The US Supreme Court took a narrow view Tuesday on the immunity from lawsuits enjoyed by Native American tribes, which are treated in some respects like sovereign states that cannot be sued in American courts. In a case involving a limousine driver who rear-ended a car on a Connecticut freeway, the highest court in the land ruled unanimously that tribal employees do not always have immunity when involved in incidents that take place far from reservations. The justices revived a civil lawsuit filed by the injured occupants of the car in state court, overturning the Connecticut Supreme Court's decision to dismiss the case because the driver worked for the Mohegan Tribe, which runs a casino in the state.



More...