Knighton
Knighton v. Cedarville Rancheria of Northern Paiute Indians
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Orrick, J.
ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO DISMISS
INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff Duanna Knighton, the former Tribal Administrator for defendant Cedar-ville Ranchería of. Northern Paiute Indians (“the Tribe”), seeks declaratory and in-junctive relief against the Tribe, Cedarville *1045 Ranchería Tribal Court (“Tribal Court”), and Tribal Court Judge Patricia R. Lenzi (“Tribal Judge Lenzi”) (collectively “defendants”) to avoid Tribal Court jurisdiction over claims that she defrauded the Tribe and breached her fiduciary duties to it. Defendants move to dismiss Knighton’s complaint because the Tribal Court has jurisdiction. I agree that it has both regulatory and adjudicative authority over its former employee under the facts alleged; accordingly, it has subject matter jurisdiction. Defendants’ motion is GRANTED WITH PREJUDICE.
BACKGROUND
I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A. The Cedarville Ranchería Tribe
Cedarville Ranchería of Northern Paiute Indians (“the Tribe”) is a federally recognized Indian tribe located in Medoc County, California. Id. ¶2; Duran Decl. ¶3 (Dkt. No. 10-2). It has approximately 12 voting members 2 and operates a 17-acre Ranchería in Cedarville, California. Compl. ¶ 2; Tribal Court Compl. ¶ 1…