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MSJM in the News Headline news
featuring our
attorneys and cases Feds back away from Trinity water shift "There is no legal justification for such a 'transition' and the Hoopa Valley Tribe urges you to refrain from taking such a damaging action," wrote tribal counsel Tom Schlosser." Tacoma: Dam if we do "Morisset suggests that the ruling 'sent shivers through the entire industry.' Tribal attorneys have told him that it 'has also resulted in numberous decisions in favor of tribes'." Is it Hoopa v Yurok, Hoopa & Yurok or none of our damn business? "Hoopa's attorney, Tom Schlosser, says the Hoopa's own waiver does not prevent it from filing its lawsuit because the settlement act allows each tribe to enforce the act's provisions." Fish and Chips "the Trinity Restoration Act set the goal that the fishery would be restored to conditions that existed before the Lewiston and Trinity dams were built" Tom Schlosser, an attorney for the Hoopa Valley Tribe reached by telephone Tuesday afternoon, reiterated the tribe’s concern about there being no set standards for fish restoration. Hasting sponsors bill to protect study of Kennewick Man "could make it easier for tribes to make claims to get remains back that currently are in an institution" Ruling Could Give More Say to State Tribes The tribes signed the treaty with assurances that they would be able to continue to rely on natural resources, including vast forests and streams teeming with salmon, said Mason Morisset, a Tulalip Tribes attorney. Culvert Ruling Backs Tribes "This could be very big," said Mason Morisset, an attorney representing tribes in the case. "If it stands, you will see tribes assert themselves on a broad range of activities to protect the habitat. Whether it's clearing wetlands or building roads and developments ..., if we can show you are going to have a net loss of habitat, that is a treaty rights violation." Ruling Could Cost State Millions "I think it is a major addition to the treaty rights cases," Morisset said. "It is the other half of the treaty we said needs to be secured. Not only does the state have to allow the tribes to take their share of their fish, but the state cannot allow the fish runs to be destroyed if it affects the tribal share." Judge Rules Against Quechan in Refinery Land Transfer Case Frank R. Jozwiak, the attorney representing the Quechan in the case, said, "(Teilborg's ruling ) is under review. We have not had an opportunity to study the ruling or consult with the tribe." Judge Refuses to Allow Other Parties into Tribe Settlement with Lima Eastern Shawnee attorney Rob Roy Smith, of Seattle, said the tribe is looking to move forward and is waiting for the judge to give the final approval.Activity halts on land for oil refinery With the recent court hearing, the defendants agreed to the temporary restraining order sought by the tribe, said Frank R. Jozwiak, the attorney representing the Quechans in the case.Shawnee Claiming victory in land case According to the tribe's attorney Mason D. Morisset, recognizing the settlement means Eastern Shawnee can now take the next step in developing casinos.Tribe claims it's right where it wants to be with land claims Tribe attorney Mason D. Morisset said Carr's willingness to oversee the settlements was a win for the tribe and still meant it could approach the U.S. Department of the Interior to have the land taken into trust.Tribal warfare between Hoopa and Yurok go on and on "Here we go again," said the tribe's longtime attorney, Thomas Schlosser. "The only thing the Interior Department has accomplished here is to create another round of litigation."Quechan file suit to stop refinery land transfer The bureau's environmental impact