Maleng, 522 F.3d 874 (9 Cir. 2008). . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 28th
Crowe & Dunlevy v. Stidham, 640 F.3d 1140 (10 Cir. 2011). .11, 23th
Dawavenda v. Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and PowerDistrict, 276 F.3d 1150 (9 Cir. 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35th
Disabled Rights Action Committee v. Las Vegas Events, Inc., 375 F.3d861 (9 Cir. 2004). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34, 35th
Dixon v. C.I.R., 316 F.3d 1041 (9 Cir. 2003). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30th
Donovan v. Coeur d’Alene Tribal Farms, 751 F.2d 1113 (9 Cir.th
1985). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
E.E.O.C. v. Peabody Western Coal Co., 610 F.3d 1070, 1082 (9 Cir.th
2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Exner v. Federal Bureau of Investigation, 612 F.2d 1202 (9 Cir.th
1980). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 28 S.Ct. 441, 52 L.Ed 714 (1908). .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 24
F.T.C. v. Fred Meyer, 390 U.S. 341, 88 S.Ct. 904, 19 L.Ed.2d 1222(1968) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Franchise Tax Board of California v. Hyatt, 538 U.S. 488, 497, 123S.Ct. 1683, 155 L.Ed.2d 702 (2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
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Freeman v. San Diego Board of Realtors, 322 F.3d 1133 (9 Cir.th
2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Hart v. Massanari, 266 F.3d 1155 (9 Cir. 2001). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11th
Hendricks v. Bank of America, N.A., 408 F.3d 1127 (9 Cir. 2005) th
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Hunt-Wesson Inc. v. Franchise Tax Board of California, 528 US 458,464, 120 U.S. Ct. 1022, 145 L.Ed.2d 974 (2000). . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Jefferson County Pharmaceutical Ass’n v. Abbott Laboratories, 460U.S. 150, 103 S.Ct. 1011, 74 L.Ed.2d 882 (1983). . . . . . . . . . . 9, 13
Knevelbaard Dairies v. Kraft Foods, 232 F.3d 979 (9 Cir. 2000). . .th
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 17
L.G. Balfour Company v. F.T.C., 442 F.2d 1 (7 Cir. 1971). . . . . . 15th
Lakoduk v. Cruger, 287 P. 2d 338, 340 (Wash 1955) . . . . . . . . . 33
McClanahan State Tax Commission of Arizona, 411 U.S. 164, 175 93S. Ct. 1257, 36 L.Ed. 129 (1973). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Mendoza v. Zirkle Fruit Co., 301 F.3d 1163 (9 Cir. 2002). . . . . . . 17th
Merrion v. Jicarilla Tribe, 455 U.S. 130, 102 S.Ct. 894, 71 L.Ed.2d21 (1982) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Miller v. Wright, 9 Cir No. 11-35850 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 22th
Moe v. Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the FlatheadReservation, 425 U.S. 463, 96 S.Ct. 1634, 48 L.Ed.2d 96 (1976). . 33
Montana v. U.S., 450 U.S. 544, 101 S.Ct. 1245, 67 L.Ed.2d 493(1981). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 20
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Narragansett Indian Tribe v. Rhode Island, 449 F.3d 16 (1 Cir.st
2006). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 8
North Carolina v. Seneca-Cayuga Tobacco Co., 676 S.E.2d 579, 584(N.C. 2009). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Northwest Wholesale Stationers v. Pacific Stationary and Printing, 472U.S. 284, 105 S.Ct. 2613, 86 L.Ed.2d 202 (1985) . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Pacific Coast Agricultural Export Ass’n v. Sunkist Growers, 526 F.2d1196 (9 Cir. 1975) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23th
Plains Commerce Bank v. Long Family Land and Cattle Co., 554 U.S.316, 128 S.Ct. 2709, 171 L.Ed.2d 457 (2008). . . . . . . . 4, 11, 19, 37
R.J. Reynolds v. City of New York Department of Finance, 667N.Y.S.2d 4 (1997). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
R.J. Reynolds v. Premium Tobacco Stores, 1999 WL 1249322 (N.D.Ill 1999). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Red Earth LLC v. United States, 657 F.3d 138, 148 (2 Cir. 2011). .nd
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 6, 18, 25, 28, 32
Rincon Mushroom Corp of America v. Mazzetti, 2010 WL 3768347(D.C.Cal 2010). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Rogers-Dial v. Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, 2011 WL 2619232,page 5 (D.C.Cal 2011). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Rowe v. New Hampshire Motor Transport Ass’n, 552 U.S. 364, 128S.Ct. 989, 169 L.Ed.2d 933 (2008). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
St. Clair v. City of Chico, 880 F.2d 199 (9 Cir. 1989). . . . . . . . . . 29th
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Salt River Project Agr. Imp and Power v. Lee, 672 F.3d 1176, 1181(9 Cir. 2012). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24, 34th
Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez, 436 U.S. 49, 98 S.Ct 1670, 56L.Ed.2d 106 (1978). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Savage v. Glendale Union High School Dist No. 205, 343 F.3d 1036(9 Cir 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29th
Southwest Center for Biological Diversity v. Babbitt, 150 F.3d 1152,1153-4 (9 Cir. 1998) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36th
State v. Comenout, 267 P. 3d 355, 358 (Wash. 2011) . . . . . . . . . 31
State of Georgia v. Evans, 316 U.S. 159, 62 S.Ct 972, 86 L.Ed. 1346(1942). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Texaco v. Hasbrouck, 496 U.S. 543, 110 S.Ct 2535, 110 L.Ed.2d 492(1990). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Tonasket v. State, 488 P.2d 281 (Wash. 1971) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
U.S. v. Baker, 63 F.3d 1478 (9 Cir. 1995). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 9th
U.S. v. Williams, 514 U.S. 527, 115 S.Ct 1611, 131 L.Ed.2d 608(1995). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
United States v. Lara, 541 U.S. 193, 124 S.Ct 1628, 158 L.Ed.2d 420(2004). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
United States v. Silverman, 861 F.2d 571 (9 Cir. 1988) . . . . . . . 2th
Warburton/Buttner v. Superior Court, 104 Cal App 4 1170, 127 Cal.th
Rptr. 2d 706 (2002). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
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Washington v. Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, 447U.S. 134 (1980). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Washington v. Daley, 173 F.3d 1158, 1167 (9 Cir. 1999). . . . . . 36th
Water Wheel Camp Recreation v. LaRance, 642 F.3d 802 (9 Cirth
2011) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Constitution
U.S. Const. Art. I, § 8, cl. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33U.S. Const. Art. VI, cl. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Wash Const. Article 26, Second . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Court Rules
