Buchwald Capital Advisors, LLC v. Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (In Re Greektown Holdings, LLC)
Buchwald Capital Advisors, LLC v. Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (In Re Greektown Holdings, LLC)
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff Buchwald Capital Advisors, LLC, in its capacity as litigation trustee for the Greektown Litigation Trust, appeals the district court's January 23, 2018 order affirming the bankruptcy court's dismissal of Plaintiff's complaint on the basis of tribal sovereign immunity. Plaintiff's complaint seeks avoidance and recovery of allegedly fraudulent transfers made to Defendants Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Kewadin Casinos Gaming Authority pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code of 1978,
BACKGROUND
Factual Background
This case arises out of the bankruptcy of Detroit's Greektown Casino (the "Casino") and several related corporate entities (collectively, *454the "Debtors"). Under the ownership and management of Defendant Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and its political subdivision Defendant Kewadin Casinos Gaming Authority (collectively, the "Tribe"), the Casino opened in November 2000 and filed for bankruptcy in May 2008.
From the outset, the Tribe was under serious financial strain due to two obligations incurred in connection with the Casino. In 2000, the Tribe entered into an agreement with Monroe Partners, LLC ("Monroe") to pay $265 million in exchange for Monroe's 50% ownership interest in the Casino, giving the Tribe a 100% ownership interest in the Casino. And in 2002, the Tribe entered into an agreement with the City of Detroit to pay an estimated $200 million to build a hotel and other facilities at the Casino in exchange for a continued gaming license from the Michigan Gaming Control Board ("MGCB").
In 2005, the Tribe restructured the Casino's ownership to alleviate this strain. The Tribe created a new entity, Greektown Holdings, LLC ("Holdings"), which became the owner of the Casino, while several pre-existing entities-all owned by the Tribe-became the owners of Holdings. This allowed the Tribe to refinance its existing debt, and allowed the intermediate entities to take on new debt, all to raise capital so that the Tribe could meet its financial obligations. Holdings, for example, took on $375 million of debt in various forms shortly after the restructuring.
The restructuring was subject to, and received, the approval of the MGCB. However, the MGCB conditioned its approval on the Tribe's adherence to strict financial covenants and other conditions. If those covenants and conditions were not satisfied, the MGCB could force the Tribe to sell its ownership interest in the Casino, or place the Casino into conservatorship.
On December 2, 2005, Holdings transferred approximately $177 million to several different entities. At least $145.5 million went to the original owners of Monroe-Dimitrios and Viola Papas, and Ted and Maria Gatzaros. At least $9.5 million went to other entities for the benefit of Dimitrios and Viola Papas, and Ted and Maria Gatzaros. And at least $6 million went to the Tribe.
Over the next three years, the Tribe attempted to raise additional capital to fully meet its financial obligations. However, by April 2008, the strain of these obligations had proved too much to bear, and the Tribe was in danger of losing both its ownership interest in the Casino-through failure to comply with the MGCB's restructuring conditions-and the Casino's gaming license-through failure to comply with the City of Detroit's development requirements. Accordingly, on May 29, 2008, the Debtors, including Holdings, the Casino, and other related corporate entities, filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Under the Debtors' plan of reorganization, the Greektown Litigation Trust (the "Trust") was created to pursue claims belonging to the Debtors' estate for the benefit of unsecured creditors. Plaintiff Buchwald Capital Advisors, LLC (the "Trustee") was appointed as the Trust's litigation trustee, and in that capacity, the Trustee brought the instant case.
