TRIBAL COURT CIVIL COMPLAINT

IN THE TRIBAL COURT OF THE [________________________________] TRIBE/NATION

Case No.: [________________________________]

[________________________________],
Plaintiff,

v.

[________________________________],
Defendant.

CIVIL COMPLAINT

PART I: PARTIES

1. Plaintiff

Name: [________________________________]

Tribal Enrollment Status:
☐ Enrolled member of the [________________________________] Tribe/Nation
☐ Enrolled member of another federally recognized tribe: [________________________________]
☐ Non-Indian

Enrollment Number (if applicable): [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]

Telephone: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

2. Defendant

Name: [________________________________]

Tribal Enrollment Status:
☐ Enrolled member of the [________________________________] Tribe/Nation
☐ Enrolled member of another federally recognized tribe: [________________________________]
☐ Non-Indian

Enrollment Number (if applicable): [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]

Telephone (if known): [________________________________]

PART II: JURISDICTION AND VENUE

3. Subject Matter Jurisdiction

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to:

☐ [Tribe Name] Tribal Code, Title [____], Section [____]
☐ [Tribe Name] Constitution, Article [____], Section [____]
☐ The inherent sovereign authority of the [________________________________] Tribe/Nation
☐ Other: [________________________________]

4. Personal Jurisdiction

This Court has personal jurisdiction over the Defendant because (check all that apply):

☐ Defendant is an enrolled member of the [________________________________] Tribe/Nation
☐ Defendant resides within the exterior boundaries of the [________________________________] Reservation
☐ Defendant conducted business within the exterior boundaries of the Reservation
☐ Defendant entered into a contract that was to be performed on the Reservation
☐ Defendant committed a tortious act within the exterior boundaries of the Reservation
☐ Defendant has consented to the jurisdiction of this Court
☐ Defendant has sufficient minimum contacts with the Reservation
☐ Other: [________________________________]

5. Territorial Jurisdiction

The events giving rise to this complaint occurred:

☐ Within the exterior boundaries of the [________________________________] Reservation
☐ On trust land of the [________________________________] Tribe/Nation
☐ On fee land within the Reservation boundaries
☐ Other Indian country as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 1151
☐ Other: [________________________________]

6. Venue

Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to [Tribe Name] Tribal Code, Title [____], Section [____], because:

☐ Defendant resides within this Court's jurisdiction
☐ The cause of action arose within this Court's jurisdiction
☐ The property at issue is located within this Court's jurisdiction
☐ Other: [________________________________]

PART III: NATURE OF ACTION

7. Type of Claim

This is an action for (check all that apply):

☐ Breach of Contract
☐ Personal Injury / Negligence
☐ Property Damage
☐ Trespass
☐ Conversion of Property
☐ Fraud / Misrepresentation
☐ Debt Collection
☐ Landlord-Tenant Dispute
☐ Employment Dispute
☐ Family Law Matter
☐ Probate / Estate Matter
☐ Declaratory Judgment
☐ Injunctive Relief
☐ Other: [________________________________]

8. Amount in Controversy

The amount in controversy:

☐ Exceeds the minimum jurisdictional amount of $[____] required by tribal code
☐ Does not exceed $[____] (Small Claims jurisdiction)
☐ Cannot be calculated in monetary terms (equitable relief sought)

Estimated Damages: $[________________________________]

PART IV: STATEMENT OF FACTS

9. Factual Background

Plaintiff alleges the following facts:

a. On or about [__/__/____], [________________________________]

b. [________________________________]

c. [________________________________]

d. [________________________________]

e. [________________________________]

f. [________________________________]

g. [________________________________]

(Attach additional pages if necessary)

PART V: CLAIMS FOR RELIEF

COUNT I: [________________________________]

10. Plaintiff incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 9 above.

11. [________________________________]

12. [________________________________]

13. [________________________________]

14. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's conduct, Plaintiff has suffered damages in the amount of $[________________________________].

COUNT II: [________________________________]

15. Plaintiff incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 14 above.

16. [________________________________]

17. [________________________________]

18. [________________________________]

19. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's conduct, Plaintiff has suffered damages in the amount of $[________________________________].

COUNT III: [________________________________]

20. Plaintiff incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 19 above.

21. [________________________________]

22. [________________________________]

23. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's conduct, Plaintiff has suffered damages in the amount of $[________________________________].

(Add additional counts as necessary)

PART VI: DAMAGES

24. Damages Sought

Plaintiff seeks the following damages:

A. Compensatory Damages:

B. Special Damages:

C. Other Damages (if allowed by tribal code):

☐ Punitive damages (if authorized)
☐ Treble damages (if authorized)
☐ Statutory damages

TOTAL DAMAGES CLAIMED: $[________________________________]

PART VII: PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that this Court:

A. Enter judgment against Defendant and in favor of Plaintiff;

B. Award Plaintiff compensatory damages in the amount of $[________________________________];

C. Award Plaintiff special damages in the amount of $[________________________________];

D. ☐ Award Plaintiff punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial;

E. ☐ Issue a preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Defendant to [________________________________];

F. ☐ Issue a declaratory judgment declaring that [________________________________];

G. Award Plaintiff pre-judgment and post-judgment interest as allowed by law;

H. Award Plaintiff costs of this action;

I. ☐ Award Plaintiff reasonable attorney's fees (if authorized by tribal code or agreement);

J. Grant such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

PART VIII: JURY DEMAND

☐ Plaintiff demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.

☐ Plaintiff waives trial by jury and consents to a bench trial.

PART IX: VERIFICATION

STATE/TRIBAL NATION OF [________________________________]

I, [________________________________], being duly sworn, state that I am the Plaintiff in the above-captioned action, that I have read the foregoing Complaint, and that the statements contained herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Signature: [________________________________]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this [____] day of [________________], 20[____].

Notary Public/Tribal Court Clerk: [________________________________]

My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

PART X: ATTORNEY INFORMATION (If Represented)

Attorney Name: [________________________________]

Tribal Bar Number: [________________________________]

Firm Name: [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]

Telephone: [________________________________]

Fax: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

Attorney Signature: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

ATTACHMENTS

☐ Exhibit A: [________________________________]
☐ Exhibit B: [________________________________]
☐ Exhibit C: [________________________________]
☐ Filing Fee: $[____] (check or money order enclosed / fee waiver requested)

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on [__/__/____], a true and correct copy of this Complaint was served upon the Defendant by:

☐ Personal service
☐ Certified mail, return receipt requested
☐ Tribal Court process server
☐ Other authorized method: [________________________________]

at the following address:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

Signature: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR TRIBAL COURT PRACTICE

1. Tribal Code Review: Before filing, review the specific tribal code of civil procedure for filing requirements, deadlines, and procedures.

2. Standing: Verify that the plaintiff has standing to bring the action under tribal law.

3. Exhaustion of Remedies: Some tribal codes require exhaustion of administrative or traditional remedies before filing suit.

4. Sovereign Immunity: If suing a tribal entity, verify that sovereign immunity has been waived.

5. Service of Process: Follow tribal code requirements for service of process exactly.

6. Filing Fees: Confirm current filing fees with the tribal court clerk.

7. Attorney Admission: Non-tribal attorneys may need pro hac vice admission to the tribal bar.

8. Traditional/Customary Law: Some tribal courts consider traditional or customary law; research applicable provisions.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• National Tribal Justice Resource Center
• Tribal Law Gateway - Cornell Law School
• National American Indian Court Judges Association

This template should be adapted to comply with the specific tribal code and court rules of the relevant tribal court.