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THOMAS P. SCHLOSSER

Firm Director / Partner

Tom Schlosser has been a Principal Attorney for MSJS since 1986. He represents Tribes in fisheries, timber, water, energy, cultural resources, contracting, tax and federal breach of trust, and he specializes in federal litigation, natural resources, and Indian tribal property issues. He is also frequently involved in tribal economic development and environmental regulation. In 1970s, Tom represented tribes in the Stevens’ Treaty Puget Sound fishing rights proceedings. He is a founding member of the Indian Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association and also served on the WSBA Bar Examiners Committee. Tom is a frequent CLE speaker, moderator for an American Indian Law discussion group, and part‑time lecturer at the University of Washington School of Law and Seattle University School of Law.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Morisset, Schlosser, Jozwiak, & Somerville, Seattle, Washington                                                                     1986 – Present

Principal Attorney/Director

Represent Indian tribes and tribal organizations in federal litigation, natural resources, business development and Indian property issues. See Key Cases below.

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Ziontz, Pirtle, Morisset, Ernstoff, Chestnut & Anderson, Seattle, Washington                                                      1979 - 1986

Associate Attorney, 1979-1982; Principal Attorney, 1982-1986                                                                

Represented Indian tribes and tribal organizations in natural resource and tribal property issues, including continuing jurisdiction in United States v. Washington (treaty fishing rights); Columbia River hydropower, fisheries and cultural resources matters; Indian tribal enrollment and claims litigation. 

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Evergreen Legal Services, Seattle, WA                                                                                                                     1975-1979

Attorney at Law

Provided legal counsel and representation to small tribes of Western Washington, particularly the continuing jurisdiction litigation in United States v. Washington, 459 F.Supp. 1020 (W.D. Wash. 1978) (treaty fishing rights), tribal government ordinance and Constitution matters; participated in appellate work on Washington v. Fishing Vessel Ass’n, 443 U.S. 658 (1979) (upholding treaty fishing allocation).

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EDUCATION

University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia                                                                                                    1972 - 1975

            Juris Doctor

            President, Legal Assistance Society, 1974-1975

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University of Washington, Seattle, Washington                                                                                                                               1968-1970

            Bachelor of Arts, Political Science

            Washington Law Review, Notes and Comments Editor

BAR ADMISSIONS

Washington State Bar Association, Bar Number 06276

 

U.S. Federal Courts

            Supreme Court of the United States

            Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

            Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

            D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

            Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

            Court of Federal Claims

            United States Tax Court

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U.S. District Courts

            U.S. District Court for Western District of Washington

            U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Washington

            U.S. District Court for Northern District of California

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Tribal Courts

            Hoopa Valley Tribal Court

           Nooksack Tribal Court

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ASSOCIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Washington State Bar Association Committee of Law Examiners,  Member, 2005-2008, 2012-Present

University of Washington School of Law,  Part-time Lecturer, 2009-2016

Seattle University School of Law,  Part-time Lecturer, 2017-Present

American Indian Law Delphi Forum,  Moderator of this Attorney Discussion Group

Washington State Bar Association - Indian Law Section,  Founding Member

Continuing Legal Education (CLE),  Frequent Speaker on Federal Indian Law Topics

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SELECTED CASES

Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Ass’n v. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, 426 F.3d 1082 (9th Cir. 2005)

Hoopa Valley Tribe v. Ryan, 415 F.3d 986 (9th Cir. 2005)

Tanadgusix v. United States, 404 F.3d 1201 (9th Cir. 2005)

Westlands Water Dist. v. Hoopa Valley Tribe, 376 F.3d 853 (9th Cir. 2004)

Bugenig v. Hoopa Valley Tribe, 266 F.3d 1201 (9th Cir. 2001)

Karuk Tribe of California v. United States, 209 F.3d 1366 (Fed. Cir. 2000)

Parravano v. Babbitt, 70 F.3d 539 (9th Cir. 1995)

Short v. United States, 50 F.3d 994 (Fed. Cir. 1995)

Shermoen v. United States, 982 F.2d 1312 (9th Cir. 1992)

Hoopa Valley Tribe v. Nevins, 881 F.2d 657 (9th Cir. 1989)

Washington v. Fishing Vessel Ass’n, 443 U.S. 658 (1979)

United States v. Washington, 459 F.Supp. 1020 (W.D. Wash. 1978)

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