Law Professor Discusses Ruling On Suing Tribal Corporation

Published: Friday, February 28, 2020 - 12:04pm
Updated: Friday, February 28, 2020 - 12:06pm
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In April 2016, Scottsdale residents Sara and William Fox were white water rafting in the Grand Canyon when Sara Fox fell out of the front of the raft and was severely injured by a propeller. 

The couple filed a negligence suit against the rafting tour operator, Hualapai River Runners, which is owned by the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, a company incorporated by the Hualapai Tribe.

In the case, the tribe argued that kind of tribally owned entity was subject to the protections of tribal sovereignty. 

But this week, the state Supreme Court ruled that the Foxes could go ahead with their suit against the tribal corporation.

To break down this ruling and what it means for Arizona’s tribes is Robert Miller, a professor specializing in tribal law at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.

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