Fed R.Civ.P. 8(a)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Fed.R.Civ.P 12(b)(1) and (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Statutes
15 U.S.C. § 1, 3, 13, 15 and 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 10, 17, 2115 U.S.C. § 376(a)(3,4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2518 U.S.C. § 2341-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 725 U.S. Statute at Large c 180. P 676 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3229 U.S.C. §§ 651-678 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Colville Tribe Tobacco Code 6-8-3, 6-8-8, 6-8-10 . . . . . . . . . . 6, 32Wash.Rev.Code 43.06.455(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Texts
Cohen’s 2005 Handbook of Federal Indian Law § 16.01. . . . . . . 18
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No. 11-36001________________________________________________________________
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALSFOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
________________________________________________________________
TERRY TONASKET, dba STOGIE SHOP, and DANIEL T. MILLER, anindividual;
Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
TOM SARGENT, TOBACCO TAX ADMINISTRATOR, and THECOLVILLE BUSINESS COUNCIL; MICHAEL O. FINLEY, CHAIRMAN;HARVEY MOSES JR.; SYLVIA PEASLEY; BRIAN NISSEN; SUSIEALLEN; CHERIE MOOMAW; JOHN STENSGAR; ANDREW JOSEPH;VIRGIL SEYMOUR SR.; MIKE MARCHARD; ERNIE WILLIAMS;DOUG SEYMOUR; SHIRLEY CHARLEY; RICKY GABRIEL; and THECOLVILLE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE COLVILLE INDIANRESERVATION, a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe;
Defendants-Respondents.________________________________________________________________
ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FORTHE EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, NO. CV-11-073-LRSTHE HONORABLE LONNIE R. SUKO, UNITED STATES DISTRICTCOURT JUDGE________________________________________________________________
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COUNTER-STATEMENT OF ISSUES
The Defendants’ Statement of Issues ignores the lower court’s
ruling dismissing the case on lack of subject matter jurisdiction. It
upheld tribal sovereign immunity and tribal official immunity. The
court did not reach the issue of indispensable party. (ER 11).
The statement also fails to recognize the central issues of
limitation by the Tribe only to wholesalers who charge more for the
product due to the MSA lawsuit settlement and that the Tribe is a
controlling market competitor who unfairly competes. At ER 45, the
Amended Complaint alleges, “cigarettes, without the state lawsuit
settlement added to the price, can be purchased from wholesalers
that are not regulated by the State of Washington.” United States v.
Silverman, 861 F.2d 571, 576 (9 Cir. 1988) holds that a review of th
a dismissal motion allows the reviewing court to review the case as
if no lower court decision has been rendered. “‘De novo’ means
trying the matter anew, the same as if it had not been heard before
and as if no decision has been previously rendered,” Exner v.
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Federal Bureau of Investigation, 612 F.2d 1202, 1209 (Pregerson
concurrence) (9 Cir. 1980). th
COUNTER-STATEMENT TO RESPONDENTS’ STATEMENT OF FACTS
At page 2, the Respondents’ Brief states that Tonasket’s store
is located on “tribal trust land.” The Tribe does not own the land.
The record does not indicate the relationship, but the Supplemental
Excerpts, SER 6, indicate that Melford Tonasket, Terry Tonasket’s
father, owns the land. Tribal trust land is a material issue as the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, not the Tribe, controls the land. This issue
is discussed at pages 18-20 of this Reply.
The Tribe at 2 also states that Appellant Miller “allegedly
travels to purchase cigarettes.” There is no citation to the
Complaint as the record does not state his motive. This statement
points out the weakness of the Answering Brief. This case does not
determine the accuracy of the facts, but considers them as true for
this review. The Respondents at page 3 argue “blatant ignorance of
Washington v. Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, 447
U.S. 134 (1980).” Throughout the Respondents’ Brief, they
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repeatedly argue that Colville applies. The case predates Plains
Commerce Bank v. Long Family Land and Cattle Co., 554 U.S. 316,
330, 128 S.Ct. 2709, 171 L.Ed.2d 457 (2008) by 28 years;
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad v. Assiniboine and Sioux
Tribes, 323 F.3d 767, (9 Cir. 2003) and Red Earth LLC v. Unitedth
States, 657 F.3d 138, 148 (2 Cir. 2011). Colville does not involvend
anti-trust price fixing or restriction of wholesaler so that Tonasket
has to pay higher prices violating commerce. Essentially, anti-trust
competition, agreement to charge minimum prices, a non-Indian
buyer and wholesaler restriction, all core issues here, were never
involved in the pre-Plains Commerce (554 U.S. 316) and Atkinson
(532 U.S. 645) cases.
Cases on tribal authority are dependent on the law in existence
at the time they were rendered and are subject to change. United
States v. Lara, 541 U.S. 193, 124 S.Ct. 1628, 158 L.Ed.2d 420
(2004). Narragansett Indian Tribe v. Rhode Island, 449 F.3d 16, 24
(1st Cir. 2006) notes “the trend has been away from the idea of
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inherent Indian sovereignty as a bar to State jurisdiction and toward
reliance on federal preemption.”
The Tribe, at page 9, refers to two declarations of Defendant
Tom Sargent. Neither Sargent declaration states that he knows the
facts of his own personal knowledge. At SER 12, he states, “it is my
understanding” giving his legal conclusions. One declaration, SER
5, attaches a title report. Tonasket’s declaration (ER 18) establishes
price cutting competition from Sargent’s store and disputes
Sargent’s declaration of the material facts. SER 12. The Tribe’s
Brief at page 10 stating there are no counter declarations does not
recognize that Tonasket disputes Sargent’s declaration with facts of
his own knowledge. ER 17-23. Tonasket verified the Complaint.
SER 79. Miller also verified the Complaint. ER 7-9.
At SER 11, Sargent states that the Tribe does not collect the
tax but omits to state that the tribal tobacco law, (Addendum A-10,
6-8-6) requires that a retailer must comply with the Tribe/State
Compact requiring purchases only from state regulated wholesalers
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who charge $5 more (ER 86) and that the Tribe will charge 100% of
the state tax. (ER 85-6).
