At page 143 Tribal immunity from suit and its limitations22 citing cases`On a motion invoking sovereign immunity to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of evidence that jurisdiction exists.'" (quoting Garcia v. Akwesasne Hous. Auth., 268 F.3d 76, 84 (2d Cir.2001))
- Oneida Indian Nation v. Phillips, 981 F.3d 157 (2d Cir. 2020).published (Indian tribes enjoy the same immunity from suit enjoyed by sovereign powers and are ‘subject to suit only where Congress has authorized the suit or the tribe has waived its immunity.’)
- Cook v. AVI Casino Enter., Inc., 548 F.3d 718 (9th Cir. 2008).published ([Plaintiff] cannot circumvent tribal immunity by merely naming officers or employees of the Tribe when the complaint concerns actions taken in defendants’ official or representative capacities and the complaint does no…)
- Butrick v. Dine Dev. Corp., No. 3:23-cv-00884 (E.D. Va. Oct. 30, 2024).([N]either abrogation nor waiver has occurred in this case. The FMLA makes no reference to the ‘amenity of Indian tribes to suit.’” (citation omitted))
- Cayuga Nation v. Parker, No. 5:22-cv-00128 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 9, 2023).“cannot circumvent tribal immunity by merely naming officers or employees of the Tribe when the complaint concerns actions taken in defendants’ official or representative capacities and the complaint does not allege they…”
- Allegany Capital Enter., LLC v. Cox, No. 1:19-cv-00160 (W.D.N.Y. Feb. 12, 2021). If the tribal official is sued in their official capacity, however, immunity then covers them for their official acts, Gristede’s Foods, Inc. v. Unkechuage Nation, 660 F. Supp. 2d 442, 478 (E.D.N.Y. 2009) (citing Chayoon v. Chao, 355 F.3d…
- Marshall v. United States, No. 2:19-cv-04221 (W.D. Mo. Nov. 25, 2020).VS Ltd Partnership v. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 235 F.3d 1109, 1112 (8th Cir. 2000); Chayoon v. Chao, 355 F.3d 141, 143 (2d Cir. 2004).
- Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Cmty., 572 U.S. 782 (2014).publishedSee, e.g., Cook v. AVI Casino Enterprises, Inc., 548 F. 3d 718 , 726–727 (CA9 2008); Native American Distributing v. Seneca-Cayuga Tobacco Co., 546 F. 3d 1288, 1296 (CA10 2008); Chayoon v. Chao, 355 F. 3d 141, 143 (CA2 2004) (per curiam);…
- Gristede's Foods, Inc. v. Unkechuage Nation, 660 F. Supp. 2d 442 (E.D.N.Y. 2009).publishedChayoon v. Chao, 355 F.3d 141, 143 (2d Cir.2004).
- Diversified Carting, Inc. v. City of New York, 423 F. Supp. 2d 85 (S.D.N.Y. 2005).published“the plaintiff bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that jurisdiction exists”
- Borrelli v. Sec'y of Treasury, 343 F. Supp. 2d 249 (S.D.N.Y. 2004).published“the plaintiff bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that jurisdiction exists”
Show 9 more citing cases
- Tassone v. Foxwoods Resort Casino, 519 F. App'x 27 (2d Cir. 2013).unpublishedSee Chayoon v. Chao, 355 F.3d 141, 143 (2d Cir.2004); see also Bassett, 204 F.3d at 357-58 ; Worrall v. Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enter., 131 F.Supp.2d 328, 331 (D.Conn.2001).
- Overton v. New York State Div. of Military & Naval Affairs, 373 F.3d 83 (2d Cir. 2004).published (�On a motion invoking sovereign immunity to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of evidence that jurisdiction exists.’ ” (quoting Garcia v. Akw…)
- Darden v. Vines, No. 6:22-cv-00404 (W.D. La. Sept. 26, 2025).Co., 309 U.S. 506, 512 (1940)). 11 Dugan v. Rank, 372 U.S. 609, 620 (1963) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). one of the indignities sovereign immunity is designed to prevent arises when a tribe’s “sovereign prerogatives are…
- Great Plains Lending, LLC v. Dep't of Banking, 259 A.3d 1128 (Conn. 2021).published(�‘[the plaintiff] cannot circumvent tribal immunity by merely naming officers or employees of the [t]ribe when the complaint concerns actions taken in [the] defendants’ official or representative capacities and the comp…)
- Broidy Capital v. Benomar, 944 F.3d 436 (2d Cir. 2019).publishedSee, e.g., Rosenberg v. Pasha, 577 F. App’x 22 , 14 See, e.g., Chayoon v. Chao, 355 F.3d 141, 143 (2d Cir. 2004) (per curiam); Makarova, 201 F.3d at 113 ; Garcia v. Akwesasne Hous.
- Sec. & Exch. Comm'n v. Comm. on Ways & Means of the U.S. House of Representatives, 161 F. Supp. 3d 199 (S.D.N.Y. 2015).published(‘On a motion invoking sovereign immunity to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of evidence that jurisdiction exists.’)
- Cangemi v. United States, 939 F. Supp. 2d 188 (E.D.N.Y. 2013).publishedMorrison, 547 F.3d at 170 ; see also Chayoon v. Chao, 355 F.3d 141,143 (2d Cir.2004).
- Thomas v. Venditto, 925 F. Supp. 2d 352 (E.D.N.Y. 2013).publishedMorrison, 547 F.3d at 170 ; see also Chayoon v. Chao, 355 F.3d 141,143 (2d Cir.2004).
- Cna v. United States, 535 F.3d 132 (3d Cir. 2008).published See, e.g., Chayoon v. Chao, 355 F.3d 141, 143 (2d Cir. 2004); see also 5B Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R.
