Arizona judge kicks Hualapai Ranch case back to tribe

KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) – An Arizona judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the Hualapai Tribe’s Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, saying it’s within the tribe’s jurisdiction.

The Kingman Daily Miner reports that Hualapai Ranch former owner Jim Brown argues that the resort corporation broke its contract with him by ordering him to make costly repairs but not giving him permits to do so.

Brown sued members of the corporation’s board of directors and former CEO Jennifer Turner. He first filed the lawsuit in Hualapai Tribal Court in 2014, but it dismissed the case and claimed it lacked jurisdiction in the matter.

Brown’s attorney has appealed that case.

A Maricopa County judge has now kicked the matter back to the tribe, citing an agreement between Brown and the corporation to litigate issues in tribal court.

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Information from: Kingman Daily Miner, http://www.kingmandailyminer.com