At best, the statement in the declaration and at SER 11 that
wholesalers do not set wholesale prices is a distinction without a
difference as the Compact (ER 86) requires purchases only from
state wholesalers, self-certified wholesalers and tribal wholesalers
who agree by contract to abide by the terms of the Compact. ER 84.
The Sargent declaration admits that the Tribe buys only from
certified wholesalers. SER 12.
Tonasket has no freedom to buy from any wholesalers.
Wash.Rev.Code 43.06.455(5) and tribal compact provision (ER 84)
Addendum A-10, Tribal Tobacco Code 6-8-3(i)(j) and 6-8-8.
Wholesale restrictions violate due process. Red Earth LLC v.
United States, 657 F.3d 138, 148 (2 Cir. 2011) and other casesnd
cited in Appellants’ Opening Brief at page 17 and 18 (ignored by the
Tribe) establish this principle. The Amended Complaint alleges
same like kind and quality price fixing of cigarettes. (ER 38, 41-44,
47, 53, 56-8).
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ARGUMENT
A. The Colville Tribe has no Sovereign Immunity fromFederal Anti-trust Law.
The Complaint (ER 29-30, 40-48) alleges a violation of the
Federal Anti-trust Law 15 U.S.C. 1, 3, 13, 15 and 26.
At pages 11-14 of its Brief, the Tribe states that is has
governmental immunity even in commercial activity if it taxes
cigarettes. The argument misses the Amended Complaint’s thrust
as it alleges anti-trust violations by the Colville engaging in unfair
competition and price fixing by selling cigarettes at retail to non-
Indian non-residents. ER 39, 50, 60-70.
The rule that applies to this case is “Federal laws of general
applicability are presumed to apply with equal force to Indians” U.S.
v. Baker, 63 F.3d 1478, 1474 (9 Cir. 1995) a cigarette tax case thatth
applied the criminal transportation of unstamped cigarettes in
interstate commerce (18 U.S.C. §§ 2341-2342) to on-reservation
Indians. The statute, 18 U.S.C. § 2341(2) applies if any local
government requires cigarettes to be stamped. Baker, Id. at 1489,
expressly held that cigarette commerce is not an intrusion on tribal
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sovereignty. Narragansett Indian Tribe v. Rhode Island, 449 F.3d 16,
26 (1 Cir. 2006) was cited at 25 of Appellant’s Opening Brief butst
not cited by Respondents. The opinion states: “Here, the State is
seeking to enforce laws binding on the Tribe’s commercial
transactions with outsiders, not to dictate, say, tribal membership
on inheritance rules. Whatever the exact contour of the Tribe’s
retained sovereignty, those contours are narrow-and it is perfectly
clear that trafficking in contraband cigarettes is not within them.”
Like here, the State and the Tribe had an agreement that State law
would be in effect. The Court also held that sovereign immunity
was waived by the State-Tribe agreement as waiver “need not use
magic words”, id. at 25. The Court also concluded that if State law
applies, as it does here to wholesaler restriction, sovereignty is
abrogated. It also emasculates the perceived distinction between
Tribal sovereignty and Tribal immunity, id. at 24, that Respondents
assert in their brief at footnote 2 page 13 confuses Appellants.
Baker, id. at 1485, quotes the seminal case of Donovan v. Coeur
d’Alene Farms, 751 F.2d 1113, 1116 (9 Cir. 1985) that applied theth
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Federal OSHA law, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651-678 to the Coeur d’Alene’s farm
activities that, like the Tribe sells cigarettes in this case, sold farm
products on the open market. The three exceptions (Donovan, id. at
1116) i.e. no intermural matters, treaty rights, or specific exceptions
are not present here; hence, there are no exceptions. None of the
exceptions applied in Donovan because the Tribe sold at retail to
non-Indians. It operated the farm as a commercial enterprise, and
the Colville Tribe has no treaty allowing exclusion. Baker, supra at
1485, removed the treaty exception by holding that the Federal
Cigarette Act did not prohibit “trading in cigarettes.” These
principles uphold Appellant’s Amended Complaint for the reason
that trading in cigarettes must also comply with the federal anti-
trust law. Jefferson County Pharmaceutical Ass’n v. Abbott
Laboratories, 460 U.S. 150, 155, 103 S.Ct. 1011, 74 L.Ed.2d 882
(1983) applies the anti-trust law to governments that sell at retail.
State of Georgia v. Evans, 316 U.S. 159, 162, 62 S.Ct. 972, 86 L.Ed.
1346 (1942) holds: “We can perceive no reason for believing that
Congress wanted to deprive a state, as purchaser of commodities
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shipped in interstate commerce, of the civil remedy of treble
damages which is available to other purchasers who suffer through
violation of the Act.” The case sought price fixing relief allowed by
15 U.S.C. § 15. The anti-trust law applies to governments selling
products to the public or buying products in commercial
transactions. At 14 of its brief, the Tribe asserts that Jefferson
County “has no bearing on tribal sovereignty citing the lower court
decision of Miller v. Wright now on appeal in this Court No. 11-
35850.
This argument is wrong as Jefferson County, supra, at 153
expressly states at footnote 5 that the case was dismissed in the
lower court on Eleventh Amendment sovereign immunity, a holding
that was reversed. Since the Tribe loses immunity by violating
federal law in selling cigarettes to the public, it is liable for damages
and also can be enjoined.
The Tribe, at page 8 of its brief, insists that the burden of
establishing subject matter jurisdiction is on the party invoking
jurisdiction. This statement ignores Appellant’s Opening Brief at
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pages 16-7. “The Navajo Nation’s Imposition of a tax on non-
members on non-Indian fee land within the reservation is therefore
presumptively invalid.” Atkinson Trading v. Shirley, 532 U.S. 645,
659, 121 S.Ct. 1825, 149 L.Ed.2d 889 (2001), is approved by Plains
Commerce stating “especially on non-Indian fee land” Plains
Commerce Bank v. Long Family Land and Cattle Co., 554 U.S.316,
330, 128 S.Ct. 2709, 171 L.Ed.2d 457 (2008). The statement infers
that the Tribe cannot regulate sales to non-members, regardless of
land status. Plains Commerce holds that a tribe’s adjudicative
jurisdiction does not exceed its legislative jurisdiction. Plains
Commerce, Id. at 330. The Respondents did not cite these important
cases in their brief even though cited in Appellant’s Opening Brief
as binding authority. Hart v. Massanari, 266 F.3d 1155, 1171 (9th
Cir. 2001).