At page 142 Tribal immunity from suit as sovereign power3 citing casesWe affirm the district court’s dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because [the defendant tribal officials] are immune from this suit. ... Indian tribes enjoy the same immunity from suit enjoyed by sovereign powers ... and neither abrogation nor waiver has occurred in this case.
- Oneida Indian Nation v. Phillips, 981 F.3d 157 (2d Cir. 2020).published The recognition of this rule for the sovereign immunity of the United States is significant because “[t]ribal sovereign immunity is deemed to be coextensive with the sovereign immunity of the United States.” Miner Elec., Inc. v. Muscogee (…
- Ramos v. Internal Revenue Serv., 351 F. Supp. 2d 5 (N.D.N.Y. 2004).publishedChayoon v. Chao, 355 F.3d 141, 142-43 (2d Cir.2004).
- Sun v. Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enter., 309 F.R.D. 157 (D. Conn. 2015).publishedSee Chayoon v. Chao, 355 F.3d 141, 142-43 (2d Cir.2004) (affirming district court’s dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because defendants were protected by tribal sovereign immunity).
Other citing cases
- Pearson v. Chugach Gov't Servs. Inc., 669 F. Supp. 2d 467 (D. Del. 2009).published
- Myers v. Seneca Niagara Casino, 488 F. Supp. 2d 166 (N.D.N.Y. 2006).published
- Davidson v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Auth., 903 A.2d 228 (Conn. App. Ct. 2006).published
v.
Elaine L. CHAO, United States Secretary of Labor, Movant-Appellee, Kenneth M. Reels, Richard A. Hayward, Pedro Johnson, Fatima Dames, Charlene Jones, John E. Perry, William J. Sherlock, James A. Rigot, Rich Tesler, Linda Smith, Mike Rich, Bruce Kirshner, Nafeezar Shabazz, Joann Frank, Fay E. Carlson, Dottie Killy, Foxwoods Mgmt. Team, Michael Thomas
Plaintiff-Appellant Joseph Chayoon appeals the district court’s dismissal of his Federal Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq., claim against several individuals who either hold positions on the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council or are officers and/or employees of Mash-antucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise, which operates the gaming facility known as Foxwoods Resort Casino. We affirm the district court’s dismissal for lack of[*143] subject matter jurisdiction because defendants are immune from this suit.[2]
“On a motion invoking sovereign immunity to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of evidence that jurisdiction exists.” Garcia v. Akwesasne Hous. Auth., 268 F.3d 76, 84 (2d Cir.2001). This Court reviews the district court’s “factual findings for clear error and legal conclusions de novo.” Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted).
Indian tribes enjoy the same immunity from suit enjoyed by sovereign powers and are “subject to suit only where Congress has authorized the suit or the tribe has waived its immunity.” Kiowa Tribe of Okla. v. Mfg. Techs., Inc., 523 U.S. 751, 754, 118 S.Ct. 1700, 140 L.Ed.2d 981 (1998). “To abrogate tribal immunity, Congress must ‘unequivocally’ express that purpose,” and “to relinquish its immunity, a tribe’s waiver must be ‘clear.’ ” C & L Enters., Inc. v. Citizen Band Potawatomi Indian Tribe of Okla., 532 U.S. 411, 418, 121 S.Ct. 1589, 149 L.Ed.2d 623 (2001) (citations omitted). The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe is a federally recognized Indian tribe, Reich v. Mashantucket Sand & Gravel, 95 F.3d 174, 175 (2d Cir.1996), and neither abrogation nor waiver has occurred in this case. The FMLA makes no reference to the “ ‘amenity of Indian tribes to suit.’ ” Garcia, 268 F.3d at 86 (quoting Florida Paraplegic Ass’n v. Miccosukee Tribe, 166 F.3d 1126, 1133 (11th Cir.1999)). Furthermore, Chayoon cannot circumvent tribal immunity by merely naming officers or employees of the Tribe when the complaint concerns actions taken in defendants’ official or representative capacities and the complaint does not allege they acted outside the scope of their authority. See Oneida Indian Nation of New York v. City of Sherrill, 337 F.3d 139, 169 (2d Cir.2003). Finally, Chayoon did not request any injunctive or declaratory relief and therefore no exception to sovereign immunity is applicable. See Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 28 S.Ct. 441, 52 L.Ed. 714 (1908); see also Garcia, 268 F.3d at 87-88.
Chayoon fervently asserts that although he has a remedy in a tribal court, it is severely constrained in comparison to the procedural and substantive rights under the FMLA. That may well be, but only Congress can abrogate tribal immunity with an unequivocal expression of its intention to do so. C & L Enters. Inc., 532 U.S. at 418, 121 S.Ct. 1589. Foxwoods Resort Casino employs over 10,000 people and Native American gaming facilities are becoming more numerous throughout the country. Clearly, tribal sovereignty has the potential to deny many Americans employment benefits and rights that Congress has seen fit to extend to the private sector. See, e.g., Garcia., 268 F.3d at 85-86 (finding tribes immune from claims based on the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, §2 et seq., as amended, 29 U.S.C.A. § 621 et seq.). While judges, as citizens, may be sympathetic to the plight of people like Mr. Chayoon, the courts are without authority to remedy the matter. Mr. Chayoon’s remedy, if there is to be one, lies with Congress.
The district court’s order of March 21, 2003 is hereby AFFIRMED.
The district court also denied Chayoon’s motions to subpoena witnesses and join the United States Secretary of Labor. An independent review of the record and relevant case law reveals no errors in that regard.