Procedural History
On May 28, 2010, the Trustee filed a complaint in the United States Bankruptcy *455Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The Trustee's complaint alleges that, on December 2, 2005, Holdings fraudulently transferred $177 million to or for the benefit of the Tribe, and seeks avoidance and recovery of that amount pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code of 1978,
Regarding abrogation, the bankruptcy court denied the Tribe's motion to dismiss, holding that Congress had expressed its "clear, unequivocal, and unambiguous intent to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity" in
Regarding waiver, and in light of the district court's holding on abrogation, the bankruptcy court granted the Tribe's motion to dismiss, holding (1) that the Tribe's litigation conduct "was insufficient to waive [tribal] sovereign immunity" since tribal law required an express board resolution, (2) that waiver of tribal sovereign immunity could not be "implied" through the litigation conduct of a tribe's alter ego or agent, and (3) that even if both of the above were possible, filing a bankruptcy petition does not waive tribal sovereign immunity "as to an adversary proceeding subsequently filed" against the tribe. (Id. , Bankruptcy Court Opinion, at PageID # 449, 464, 456.) The Trustee appealed to the district court which affirmed, similarly holding that no waiver of the Tribe's sovereign immunity could occur "in the absence of a board resolution expressly waiving immunity," and that the Trustee's "novel theory of implied waiver" through the "imputed" conduct of an alter ego or agent was foreclosed by binding precedent. (Id. , District Court Opinion, at PageID # 730, 744, 737.)
This appeal, regarding both abrogation and waiver, followed.
DISCUSSION
I. Standard of Review
On appeal from a district court's review of a bankruptcy court's order, we *456review the bankruptcy court's order directly rather than the intermediate decision of the district court. In re McKenzie ,
II. Analysis
A. Abrogation of Tribal Sovereign Immunity
Indian tribes have long been recognized as "separate sovereigns pre-existing the Constitution." Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Cmty. ,
At issue in this case is whether Congress unequivocally expressed such an intent in the Bankruptcy Code of 1978,
[t]he term 'governmental unit' means United States; State; Commonwealth; District; Territory; municipality; foreign state; department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States (but not a United States trustee while serving as a trustee in a case under this title), a State, a Commonwealth, a District, a Territory, a municipality, or a foreign state; or other foreign or domestic government.
(emphasis added). The Trustee asserts that, read together, these sections constitute an unequivocal expression of congressional intent to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity. The Tribe asserts that that they do not.
In resolving this dispute, a useful place to start is Congress' knowledge and practice regarding the abrogation of tribal sovereign immunity in 1978. As Bay Mills and Santa Clara Pueblo indicate, an unequivocal expression of congressional intent is as much the requirement today as it was then. In fact, the Supreme Court decided Santa Clara Pueblo just six months before Congress enacted the Bankruptcy Code. Given this timing-and the fact that the Court in Santa Clara Pueblo simply reaffirmed a requirement already in existence, see United States v. King ,
*457We also need not hypothesize whether Congress understood the meaning of "unequivocal," as Congress kindly demonstrated as much in the years immediately preceding its enactment of the Bankruptcy Code. See, e.g. , Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976,
Ostensibly evidence enough that Congress has left doubt about its intent in
In Krystal Energy , the court began with the fact that Indian tribes fall within the plain meaning of the terms "domestic" and "government," and have been repeatedly referred to by the Supreme Court as "domestic dependent nations."
In support of its holding, the court in Krystal Energy also noted that it could find "no other statute in which Congress effected a generic abrogation of sovereign immunity and because of which a court was faced with the question of whether such generic abrogation in turn effected specific abrogation of the immunity of a member of the general class."
FACTA authorizes suits against "person[s]" who accept credit or debit cards and then print certain information about those cards on receipts given to the cardholders. See 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681c(g)(1), 1681n, 1681o. FACTA in turn defines "person" as "any individual, partnership, trust, estate, cooperative, association, government , or governmental subdivision or agency, or other entity."
In Meyers , the court began with the unequivocal expression of congressional intent requirement, and the canon that all doubt is to be resolved in favor of Indian tribes.
*459The court then addressed the Ninth Circuit's conflicting opinion in Krystal Energy . While not "weigh[ing] in" on the precise issue of
Meyers argues that the district court dismissed his claim based on its erroneous conclusion that Indian tribes are not governments. He then dedicates many pages to arguing that Indian tribes are indeed governments. Meyers misses the point. The district court did not dismiss his claim because it concluded that Indian tribes are not governments. It dismissed his claim because it could not find a clear, unequivocal statement in FACTA that Congress meant to abrogate the sovereign immunity of Indian [t]ribes. Meyers has lost sight of the real question in this sovereign immunity case-whether an Indian tribe can claim immunity from suit. The answer to this question must be 'yes' unless Congress has told us in no uncertain terms that it is 'no[,]' [as] [a]ny ambiguity must be resolved in favor of immunity. Of course Meyers wants us to focus on whether the Oneida Tribe is a government so that we might shoehorn it into FACTA's statement that defines liable parties to include 'any government.' But when it comes to [tribal] sovereign immunity, shoehorning is precisely what we cannot do. Congress' words must fit like a glove in their unequivocality.