statement fails to "adequately evaluate the oil fefinery project and the associated impacts to cultural and environmental resources," according to the Quechan Tribe's lead attorney, Frank Jozwiak of Morisset, Schlosser, Jozwiak and McGaw of Seattle, Wash., in the statement. Mason Morisset, an attorney for the Tulalip Tribes, said he'd speak to Tulalip leaders about the offer, but he said it's unclear whether such talks would be fruitful. "This has been going on for years."Tribe names Lawrence in land-claim lawsuit "Potentially, we could have sued tens of thousands of people, but that's absurd so what we did was bring a cross section," Morisset said.Ohio wants to rejoin
tribe's lawsuit over land for casino "While any Superfund-controlled cleanup of the Columbia River would involve polluted areas only in the United States, the group filed its brief in protest of the Canadian government's failure to control Teck's hazardous waste disposal activities," said Mr. Smith, a senior associate at Morisset, Schlosser, Jozwiak & McGaw in Seattle. Tribe drops state from lawsuit "We're trying to get the case in order and simplify it here, and this is one of the steps we're taking," Morisset said.Many of the defendants sought the lawsuit's dismissal in separate motions, some arguing that the claim is too old, others that it's not old enough, and none with valid arguments, wrote Mason Morisset and Rob Roy Smith, attorneys for the tribe. Filing deadline passes in tribe's federal lawsuit "We're filing a responsive brief," said Mason Morisset, attorney for the tribe. "Today is the day for our files, our briefs. It's just a standard response to the motion (to dismiss.)"Council ok's casino resolution Council had a special meeting with Chief Charles Enyart and Mason Morisset, lead counsel for the tribe.Tribe gives city time Mason Morisset, lead counsel for the Eastern Shawnee of Oklahoma, told City Council Friday morning it wasn’t fair to put pressure on them to get the 14-page contract signed by Monday. Morisset said the deadline was real – and that the judge has set a “very busy” brief schedule. “I wanted to go to him with some signed agreements to show that a settlement is possible,” he explained. Shinnecock Nation Is Recognized, Federal ruling
could be a step forward Tom
Schlosser, a partner in the firm Morisset, Schlosser, Jozwiak, and
McGaw, which specializes in federal Indian law, said that "any
determination of federal recognition isn't going to mean much until
federal agencies accept it." Mr. Schlosser said a 1975 case, in which
the Passamaquoddy Tribe successfully sued
the Secretary of the Interior for refusing to recognize it, could be a
relevant model for further action by the Shinnecocks,
if there is resistance to add them to the federal register. Fate of Kennewick Man
study unclear Scientists begin probe of
Kennewick Man "What
the tribes want now is just to have a seat at the table," Smith said.
"They want to know what's going on. That is a right that is being
denied them by both the scientists and the United States." Eastern Shawnee suit claims Ohio land rights “Tribal
lawyer Mason D.
Morisset of Seattle, Wash., said the aboriginal hunting and Mason Morisset,
one of
the attorneys representing the Shawnee tribe, is one of the best in the
country at this type of litigation, Casey said. Kennewick Man Scientists Protest Bill Rob Roy Smith, an attorney for the
Confederated
Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington state, said the
bill would apply to future archaeological finds, and would strengthen
the case of tribes across the country that want to claim and bury
ancient remains. "This is a congressional effort to right a wrong ...
that was identified through the Kennewick Man case," Smith said.
