Judge dismisses Narragansett suit over state raid

Thursday, April 19, 2007  

A federal judge dismissed a civil lawsuit filed by members of the Narragansett Tribe who sued the state of Rhode Island for raiding the reservation.

U.S. District Judge William E. Smith said the seven tribal members had no grounds to pursue the case, given that the courts have already ruled the state was within its right to raid the reservation on July 14, 2005, in order to shut down a tax-free smoke shop.

The lawsuit was separate from the one the tribe filed against the state for the raid. The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals said the tribe is subject to all state laws on its reservation, which was created by an act of Congress.

Get the Story:
Judge tosses tribe’s lawsuit (The Providence Journal 4/19)
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Relevant Links:
Narragansett Tribe - http://www.narragansett-tribe.org

Related Decision:
Narragansett Tribe v. Rhode Island (May 24, 2006)

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