The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments today in a tobacco smuggling case involving two members of the Yakama Nation of Washington.
Harry Smiskin, 55, and his 31-year-old son, Kato Smiskin were charged with violating federal law. They are accused of moving large shipments of untaxed cigarettes without notifying the state.
U.S. District Judge Edward Shae dismissed the charges. He said the Yakama Treaty of 1855 doesn't require state notification.
The arguments are being heard in Seattle, Washington. The case is
US v. Smiskin, No. 05-30590 and No. 05-30591.
In another dispute in federal court, tobacco giant Phillip Morris is suing two Yakama businessmen, alleging violating of trademarks. The King Mountain Tobacco brand, owned by Delbert Wheeler Sr. and Richard Kip Ramsey Sr., uses symbols that allegedly resemble marks registered to Phillip Morris.
Get the Story:
Appeals court hears tribal smuggling case [see fourth item]
(The Yakima Herald-Republic 10/17)
Philip Morris takes fight to federal court (The Yakima Herald-Republic 10/14)
Related Stories:
Yakama Nation considers withdrawing tax
deals (09/19)
Washington Republicans
question gas tax deals (08/08)
Two
Washington tribes reach tax deal with state (7/31)
Two Washington tribes collect own gasoline tax
(05/30)
Editorial: Don't get too worked up
about gas tax (5/16)
State seeks
gasoline tax agreement with tribes (5/15)
Washington tribes meet with state over taxes
(5/1)
Two Washington tribes reach deal
on state gas tax (01/27)
Washington to
use gas tax decision against tribes (12/7)
Supreme Court upholds state tax on reservation
fuel (12/7)
Court to hear Yakama tobacco smuggling case
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Trending in News
1 Tribes rush to respond to new coronavirus emergency created by Trump administration
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'