Water
Battle Ends In Central Valley "The tribes were fighting for
the
[2000 plan] and against unnecessary environmental analysis," said
Schlosser, a lawyer with Morisset, Schlosser, Jozwiak
& McGaw. "We were the only party arguing that on appeal." … The 9th
Circuit in July unanimously rejected demands by plan opponents to
conduct further environmental studies. "The tribes have a legal right
to be
consulted and play a role in crafting the study plan," Smith said. "The
tribes are discouraged but not defeated. The tribes remain hopeful that
they will be included in discussions with the Holy Cross
Magazine: Rob Roy Smith 1997 “Few things are more rewarding
than
knowing that I am fighting for the rights, beliefs and needs of an
underserved segment of our society.” Valley Voice:
Tribal gaming insinuations unacceptable Since when did the Indian
tribes
assume responsibility for The argument by Rob Roy Smith,
attorney for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, that
"something that is indigenous . . . cannot lose indigenousness over
time" may be technically correct. Measure
could block Kennewick Man study Even if the bill is enacted --
a long
shot at best, given congressional leaders' intent to adjourn early this
month -- it is not clear that it would apply to Kennewick Man, said Rob
Roy Smith, an attorney for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Indian Reservation. "This is truly a grassroots
effort. It's an effort by a diverse group of deeply respected
[Cheyenne and Arapaho] tribal members who have experience and integrity
and great insight into what has happened in the past and a vision for
the future," McGaw said. Hupa Indians battle to reclaim Trinity River
The seeds of the Hupas'
victory were planted in the 1980s, when they began hiring some
well-connected and highly respected advocates, including Seattle
attorney Tom Schlosser, who specializes in tribal law
. . . 9th
Circuit OK's Trinity River Restoration "It looks like a total
victory," said
attorney Thomas Schlosser, representing the Hoopa Valley Tribe in the
case. "It looks like restoration of the river can go forward unimpeded." Alaska
lawmakers jump into Hawaii dry dock dispute Tom Schlosser, attorney for
Tanadgusix, said the GSA debarment is misguided and would destroy the company…."It was perfectly clear to GSA's
officers," Schlosser said. " Highway
measure could affect St. Paul Schlosser, in recent legal
documents,
notes that another section of the transfer document says the dry dock
is to be conveyed "as is, where is" and "delivery is made at the
present location of the property." So the contract clearly allows and
even requires the dry dock to stay in Disillusioned
Makah suing Kalakala owner "It is there without the
tribe's
consent or permission," says Makah attorney Frank Jozwiak of Seattle.
"It's not about (damages), it's
about this rusting hulk tied to our dock that could cause damage to the
dock and to the environment if it sinks." Kalakala
ferry heading south to its new home Ambitious
deal aims to heal two tribes' rift Schlosser said the involvement
of a
professional mediator gave the tribes a neutral setting to "listen to
each other." …"Until the Yurok Tribe gets some of their
traditional land back, they are not going to feel right with the
world," he said. Court
upholds Kennewick Man decision "The court has done a great
injustice
to Indian country," Smith said. The problem as Smith sees it, is that tribes must now conduct studies of
remains to determine their antiquity in order to claim remains. Though
some tribes do not have a problem with examining remains, many do, and
would be forced to go against their own religious principles in order
to gain custody. Boldt ruling's effect felt around the world “A number of commentators have
called
the Boldt Decision the most significant
Indian rights case in the last century," said Mason Morisset, a Seattle
attorney who successfully defended the Boldt
ruling before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1979 -- defeating
then-Washington Attorney General Slade Gorton's appeals to overturn it.
"I would have to say they're probably right." Court rejects
tribe's $6 billion claim Mason Morisset, the tribe's
lawyer,
pointed out that the 1924 license for the project authorized the city
to flood only 8.8 acres of federal land near the reservation…. Morisset
said the ruling indicates that the power lines are on the reservation
illegally, and that as long as they're there, Tacoma Power is
trespassing. He said the tribe might seek damages or require the city
to pay to keep the lines there. Samish seek fishing rights, calling treaty 'soul
of the tribe' Attorney Mason Morisset for
the
Tulalip Tribes decried the notion of meddling with the complex rules,
court orders and inter-tribal agreements governing how the fish harvest
is divided. …"The idea that this group (the Samish)
will come in and not disrupt anything will be poppycock," said Morisset. Attorney
Sharon Haensly, representing the Tulalip
Tribes,
the city of Everett' s next- door
neighbor, said the Shoreline Management Act calls for the enhancement
and restoration of fish habitat. The city’s plan does not provide adequate
buffer zones to shield sensitive areas from development, Haensly said. “Attorney
Mason Morisset, and the entire Skokomish Tribe, are suing the City of
Tacoma over two dams they say caused $5.8 billion worth of damage to
the Skokomish River…A lot of the problem
was that they felt they were doing God's work in bringing electricity
to the masses" he says. "It was important that electrical generating
facilities were being developed—there’s no
question about that--but to do that by destroying the Skokomish Indian
people was wrong.” |
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