As for the "the real question"-unequivocality-the court found that the district court's analysis "hit the nail on the head:"
It is one thing to say 'any government' means 'the United States.' That is an entirely natural reading of 'any government.' But it's another thing to say 'any government' means 'Indian Tribes,' Against the long-held tradition of tribal immunity ... 'any government' is equivocal in this regard.
We find the Seventh Circuit's reasoning in Meyers -as applied to
This reasoning is both intuitive and in accordance with a broader survey of the case law. Notably, "there is not one example in all of history where the Supreme Court has found that Congress intended to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity without expressly mentioning Indian tribes somewhere in the statute." Meyers ,
While it is true that Congress need not use "magic words" to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity, it still must unequivocally express that purpose. F.A.A. v. Cooper ,
This analysis notwithstanding, the Trustee asserts three additional arguments that it contends dispel any doubt that Congress intended to abrogate the sovereign immunity of Indian tribes in
First, the Trustee asserts that Indian tribes must be "governmental units" because they avail themselves of other Bankruptcy Code provisions pertaining to "governmental units." (See Brief for Appellant at 27.) (describing how Indian tribes would have to be "governmental units" in order to be creditors or to file requests for payment of administrative expenses, which they regularly do). Yet, as the Tribe correctly responds, the Bankruptcy Code defines the entities covered by those provisions using the word "includes"-a term of enlargement. In contrast,
Second, and relatedly, the Trustee asserts that Indian tribes must be "governmental units" because the Bankruptcy Code provides governmental units with "special rights." (See Brief for Appellant at 30.) (describing how Congress would have shown less regard for the dignity of Indian tribes as sovereigns, compared to state, federal, and foreign governments, if they were not entitled to these special rights). Yet it could just as easily be said that Congress has shown greater respect for Indian tribes than for other sovereigns by not abrogating their immunity in the first place-and thus not necessitating the provision of any special rights. The immunities of various sovereigns also need not be, and in fact are not, co-extensive. Bay Mills ,
Lastly, the Trustee asserts that Indian tribes must be "governmental units" because the Tribe cannot supply an example of any other entity besides Indian tribes that the phrase "other foreign or domestic government" might have been intended to cover. Yet even if Indian tribes are the only sovereigns not specifically mentioned in
"Determining the limits on the sovereign immunity held by Indians is a grave question; the answer will affect all tribes, not just the one before us." Upper Skagit Indian Tribe v. Lundgren , --- U.S. ----,
B. Waiver
"Similarly [to the unequivocality requirement for congressional abrogation of tribal sovereign immunity], a tribe's waiver [of its sovereign immunity] must be 'clear.' " C&L Enters., Inc. v. Citizen Band of Potawatomi Indian Tribe of Okla. ,
The first step of the Trustee's argument is that Indian tribes can waive sovereign immunity by litigation conduct. Both the bankruptcy and district courts disagreed, relying heavily on part of our decision in Memphis Biofuels, LLC v. Chickasaw Nation Indus. ,
In Memphis Biofuels , a contract between Memphis Biofuels and a corporation owned by the Chickasaw tribe included a provision by which both parties purported to waive all immunities from suit.
This holding, combined with the fact that the Tribe's governing code has a similar board resolution requirement that was undisputedly not satisfied, was enough for the bankruptcy and district courts to find that the Tribe did not waive its sovereign immunity. However, Memphis Biofuels involved no litigation conduct on the part of the Chickasaw tribe, and neither this Court nor the parties cited any of the Supreme Court cases pertaining to waiver of sovereign immunity by litigation conduct. Accordingly, Memphis Biofuels , like all cases, "cannot be read as foreclosing an argument that [it] never dealt with."
