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JULY 20, 2000

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that the state has jurisdiction involving a wrongful death civil lawsuit on the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Reservation.

The court ruled the Hennepin County District Court can hear the case because the mother of a woman killed on the reservation filed suit against a tribal member, not the tribe. Hence, sovereign immunity of the tribe was not a factor.

The tribal member, Dean Brooks, wanted the case dismissed, saying it should have been filed in tribal court.

Get the Decision:
Teta vs. Dean Lawrence Brooks (Minn Ct. App. No. 998195. July 2000)

Get the Story:
State court has jurisdiction in incident on Indian reservation (AP 7/19)

Only on Indianz.Com:
Jurisdiction (Tribal Law)

Relevant Links:
The Minnesota State Court System - www.courts.state.mn.us