Jimmie v. Alaska Village Electric Co-op, Inc.

OPINION

RABINOWITZ, Chief Justice.

This petition for review involves small claims actions for unpaid electrical bills which were filed in the district court against several residents (hereinafter Villagers) of Minto, a Native American village located in Interior Alaska. The Villagers’ attorney entered an appearance on February 13, 1980, and immediately requested that formal rules of civil procedure be applied even though some of the Villagers had previously waived formal procedures in their answers. The request was granted by a district court judge and trial was set for February 29. Prior to…