Crowe & Dunlevy, P.C. v. Stidham, 640 F.3d 1140, 1155 (10th
Cir. 2011) applied the similar rational of lack of sovereign immunity
of state officials for an ongoing violation of federal law to tribes and
tribal officials joining the D.C., 8 and 11 Circuits on this issue. th th
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It is mandated by the supremacy clause, U.S. Const. Art. VI, cl. 2
“the laws of the United States . . . . shall be the supreme law of the
land.”
The rule is stated in Stidham, Id 1156. It states that an
ongoing violation of federal law allows even the Tribe to be enjoined.
If state law requires tribal reports, the U.S. Const., Tenth
Amendment, reserving power to the states, abrogates tribal
immunity. Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Supreme Court,
148 P.3d 1126, 1140 (S.C. Cal. 2006).
At pages 15-17 of their brief, Respondents contend that a
waiver of immunity by a tribe must be specific, and at 18, that the
mediation provision is not arbitration but in any event applies only
to the parties. This argument is inconsistent with their argument
at page 7 that Appellants seek to “decimate the Compact”. C & L
Enterprises v. Citizen Band Potawatomi Tribe of Oklahoma, 532 U.S.
411, 418-9, 121 S.Ct. 1589, 149 L.Ed.2d 623 (2001) rebuts all these
contentions. The arbitration clause did not specifically waive
immunity. The clause itself waived it. Whether mediation or
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arbitration, any dispute resolution procedure is waiver. See C & L
id. at 420.
The mediation clause in this case mandates a “mediator
selected by the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service’s
(“J.A.M.S.”) Seattle office.” ER 93. The office includes mediation.
The “reach compact” statement at 19.3.2 (ER 93) is confusing.
Regardless, the “mediator” may enforce the contract. 19.3.3. This is
arbitration, not mediation.
B. The Sherman and Clayton Anti-trust Acts Apply toGovernments that Compete with Individuals by Selling tothe Public At Retail.
The Complaint and Tonasket’s declaration allege that the
Tribe is in direct competition on sale of pre-packaged goods with
Tonasket selling to the general public at retail. ER 26, 29, 41-46,
ER 16-24.
Jefferson County Pharmaceutical Ass’n v. Abbott Laboratories,
460 U.S. 150, 170, 103 S.Ct. 1011, 74 L.Ed.2d 882 (1983) states
“there simply no unambiguous evidence of congressional intent to
exempt purchases by a State for the purpose of competing in the
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private retail market with a price advantage.” The court noted that
the state was “the strongest competitor of them all” and that
Congress feared any law that “intended to deny small business”
anti-trust relief from competing governments. Id. at 171. At page
14, the Tribe, without citation of authority, argues that the
sovereign immunity of the Tribe prevails over the anti-trust law,
Jefferson County, id. at 159-160 carefully reviews the legislative
history and concludes exactly the opposite. “We find no legislative
intention to enable a State, by an unexpressed exemption, to enter
private competitive markets with congressionally approved price
advantages”, id 162.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. Vaughn, 509 F.3d
1085, 1092 (9 Cir. 2007) applies lack of immunity of states toth
tribes. The same logic should apply to anti-trust violations. The
statute, 15 U.S.C. § 15, works both ways.
The Colville Tribe, at page 4 of its brief, states “Appellants
mistakenly contend that CCT is fixing cigarette prices.” The
compact and tobacco code requires that all cigarettes be purchased
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from state controlled wholesalers who charge more, or the Tribe who
also has to charge $5 more. The allegations of the Complaint allege
price fixing that are within 15 U.S.C. § 13(a), the price fixing statute.
The Colville Tribe, at pages 4 and 5, admits that only
wholesalers that are limited to certification by the State or Tribe and
who attach stamps equal to 100% of the state tax are the only
wholesalers that Tonasket can buy from. This class of wholesalers
all charge about $5 more for their product. This is wholesale price
inflation is of items of the same like kind and quality.
Exclusive dealing contracts to supply products by a natural
college fraternity organization that set prices and controlled the
market were held as violating the federal anti-trust law and were
enjoined. L.G. Balfour Company v. F.T.C., 442 F.2d 1, (7 Cir.th
1971). Balfour is in point as it parallels this case. An agreement to
restrict competition violated 15 U.S.C. 1, 2 and 45 defining unfair
methods of competition. Injunctions were upheld.
Another reason is that R.J. Reynolds v. Premium Tobacco
Stores, 1999 WL 1249322 page 3 (N.D. Ill 1999); F.T.C. v. Fred
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Meyer, 390 U.S. 341, 88 S.Ct. 904, 19 L.Ed.2d 1222 (1968) and
Texaco v. Hasbrouck, 496 U.S. 543, 110 S.Ct. 2535, 110 L.Ed.2d
492 (1990) all hold that sales of items of like kind and quality, a
description that includes cigarettes, must be sold to retailers at the
same prices to prevent a violation of the federal anti-trust act, 15
U.S.C. § 13(a).
The Tribe got at least $11.75 and probably more from Miller,
and receives $11.75 more from its own sales since it pays the tax to
no one. Tonasket’s declaration also includes price fixing facts. ER
17-24.
Appellants allege that paying into the MSA settlement was not
required by the Tribe and forces Tonasket to pay $2 to $5 more per
carton. (ER 42-3). Cigarettes can be purchased at lower prices if
the lawsuit settlement is ignored. (ER 45).
Knevelbaard Dairies v. Kraft Foods, 232 F.3d 979, 988 (9 Cir.th
2000) conclusively rejects the Colville Tribe’s argument as it holds
that any combination to prevent horizontal competition in the
purchase of any commodity are per se price fixing violations of the
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Sherman and Clayton Acts. 15 U.S.C. § 1. Knevelbaard alleged a
combination to depress milk prices and restrain competition.
The Opinion states, “When horizontal price fixing causes
buyers to pay more, or sellers to receive less than the prices that
would prevail in a market free of the unlawful trade restraint, anti-
trust injury occurs. This is seen most often in claims of overcharged
buyers.”
