Judge rejects tribal immunity claim in allowing lending suit

HELENA, Mont. (AP) – A federal judge in Vermont has rejected Montana tribal officials' attempt to shut down a lawsuit against its online payday lending company by claiming sovereign immunity.

U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ruled Wednesday that two women's lawsuit against Chippewa Cree tribal officials and their non-Native American partners can proceed.

Jessica Gingras and Angela Given claim the tribe's company, Plain Green, conspired with Fort Worth, Texas-based Think Finance Inc. in a predatory lending scheme designed to defraud poor people.

Plain Green makes short-term, high-interest loans over the Internet. Company leaders asked Crawford to dismiss the lawsuit, saying they have immunity as an arm of a sovereign Native American tribe.

Crawford ruled they can be sued in Vermont because the bulk of the lending activities take place outside of the Rocky Boy's Reservation.