Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Riverside County
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Proceedings: IN CHAMBERS—ORDER RE DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS [42]
I.
BACKGROUND
On January 2, 2014, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (“the Tribe”) filed a Complaint (“Compl.”) against Defendants Riverside County, Larry W. Ward, Paul Angulo, and Don'Kent alleging unlawful taxation by Riverside County on lessees using and occupying Indian Trust land within the Tribe’s Reservation. [Doc. # 1.] The Tribe seeks (1) a declaration that the assessment and collection of taxes on lessees’ possessory interest in lands and permanent improvements on lands held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe and its members are unlawful and (2) an injunction against Riverside County’s future assessment or collection of these taxes. {Id, ¶ 4.)
On February 18, 2014, the Desert Water Agency (“DWA”) moved to intervene as a defendant in the Tribe’s suit. [Doc. # 17.] On April 21, 2014, the Court granted DWA’s motion to intervene permissively. [Doc. # 34.]
On July 28, 2014, Defendants filed' a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (“MJP”) as to the Tribe’s action against the County, but not as to any claims against DWA. [Doc. # 42.] On June 25, 2014, the…