The case reversed a dismissal of the complaint, held that a
private action for anti-trust injury was properly pled and sent the
case back to trial. The case, id at 994, states the uniform rule that
“we are not concerned with which side will prevail at trial.” It holds
that the complaint alleged facts that survived a motion to dismiss.
Here, the Respondents seek to try a case or dispute allegations of
the facts in complaint which are to be taken as true.
Mendoza v. Zirkle Fruit Co., 301 F.3d 1163, 1169 (9 Cir.th
2002) follows Knevelbaard holding a complaint alleging harm to
legally documented employees injured by illegal hiring schemes is
a price fixing injury.
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Mendoza also reversed a dismissal of the complaint holding
that the allegations were to be taken as true, and that they were
victims of illegal conduct. Applied to this case, the Red Earth, LLC
v. United States, 657 F.3d 138, 148 (2 Cir. 2012) holding that thend
a constitutional violation of due process is caused by tampering
with out-of-state shippers requiring them to put stamps on
cigarettes. The allegation of a due process violation is sufficient
even without the anti-trust violation. (ER 56).
C. The Land Is Not Tribal Land but an Exclusive TrustAllotment Held in Trust by the United States.
The assertions at page 2 and 28 that Tonasket’s store is on
tribal land is wrong. Tonasket v. State, 488 P.2d 281 (Wash. 1971)
(vacated on an unrelated issue) 411 U.S. 451, 93 S.Ct. 1941, 36
L.Ed.2d 129 (1973) held that the land is a trust allotment now held
by three generations of the Tonasket family.
Cohen’s, “2005 Handbook of Federal Indian Law” § 16.03[1]
(Nell Jessup Newton ed. 2005) pages 1036-7 makes the distinction.
It states: “Allotment is a term of art in Indian law, describing either
a parcel of land owned by the United States in trust for an Indian
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(“‘trust’ allotment”) or owned by an Indian subject to a restriction on
alienation in the United States or its officials (‘restricted’ allotment).”
Cohen at § 15.02, page 966, also states, “Tribal property may
be formally defined as property in which an Indian tribe has legally
enforceable interest. It must be distinguished, on the one hand,
from the property of individual Indians. . .”
Plains Commerce Bank v. Long Family Cattle Co., 554 U.S. 316,
328-31, 128 S.Ct. 2709, 171 L. Ed.2d 457 (2008) discusses
allotments including the fact that the Tribe cannot stop sales of
allotment and concludes that activities of non-members on land
within the reservation cannot be taxed by an Indian tribe if there is
no consensual relationship required by Montana v. U.S., 450 U.S.
544, 101 S.Ct. 1245, 67 L.Ed.2d 493 (1981).
The all important presumption is that the Tribe must prove
that they have a consensual relationship with the non-member.
Here, Appellant Miller did not buy cigarettes on tribal land, nor from
the Tribe. He bought from a tribal Indian who had a store on a trust
allotment exclusively occupied by Terry Tonasket. This is non-
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member transaction that excepts Merrion v. Jicarilla Tribe, 455 U.S.
130, 102 S.Ct. 894, 71 L.Ed.2d 21 (1982) for the reason that the
activity of a business on allotted lands does not imperil or have an
adverse effect on the Tribe.
The distinction is material to this case in that the legal
incidence of the tax falls on the non-member as stated at footnote
6 of Atkinson Trading v. Shirley, 532 U.S. 645, 655, 121 S.Ct. 1825,
149 L.Ed.2d 889 (2001).
Atkinson, supra at 657, fn. 12, holds that the Tribe cannot
assert authority beyond Tribal land. At page 28, the Respondents
cite Water Wheel Camp Recreation v. LaRance, 642 F.3d 802 (9th Cir.
2011) in support of tribal regulation. Water Wheel involved a
trespasser lease and found jurisdiction of the non-members because
they were trespassers who violated the conditions of their entry.
Water Wheel, (Id. at 809), reviewing current U.S. Supreme Court
cases noted that a non-member is only subject to tribal regulation
if the Montana (450 U.S. at 564) consensual relationship is
established. The allotment is not tribal land.
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D. Prospective Relief is Alleged and ProhibitsSovereignty of Both the Tribe and Tribal Officials WhenActing Beyond Their Authority.
The Tribe, at page 6 and 21 of its brief, asserts that sovereign
immunity does not apply as “Appellants seek retrospective relief.”
At 21, they acknowledge that prospective relief is an exception
denying sovereign immunity to tribal officials.
Tonasket’s Amended Complaint (ER 43) states that if
Defendant is not restrained, he will be driven out of business.
Miller had the incidence and burden to pay the tax as he is
ultimately liable. Colorado Nat. Bank of Bedford, 310 U.S. 41, 52,
60 S.Ct. 800, 84 L.Ed. 1067 (1940); U.S. v. Williams, 514 U.S. 527,
536, 145 S.Ct. 1611, 131 L.Ed.2d 608 (1995); Confederated Tribes
and Bands of the Yakima Indian Nation v. Gregoire, 658 F.3d 1078,
1089 (9 Cir 2011). th
Appellants’ Amended Complaint (ER 29) requests an
injunction against price fixing violating 15 U.S.C. § 26.
At ER 65, “Terry Tonasket had to apply additional sums to his
sale prices which has reduced or eliminated profit in the future.
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Additional facts and request for prospective relief are alleged in the
Amended Complaint. (ER 28-9, 43, 52, 55, 57-60, 73-75).
Allegations of lack of jurisdiction over non-Indians seeking
prospective relief overcomes tribal officials claims of immunity.
Rogers-Dial v. Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, 2011 WL 2619232,
page 5 (D.C.Cal 2011); Rincon Mushroom Corp of America v. Mazzetti,
2010 WL 3768347, page 6 (D.C.Cal 2010). At page 6, the Tribe
argued that retrospective, i.e. look back relief is sought, so
prospective relief is not allowed. Pleading rules allow different and
alternative types of relief. Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(3).
At page 27 of the Tribe’s brief, the Tribe cites the District
Court cases of Miller v. Wright, No 3:11 cv-05396-RBL, 2009 WL
4712245 cases that are now on appeal in this Court No. 11-35850
involving the Puyallup Tribe Cigarette Compact. In these cases, the
Puyallup Tribe did not allege that the State was an indispensable
party. The cases have some common issues.
