2nd Circuit holds hearing in Cayuga Nation foreclosure case

Wednesday, January 8, 2014  

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on Tuesday in the Cayuga Nation foreclosure lawsuit.

Seneca County wants to foreclose on land owned by the tribe for non-payment of property taxes. The land is not in trust but is the subject of a final environmental impact statement that was issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in October 2010.

A federal judge ruled that the county could not initiate foreclosure proceedings due to the tribe's sovereign immunity. The decision is in line with prior rulings from the 2nd Circuit in a similar dispute involving the Oneida Nation.

The hearing was held in New York City. Turtle Talk has posted briefs from the case, Cayuga Nation v. Seneca County.

Get the Story:
Appeals court judges hear from tribe, Seneca County in tax foreclosure battle (The Finger Lake Times 1/8)
Seneca County officials head to NYC for tribe foreclosure arguments (The Finger Lake Times 1/7)

Opinion: Reject Cayuga Nation's land-into-trust application (1/6)
2nd Circuit schedules hearing in Cayuga Nation foreclosure (06/27)
Bill requires state to pay Cayuga Nation property tax bill (5/16)
Cayuga Nation wins decision on foreclosure of non-trust land (8/22)