The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition in a case involving a federal employee who removed from his job after improperly pressuring the United South and Eastern Tribes.

As assistant director of tribal affairs for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Dean Seneca repeatedly contacted USET about the organization's forthcoming testimony at a tribal budget consultation session in 2006. USET complained that Seneca's attempt to influence the testimony was "inappropriate and aggressive," the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals said in an unpublished opinion last September.

Seneca was reprimanded, removed from his position and reassigned to another one as a result of his behavior He then tried to sue USET three USET employees but the 11th Circuit said USET cannot sued because it was acting under a self-determination contract with the federal government.

The court also upheld a federal judge's decision to substitute United States as the defendant in the case.

Seneca is a member of the Seneca Nation of New York, which belongs to USET.

The case is Seneca v. USET, No. 08-1127.

11th Circuit Decision:
Seneca v. USET (September 16, 2008)

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Court: Federal employee pressured USET (9/18)