The Tribe’s brief at 21 also admits that tribal officials are not
immune from suits for “prospective relief” and to “protect wrongful
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impairment of federally protected rights.” Allegations of violation of
federally protected rights are also alleged. ER 28, 36, 37.
The case cited in Tonasket and Miller’s opening brief, Crowe &
Dunlevy v. Stidham, 640 F.3d 1140, 1154 (10 Cir. 2011) holds thatth
Ex parte Young also deprives a tribe of sovereign immunity for
prospective relief. Tonasket’s opening brief at page 21 cites three
Ninth Circuit cases and Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez, 436 U.S. 49,
59, 98 S.Ct. 1670, 56 L.Ed.2d 106 (1978), that also waive immunity
of tribal officials and allow injunctive relief.
Contrary to the private party argument at page 13-14 of their
brief, Freeman v. San Diego Board of Realtors, 322 F.3d 1133, 1145
(9 Cir. 2003) held that indirect buyers represented by private realth
estate agents had price fixing standing. Injunctive relief was allowed
against price fixing. It is also sought here. (ER 85). Freeman, id. at
1114 holds that price fixing, without more, allows private actions.
Pacific Coast Agricultural Export Ass’n v. Sunkist Growers, 526 F.2d
1196, 1203 (9 Cir. 1975) and Northwest Wholesale Stationers v.th
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Pacific Stationary and Printing, 472 U.S. 284, 298, 105 S.Ct. 2613,
86 L.Ed.2d 202 (1985) support private rights of action.
E. The Individual Defendants have no Immunity whenActing Beyond Their Authority.
The Amended Complaint alleges that the tribal officials acted
beyond their authority. (ER 39, 45-7, 53-4, 57-9, 66-7, 69, 74-6).
The Amended Complaint (ER 47) states, “The Defendant Colville
Tribe, a market competitor, acted beyond its lawmaking jurisdiction
and also agreed to a price fixing provision violating federal anti-trust
laws.”
Actions against tribal officials in their official capacity to enjoin
them from violating federal statutes, and also federal common law,
is an exception to sovereign immunity. Salt River Project Agr. Imp
and Power v. Lee, 672 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9 Cir. 2012). th
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway v. Vaughn, 509 F.3d
1085, 1092 (9 Cir. 2007) holds that tribal officials imposingth
unconstitutional tribal taxes are not immune from injunctive and
declaratory relief. The opinion holds “under the doctrine of Ex parte
Young, immunity does not extend to officials acting pursuant to an
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alleged unconstitutional statute.” Unconstitutional laws are alleged
in this case. (ER 38, 62-65).
Tribal Code 6-8-7 and 6-8-8 (Addendum A-10) and
Wash.Rev.Code 43.06.455(5) mandates out-of-state stamping before
delivery to the reservation. The Tribal Code states “or to ship to
Indian country.” Currently, this is a violation of the injunction
against the Jenkins Act, 15 U.S.C. § 376(a)(3,4). Red Earth LLC v.
U.S., 657 F.3d 138, 148 (2 Cir. 2011). The Tribe and tribal officialsnd
enacted an unconstitutional law beyond their authority.
Costco v. Maleng, 522 F.3d 874, 895 (9 Cir. 2008) applies asth
it invalidated a wholesale pricing system.
Arizona v. Maricopa County Medical Society, 457 U.S. 332, 348,
102 S.Ct. 2466, 73 L.Ed.2d 48 (1982) states that setting maximum
or minimum prices is per se price fixing.
At page 5 of its brief, the Tribe indicates that it does not keep
the MSA addition, but pays it for administrative services. The
Amended Complaint (ER 56-7) alleges price fixing by collecting
money for the State’s escrow and violation of the revenue rule.
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However, the State gets MSA money from Tonasket’s forced buying
from wholesalers who must charge the MSA. These accounts are
paid to the State. When a tribe agrees to be bound by state law, as
it agreed here (ER 285-6), the Tribe waives sovereignty. Bittle v.
Bahe, 192 P. 3d 810, 826-8 (S.C. Okla 2008).
Attorney General of Canada v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company,
268 F.3d 103, 109 (2 Cir. 2001) recognized and followed thend
common law revenue rule providing that the courts of one sovereign
will not enforce unajudicated tax claims of another sovereign. Here,
the MSA is merely a lawsuit settlement agreed upon by the State
and the major tobacco companies. The attempt to collect state
revenue or charge taxes on the same amount by the Tribe waives its
sovereignty. Franchise Tax Board of California v. Hyatt, 538 U.S.
488, 497, 123 S.Ct. 1683, 155 L.Ed.2d 702 (2003) states, “the
Constitution does not confer sovereign immunity on States in the
courts of sister states.”
F. Other Contentions.
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At page 14 of its Brief, the Tribe asserts that arm of the Tribe
is not involved in this case. At SER 12, the Declaration of Tom
Sargent refers to Colville tribal competitor with Tonasket Colville
Tribal Enterprise Corporation, CTEC, stating that it is a tribally
chartered corporation owned by the Tribe. The tribally chartered
corporation operates the retail outlet competing with Tonasket. ER
29, 26. The declaration contradicts the argument. CTEC is an arm
of the Tribe.
Even though the Tribe states at page 21 that it does not collect
the MSA, the Tribe agreed that it had an interest in the MSA, ER 82.
It is impossible to determine why a tribe had an interest in a lawsuit
settlement when no Indian tribe was a party and is immune from
the MSA. North Carolina v. Seneca-Cayuga Tobacco Co., 676 S.E.2d
579, 584 (N.C. 2009).
The Tribe at pages 28-9 argues that the dormant commerce
clause is not implicated. It is directly involved as the Tribe agreed
to impose 100% of the state tax on goods of like kind and quality.
ER 85-86.
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The attempt to equalize the tax by both governmental entities
and their respective jurisdictions is a dormant commerce clause
violation. Associated Industries of Missouri v. Lohman, 511 U.S. 641,
646, 114 S.Ct. 1815, 128 L.Ed.2d 639 (1994) invokes “a negative
command forbidding the States to discriminate against interstate
trade.” Costco Wholesale v. Maleng, 522 F.3d 874, 901 (9 Cir.th
2008) sustains a commerce clause violation on uniform pricing.