*464Waters v. Churchill ,
Thus we have yet to decide whether the doctrine of waiver of sovereign immunity by litigation conduct applies to Indian tribes. While the Supreme Court has long held that such waiver is possible for non-tribal sovereigns, see, e.g. , Lapides v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Ga. ,
For example, two circuits have held that intervening in a lawsuit constitutes waiver. See Hodel , 788 F.2d at 773 ("By so intervening, a party 'renders itself vulnerable to complete adjudication by the federal court of the issues in litigation between the intervenor and the adverse party.' ") (citation omitted); United States v. Oregon ,
More relevant to the facts of this case, three circuits have held that filing a lawsuit constitutes waiver. See Bodi ,
Like intervention, and unlike removal, filing a lawsuit manifests a clear intent to waive tribal sovereign immunity with respect to the claims brought, and to assume the risk that the court will make an adverse determination on those claims. To hold otherwise would have significant implications. See Rupp ,
The second step of the Trustee's argument is that alter egos or agents of Indian tribes can waive tribal sovereign immunity by litigation conduct. Both the bankruptcy and district courts disagreed, relying on a *465different part of our decision in Memphis Biofuels . Memphis Biofuels forecloses this step.
In Memphis Biofuels , we refused to apply "equitable doctrines" such as equitable estoppel and actual or apparent authority to attribute to the Indian tribe conduct that allegedly constituted waiver.
In urging this Court to hold the opposite, the Trustee relies on First Nat'l Bank v. Banco El Comercio Exterior de Cuba ,
The Trustee's cases concerning foreign and state governments are also unpersuasive. While the Supreme Court has held that the law of foreign sovereign immunity is "[i]nstructive" in cases involving tribal sovereign immunity, C&L Enters. ,
Analogizing to state sovereign immunity is equally unhelpful. Though it carries a similar ban on waiver by implication, Coll. Savings Bank v. Fla. Prepaid Postsecondary Educ. Expense Bd. ,
The third and final step of the Trustee's argument is that filing a bankruptcy petition waives tribal sovereign immunity as to separate, adversarial fraudulent transfer claims. As the analysis of the first step hinted, whether a waiver of sovereign immunity has occurred is an inquiry separate and distinct from a waiver's scope. For instance, filing a lawsuit constitutes waiver by litigation conduct, but that waiver is a limited one. It waives sovereign immunity as to the court's decision on the claims brought by the tribe, see Bodi ,
The Trustee relies on Cent. Va. Cmty. Coll. v. Katz ,
Because of this reasoning, courts have been reluctant to extend the holding in Katz from states to other sovereigns, and we choose not to do so here. See, e.g. , In re Supreme Beef Processors, Inc. ,
CONCLUSION
It is not lost on this Court that the Trustee may regard this result-dismissal of its complaint-as unfair. The Supreme Court has acknowledged that "[t]here are reasons to doubt the wisdom of perpetuating this doctrine" given that tribal sovereign immunity "can harm those who are unaware that they are dealing with a tribe, who do not know of tribal immunity, or who have no choice in the matter." Kiowa ,
For the reasons set forth above, we AFFIRM the district court's dismissal.
DISSENT
Both the bankruptcy and district courts assumed, for the purposes of considering the Tribe's motion to dismiss the Trustee's complaint on the basis of tribal sovereign immunity, that the Tribe exerted complete dominion and control over the Debtors such that the Tribe actually or effectively filed the Debtors' bankruptcy petitions. We do so as well.
The Tribe's governing Tribal Code waives tribal sovereign immunity only "in accordance with [Code Sections] 44.105 or 44.108." (RE 5, Tribal Code, PageID # 307.) Section 44.105 requires a "resolution of the Board of Directors expressly waiving the sovereign immunity of the Tribe" with respect to specific claims. (Id. ) And Section 44.108, at the relevant time, waived sovereign immunity with respect to all claims arising from written contracts that involve "a proprietary function" of the Tribe. (Id. at PageID # 308-10.) Except as otherwise indicated, record citations refer to the record in district court action No. 16-cv-13643.
