July 25, 2024
The Ninth Circuit vacated and remanded a lower court's ruling that the Bureau of Indian Affairs isn't liable for the actions of one of its officers who sexually assaulted a Northern Cheyenne woman, saying conflicting statements create a factual dispute regarding whether the officer was acting within the scope of his employment.
January 22, 2024
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has said that despite one of its former officer's "reprehensible abuse of authority" in sexually assaulting a Northern Cheyenne woman, the federal government isn't responsible for his actions because it was a clear departure from any conduct authorized by his employer.
November 27, 2023
Two Native American advocacy groups are urging a Ninth Circuit panel to overturn a Montana district court's ruling that the federal government isn't responsible for the actions of its Bureau of Indian Affairs officers, saying the prospect that the case is not suitable for torts litigation undermines the safety of Native American women.
November 22, 2023
A Northern Cheyenne woman who was sexually assaulted on her Montana reservation by an on-duty Bureau of Indian Affairs officer is asking the Ninth Circuit to overturn a lower court's ruling that the federal government can't be held responsible for his actions, saying the determination makes it impossible for victims like herself to prevail.