No. 16-1498October Term 2018Decided Mar 19, 2019
Washington State Dept. of Licensing v. Cougar Den, Inc.
This case asked whether Washington could impose its fuel-import tax on Cougar Den, a Yakama-owned company that transports fuel by highway from Oregon to the Yakama Reservation.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Mar 19, 2019
- What it's about
This case asked whether Washington could impose its fuel-import tax on Cougar Den, a Yakama-owned company that transports fuel by highway from Oregon to the Yakama Reservation. The Supreme Court held that, as applied here, the tax was barred by an 1855 treaty protecting the Yakama Nation’s right to travel on public highways.
Question presented
Whether the Yakama Treaty of 1855 creates a right for tribal members to avoid state taxes on off-reservation commercial activities that make use of public highways.
- Case path
Supreme Court of Washington / Decision released Mar 19, 2019
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided March 19, 2019
The Court released its decision on March 19, 2019 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jun 1, 2026
- Method
- Methodology