At times, Congress also unequivocally-though unnecessarily-expressed its lack of intent to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity. See, e.g. , Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975,
Several bankruptcy courts, using similar reasoning, have agreed. See, e.g. , In re Platinum Oil Props., LLC ,
Several district courts, bankruptcy appellate panels, and bankruptcy courts, using similar reasoning, have agreed. See, e.g. , In re Whitaker ,
The language in FACTA is arguably broader than the language in
The district court also noted that acknowledging the real question in this case provides a persuasive response to the Krystal Energy court's analogy to state sovereign immunity. Id. at 697. ("The faulty premise in this reasoning [that 'other foreign or domestic government' can be read to unequivocally include Indian tribes the same way 'states' can be read to unequivocally include Arizona] is that it presumes the very fact in contention, i.e., that 'domestic government' is a phrase clearly understood beyond all rational debate to encompass an Indian tribe, just as the word 'state' is clearly understood beyond all rational debate to encompass Arizona and the other 49 states.").
The dissent disagrees on this point, framing its analysis around the question, "Is an Indian tribe a domestic government?" Dis. Op. at 468. As this approach mirrors that taken by Meyers and by the court in Krystal Energy , we need not engage with it in great detail. However, to the extent that the dissent attempts to highlight the appeal of this approach by stating it as a "simple syllogism"-"Sovereign immunity is abrogated as to all governments. Indian tribes are governments. Hence sovereign immunity is abrogated as to Indian tribes." Id. at 468-we note that the court in Meyers could easily have done the same with FACTA by stating the following: All people are subject to suit. All governments are people. Indian tribes are governments. Hence Indian tribes are subject to suit. And to the extent that the dissent attempts to distinguish Meyers based on FACTA's use of language authorizing suit against Indian tribes as opposed to language abolishing Indian tribes' immunity, that is a distinction without difference. Congress can abrogate tribal sovereign immunity by "stat[ing] an intent either to abolish Indian tribes' immunity or to subject tribes to suit." Fla. Paraplegic Ass'n, Inc. v. Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Fla. ,
The dissent deems this case law "irrelevant to the task of statutory interpretation before us." Dis. Op. at 470. To the contrary, the fact that the Trustee and the dissent ask this Court to reach a holding "that deviates from all relevant decisions by our sister circuits," save for one, and "that is inconsistent with the Supreme Court's most recent guidance on the point" is highly relevant. Armalite, Inc. v. Lambert ,
For instance, a court might find an unequivocal expression of congressional intent in a statute stating that "sovereign immunity is abrogated as to all parties who could otherwise claim sovereign immunity." Krystal Energy ,
The dissent adds one, equally unpersuasive argument, asserting that Indian tribes must be "governmental units" because abrogation of tribal sovereign immunity aligns with the Bankruptcy Code's "purpose of establishing and enforcing a fair and equitable [asset] distribution procedure." Dis. Op. at 471. Yet an interest in fairness and equity is not unique to bankruptcy. For instance, in Florida Paraplegic , the court held that the Americans with Disabilities Act-the purpose of which was "to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities"-did not abrogate tribal sovereign immunity, and in doing so even acknowledged that this "may seem ... patently unfair."
Those circuits that have held that filing a lawsuit constitutes a waiver of tribal sovereign immunity recognize an exception to the rule in Okla. Tax for counterclaims sounding in equitable recoupment-a defensive action to diminish a plaintiff's recovery as opposed to one asserting affirmative relief. See, e.g. , Quinault Indian Nation v. Pearson ,
Dissenting Opinion
What we are looking for in the Bankruptcy Code is an "unequivocal expression of ... legislative intent" to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity. Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez ,
I
We begin with the text. Section 106(a) of the Code states that "sovereign immunity is abrogated as to a governmental unit."
For the answer to that question, we turn to Section 101(27), which provides:
The term "governmental unit" means United States; State; Commonwealth; District; Territory; municipality; foreign state; department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States (but not a United States trustee while serving as a trustee in a case under this title), a State, a Commonwealth, a District, a Territory, a municipality, or a foreign state; or other foreign or domestic government .
Because the statute contains clear language that "sovereign immunity is abrogated" and that language applies to domestic governments, the sole remaining question is one the majority ignores: Is an Indian tribe a domestic government? A tribe is certainly domestic, residing and exercising its sovereign authority within the territorial borders of the United States. And a tribe is a form of government, exercising political authority on behalf of and over its members.
