United States ex rel. Saginaw Chippewa Tribe v. Michigan

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF DEFENDANTS

CLELAND, District Judge.

I. Background

This matter is before the court on cross motions for summary judgment.1 This controversy arises from the. levying of a/1 valorem, property taxes by the defendants upon lands owned by individual members of the plaintiff Tribe or collectively by the Tribe itself.2 On February 10, 1988, the plaintiffs paid $1,449.37 to satisfy 1987 ad valorem taxes levied by Isabella County and Union Township. Since 1988, plaintiffs have refused to pay any further ad valorem taxes and initiated this…