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MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the tribes are immune from damage lawsuits for incidents that allegedly occurred prior to 1997.

The court said tribes cannot be sued in state court because they didn't waive their sovereignty. The ruling applies to a specific date because gaming compacts the tribes signed in 1997 allow lawsuits in state court.

The court expressed no opinion on that provision, which several tribes contend is illegal.

Get the Story:
Court Rules for Pueblo in Damage Suit (AP 4/27)

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