Supreme Court precedent supports this natural reading. The Court refers to Indian tribes as " 'domestic dependent nations' that exercise inherent sovereign authority over their members and territories." Oklahoma Tax Comm'n v. Citizen Band Potawatomi Indian Tribe of Okla. ,
Congress, too, says Indian tribes are domestic governments, as numerous provisions of the United States Code demonstrate. See, e.g. ,
The clear textual evidence of congressional intent to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity in Sections 106(a) and 101(27) is stated as a simple syllogism: Sovereign immunity is abrogated as to all governments. Indian tribes are governments. Hence sovereign immunity is abrogated as to Indian tribes. See In re Russell ,
II
But if this expression is so clear, the majority asks, then how could two circuit *469courts come to seemingly opposite conclusions about it? Compare Meyers v. Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wis. ,
The Seventh Circuit in Meyers was looking at different language in a different statute. In Meyers , the statute at issue was the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA). Meyers wanted to sue the Oneida Tribe because he made credit card purchases at tribe-run businesses, and those businesses produced receipts revealing his credit card number, in violation of FACTA. At issue was whether FACTA abrogated tribal sovereign immunity. The statute provides, "[N]o person that accepts credit cards or debit cards for the transaction of business shall print more than the last 5 digits of the card number or the expiration date upon any receipt provided to the cardholder at the point of the sale or transaction." 15 U.S.C. § 1681c(g)(1) (emphasis added). It states that any "person" who violates the statute shall be subject to civil liability. 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681n, 1681o. FACTA defines a "person" as "any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, cooperative, association, government or governmental subdivision or agency, or other entity." 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(b) (emphasis added).
The Seventh Circuit held that this statutory language did not abrogate tribal sovereign immunity. It reasoned that the term "government," as it appears in FACTA, left ambiguity about whether that word alone was intended to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity. Meyers ,
The Seventh Circuit finding of ambiguity in FACTA does not affect our analysis of the Bankruptcy Code. Consider how different the FACTA text is from that of the Bankruptcy Code. The Bankruptcy Code states, in no mistakable terms, "sovereign immunity is abrogated as to a governmental unit."
Next, consider the differences in the definition sections. The Bankruptcy Code defines "governmental units" using several specific terms and a broad, catch-all term at the end.
No wonder the Seventh Circuit could not say "with 'perfect confidence' " that Congress intended FACTA to abrogate *470tribal sovereign immunity. Meyers ,
Although Meyers and Krystal Energy can be reconciled based on these differences in statutory language, there is one point of reasoning upon which they-and I with the majority-fundamentally disagree. Meyers and the majority seem to think it important that the Bankruptcy Code does not mention the words "Indian tribe" and that "there is not one example in all of history where the Supreme Court has found that Congress intended to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity without expressly mentioning Indian tribes somewhere in the statute." Meyers ,
In the majority's focus on these "magic words," Cooper ,
Justice Scalia, providing the fifth vote in Dellmuth , emphasized this point, saying that "congressional elimination of sovereign immunity in statutory text" need not make "explicit reference" to any particular terms. Dellmuth ,
As Krystal Energy held and as explained above, the Code's text forms a clear expression of legislative intent to abrogate the sovereign immunity of Indian tribes.
III
Where the text gives clear evidence of congressional intent to abrogate, courts may look to the larger statutory scheme to "dispel[ ]" any "conceivable doubt" of that intent. Seminole Tribe of Fla. v. Florida ,
"[T]he object of bankruptcy laws is the equitable distribution of the debtor's assets *471amongst his creditors ...." Kuehner v. Irving Tr. Co. ,
The Code's purpose of establishing and enforcing a fair and equitable distribution procedure is consistent with the broad abrogation of Sections 106(a) and 101(27). With a broad abrogation of immunity, all governments must play by the rules. This context in no way contradicts the text's plain meaning-sovereign immunity is abrogated as to any government, including Indian tribes. Congress expressed its intention unequivocally.
For these reasons, I respectfully dissent.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In RE: GREEKTOWN HOLDINGS, LLC, Debtor. Buchwald Capital Advisors, LLC, Solely in Its Capacity as Litigation Trustee to the Greektown Litigation Trust, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians; Kewadin Casinos Gaming Authority, Defendants-Appellees.
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