Judge rules Skywalk partner must go to Hualapai Tribe's court

Friday, June 24, 2011  

The developer of the Grand Canyon Skywalk must exhaust his remedies with the Hualapai Tribe of Arizona, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.

David Jin claimed in a lawsuit that the tribe was about to use an eminent domain ordinance to take his share of the popular Grand Canyon attraction. Judge David Campbell did not rule on the merits but said he has to go to tribal court before turning to federal court.

"Plaintiff's claim in this case challenges tribal authority to enact and enforce a tribal condemnation ordinance, a claim central to tribal self-government, and the tribal court must be given an opportunity to decide whether it has jurisdiction and to interpret the ordinance," Campbell said in the decision, the Associated Press reported.

Paul Charlton, a former U.S. Attorney for Arizona, has been representing the tribe in the dispute. Troy Eid, a former U.S. Attorney from Colorado, has represented Jin.

Get the Story:
Federal judge drops lawsuit over Grand Canyon Skywalk to allow for tribal court proceedings (AP 6/23)

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Operator of Grand Canyon Skywalk battles Hualapai Tribe (4/14)