Quechan Indian Tribe v. USA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 QUECHAN INDIAN TRIBE, Case No.: 02cv01096 JAH-MDD

Plaintiff,

FINDINGS OF FACT AND

v. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND

ORDER

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant. 16 INTRODUCTION Plaintiff Quechan Indian Tribe (hereafter “Quechan” or “the Tribe”) seeks damages, and injunctive and declaratory relief, against Defendant United States of America for Western Area Power Administration employees’ conduct of knowingly, recklessly, or negligently driving heavy equipment over, across and through cultural resources1, resulting in permanent scarring upon the resources on the Fort Yuma Reservation during power pole replacements along the Gila-Knob powerline. Following a bench trial, the Court found Defendant liable for damage caused to ten separate cultural resource sites. 25 26 1 The term “cultural resources” used herein includes the full suite of cultural features and artifacts present within…