Since the Colville Tribe does not have to pay the MSA, by requiring
higher prices to equalize the amount of tax outside its jurisdiction,
it violates the commerce clause. R.J. Reynolds v. City of New York
Department of Finance, 667 N.Y.S.2d 4 (New York 1997). Hunt-
Wesson Inc. v. Franchise Tax Board of California, 528 U.S. 458, 464,
120 S.Ct. 1022, 145 L.Ed.2d 974 (2000) and Red Earth LLC v.
United States, 657 F.3d 138, 148 (2nd Cir. 2011) also hold that the
discrimination is a due process violation.
At 8-9 of its brief, the Tribe seems to indicate that Sargent’s
declaration, SER 13, and exhibits are contrary to the “Appellants
Contentions.” The facts alleged in the Complaint are verified and
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presumed true. Conflicts are resolved in favor of the non moving
party. The Respondents’ Motion in this case was not designated but
is a Fed.R.Civ.P 12(b)(1) and (7) motion. Uncontroverted allegations
in the Complaint where lack of jurisdiction is at issue, are taken as
true. Brayton Purcell v. Recordon & Recordon, 606 F.3d 1124, 1127
(9 Cir. 2010).th
If a dispute of material fact exists, the case goes to trial
Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). The cases cited by the Respondents at page 9 do
not involve an exhibit or declaration allowing Plaintiff to prove
jurisdiction. St. Clair v. City of Chico, 880 F.2d 199 at 201 (9 Cir.th
1989). Savage v. Glendale Union High School Dist No. 205, 343 F.3d
1036, 1040 (9th Cir. 2003)(cited by Respondent) holds that
sovereign immunity is a question of law and allegations of the
Amended Complaint are taken as true. Affidavits are considered
only if the immunity is factual, not facial. The review of the
declarations in this case do not contain information on the issue for
the reason that immunity question is facial. There is no factual
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question that the Tribe is a recognized Tribe as this is admitted by
Appellants. ER 39.
G. The Indispensable Party Issue is not Before the AppealsCourt; in any Event, the Tribe is Fully Protecting theState’s Interest.
The Appellees, at page 33, state that Appellant’s indispensable
party argument suffers from a “fatal flaw”. The lower court, ER 11,
stated “Because the Court finds above that the Defendants have
sovereign immunity in this case, which has not been waived, the
Court does not have to determine if the state law can or cannot be
joined.”
This Court has inherent power to fashion a remedy and
remand, but it must be exercised with restraint. Dixon v. C.I.R., 316
F.3d 1041, 1047 (9 Cir. 2003). Here, the case is an appeal from ath
Motion to Dismiss. The only facts are contained in the Amended
Complaint. ER 25-79. Appellants are deprived of a full record as
they have not had the opportunity for discovery and “no fair
opportunity to develop the record.” Burlington Northern Santa Fe R.
Co. v. Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation, 323
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F. 3d 767, 774 (9 Cir. 2003). Discovery should be allowed to developth
the facts of waiver and competition. Warburton/Buttner v. Superior Court,
104 Cal App 4 1170, 127 Cal. Rptr. 2d 706 (Cal. 2002), Bradley v. Crowth
Tribe of Indians, 67 P.3d 306, 81-2 (Mont. 2003).
The Compact, ER 82, states that “No third party shall have any
rights or obligations under the Compact.” The Appellants are not
obliged to join the State as the Tribe, not the State, caused the
harm. ER 26. Appellants alleged that the State is not a competitor.
ER 28.
The Tribe agreed to “Require any Colville Tribe member selling
cigarettes in Indian Country to be in compliance with the terms of
this Compact.” ER 85. The Compact also requires a tribal license
that is “access for purposes of enforcement” (ER 85). If a tribal
member is not licensed, the state cigarette tax applies. State v.
Comenout, 267 P. 3d 355, 358 (Wash. 2011).
The Tribe admits that in its brief at page 34 that injunctions
are sought, but fails to note that only the tribal officials and the
Tribe are parties. Complete prospective relief is sought to prevent
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the Tribe from anti-trust competition. The state of state officials are
not required this or other relief stated in the following sentence. The
Tribe is both the competitor and has passed a price fixing law. ER
28, A-10, 6-8-6, 6-8-7, 6-8-10. The Tribe also passed a law
attempting to require all wholesalers, regardless of whether they
were tribal members within the Tribe’s jurisdiction, to put the
stamps on the cigarettes. The wholesaler restrictions are not
confined to wholesalers who are resident tribal members. All
wholesalers, regardless of location, are attempted to be regulated by
the Tribe. Rowe v. New Hampshire Motor Transport Ass’n, 552 U.S.
364, 373, 128 S.Ct. 989, 169 L.Ed.2d 933 (2008); Red Earth LLC v.
United States, 657 F.3d 138, 148 (2 Cir. 2011) holds that duend
process is violated if interstate or tribal jurisdiction does not apply.
The State has jurisdiction of Miller, but the Tribe does not. ER
51-3. The State agreed not to govern Tonasket in its 1899 Enabling
Act (25 U.S. Statute at Large c 180. P 676) and in Article 26, Second
of the State Constitution stating that Congress shall have exclusive
control of tribal members living on the reservation. The lack of state
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jurisdiction and control is established by the disclaimers in the
State Constitution and preserved in the U.S. Const. Art I, § 8, cl. 3.
McClanahan State Tax Commission of Arizona, 411 U.S. 164, 175, 93
S. Ct. 1257, 36 L.Ed. 129 (1973), exempting tribal Indians from
state tax and Moe v. Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the
Flathead Reservation, 425 U.S. 463, 480, 96 S.Ct. 1634, 48 L.Ed.2d
96 (1976) expressly exempted tribal members from state cigarette
taxes and licensing to sell tobacco products on the reservation.
Tonasket has no need to join the State as the State has no
jurisdiction of him. None of the money from the Compact can benefit
Tonasket as Wash.Rev.Code 43.06.455 (8) prohibits a subsidy to
him. The Compact only allows the Tribe to use the money to fund
“essential government services”. ER 91. A proprietary income is
used to pay for governmental functions. Lakoduk v. Cruger, 287
P.2d 338, 340 (Wash 1955).
