Passamaquoddy Tribe v. United States

ON MOTION PROST, Circuit Judge. ORDER The United States moves to summarily affirm the judgment of the United States Court of Federal Claims in this case. The Passamaquoddy Tribe responds and does not oppose affirmance. The United States replies. The Tribe filed a complaint in the Court of Federal Claims seeking damages against the United States for the alleged breach of its trust responsibilities. On the same day, the Tribe filed a similar complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The Court of Federal Claims dismissed the complaint, finding the Tribe’s suit barred pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1500. The Tribe appealed to this court. This court stayed the briefing schedule in this appeal pending the United States Supreme Court’s disposition in United States v. Tohono O’Odham Nation, — U.S.-, 131 S.Ct. 1723, 179 L.Ed.2d 723 (2011). In its decision, the Supreme Court reversed this court’s decision in Tohono O’Odham Nation v. United States, 559 F.3d 1284 (Fed.Cir.2009), concluding that under § 1500, the Court of Federal Claims lacked jurisdiction over a suit when a suit based on substantially the same operative facts, regardless of the relief sought, is pending in a district court. Summary affirmance of a case “is appropriate, inter alia, when the position of one party is so clearly correct as a matter of law that no substantial question regarding the outcome of the appeal exists.” Joshua v. United States, 17 F.3d 378, 380 (Fed. Cir.1994). In the present case, it is clear that summary affirmance is warranted. Accordingly, It Is Ordered That: (1) The motion is granted. (2) Each side shall bear its own costs.