If the case only seeks prospective relief against present tribal
officials, ER 39, and complete relief can be obtained by Appellants
if the Tonasket’s can buy from any wholesaler and price fixing and
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matching taxation to the State is restrained and damages allowed.
The joinder issue should not be rigidly applied or dictate a
harsh result. The Court can also fashion a meaningful relief by
providing remedies that do not require the State’s cooperation.
Hendricks v. Bank of America, N.A., 408 F.3d 1127, 1136 (9 Cir.th
2005); Disabled Rights Action Committee v. Las Vegas Events, Inc.,
375 F.3d 861, 880 (9 Cir. 2004). Here, a ruling that the Tribe isth
not immune from Federal anti-trust laws would not affect the State.
The Compact makes no reference to the Tribe competing with its
members. Allowing the Tonasket unlimited wholesaler access would
allow him greater profit as he would also save money. This also
would not affect the State.
Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District v.
Lee, 672 F.3d 1176, 1179 (9 Cir. 2012) applies and denies joinderth
of the State. The reason is that the three elements of 19(a) reviewed
in the case are not present here, and even if they were, the Tribe is
adequately representing the states as all the possible arguments
have been and will be made by the Tribe.
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At page 36 of its brief, the Defendants cite E.E.O.C. v. Peabody
Western Coal Co., 610 F.3d 1070, 1087 (9 Cir. 2010) in support ofth
dismissal due to indispensable party. Peabody has relevance and
is in favor of Appellants as it holds, id. at 1087, that a request for
injunctive relief (here at CR 55-59) allows a defendant to implead a
party who would be indispensable but is immune from a damage
claim and otherwise claim sovereign immunity. The case is complex,
but the issue applies to the injunction sought in this case.
The Tribe, at 36, relies on Dawavenda v. Salt River Project
Agricultural Improvement and Power District, 276 F.3d 1150 (9 Cir.th
2002) stating that the party to a contract is necessary. The case
does not apply for the reason that the Compact would not be
decimated by a holding that it cannot compete with Tonasket or
regulate Miller. Like the later case of Disabled Rights Action
Committee v. Las Vegas Events, 375 F.3d 861, 881 (9 Cir. 2004) theth
compact does not require the Tribe to compete with Tonasket. Nor
is this case a suit to set aside the contract. The contract provided for
further negotiation of the Tribe’s right to sell on the internet (ER 84).
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The Compact can unilaterally dissolve in two years, ER 93, and
expires in five more years. ER 95. The contract would be legally
binding regardless of success of Appellants. It states that only the
parties are obligated. ER 82. This is not a reason to find necessary
party. Las Vegas, id. at 881.
The provision in the Compact (ER 85-86) imposing the same
tax as the State clearly indicates the State’s interest in the Compact
to maintain prices is identical to the Tribe’s. The pleadings and
briefs prove that the Tribe is making all the arguments the State
would make. Under these circumstances, even if the anti-trust
allegations are disregarded, the State is not a necessary party.
Southwest Center for Biological Diversity v. Babbitt, 150 F.3d 1152,
1153-4 (9 Cir. 1998). Washington v. Daley, 173 F.3d 1158, 1167th
(9 Cir. 1999).th
H. The Appellants Have Standing.
Respondents argue at page 40 of their brief that despite the
fact that standing was not raised in its Motion, ER 14, nor
determined by the trial court, ER 11, that standing can be
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considered sua sponte. Standing is clearly alleged in the Amended
Complaint CR 30, 43, 50-52, 58, 65, 71, 72. The declaration of
Sargent merely recites his arguments and legal conclusions, not
facts. SER 9-13 has no facts that would even remotely dispute the
allegations. The allegations are that Article III standing exists. Lack
of jurisdiction of a tribe confers standing. Plains Commerce Bank v.
Long Family Land and Cattle Co., 554 U.S. 316, 326-7, 128 S.Ct.
2709, 171 L.Ed.2d 457 (2008). The Tribe engaged in price fixing
that reduced sales and increased costs to Appellants and that
damages from the Defendants will redress the injury. ER 30, 72.
All of the elements for Article III standing are alleged.
The argument is completely without merit.
CONCLUSION
Respondent’s Brief fails to overcome the facts that the Tribe
has no jurisdiction of Miller. Respondents cannot restrict Tonasket
to wholesalers who charge more. The federal anti-trust law applies
to price fixing and horizontal restraints by the Defendant Tribe and
the other Defendants. The case must be reversed.
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DATED this 8 day of May 2012.th
Respectfully Submitted,
s/ Robert E. Kovacevich Robert E. KovacevichAttorney for Appellants818 W. Riverside Avenue, Ste 525Spokane, Washington 99201(509) 747-2104
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STATEMENT OF RELATED CASES
Pursuant to Circuit Rule 28-2.6, counsel hereby certifies that,
to the best of his knowledge and belief, that there is one case that
has issues related to this case. It is Miller, et al, v. Wright, et al.,
Case No. 11-35850.
DATED this 8 day of May 2012.th
s/ Robert E. Kovacevich Robert E. KovacevichAttorney for Appellants818 W. Riverside Avenue, Ste 525Spokane, Washington 99201(509) 747-2104
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BRIEF FORMAT CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TOCIRCUIT RULE 32(a)(7)
Pursuant to Fed.R.App.P. 32(a)(7)(B)(ii), I hereby certify that the
REPLY BRIEF OF APPELLANTS is: proportionately spaced, has a
typeface of 14 point or more, contains no more than 7,000 words
(reply briefs).
DATED this 8 day of May 2012.th
s/ Robert E. Kovacevich ROBERT E. KOVACEVICHAttorney for Appellants818 W. Riverside Ave, Ste 525 Spokane, Washington 99201(509) 747-2104
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of Appellants’ Reply Brief and Excerpts
were served on Counsel for Appellee, by ECF and mailing the same
by regular mail on May 8, 2012, in a postage-paid envelope
addressed as follows:
Mr. Richard M. BerleyZiontz, Chestnut, Varnell, Berley & Slonim2101 Fourth Avenue, Ste 1230Seattle, WA 98121
Dated this 8 day of May 2012.th
s/ Robert E. Kovacevich ROBERT E. KOVACEVICHAttorney for Appellants818 W. Riverside Avenue, Ste 525Spokane, Washington 99201(509) 747-2104
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