No. 17-387October Term 2017Decided May 21, 2018
Upper Skagit Tribe v. Lundgren
This case arose from a boundary dispute between the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe and neighboring landowners in Washington after the Tribe claimed that about one acre on the neighbors’ side of a fence actually belonged to it.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released May 21, 2018
- What it's about
This case arose from a boundary dispute between the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe and neighboring landowners in Washington after the Tribe claimed that about one acre on the neighbors’ side of a fence actually belonged to it. The Supreme Court considered whether the neighbors’ quiet title suit could go forward in state court despite the Tribe’s claim of sovereign immunity.
Question presented
Does a court's exercise of in rem jurisdiction overcome the jurisdictional bar of tribal sovereign immunity when the tribe has not waived immunity and Congress has not unequivocally abrogated it?
- Case path
Supreme Court of Washington / Decision released May 21, 2018
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided May 21, 2018
The Court released its decision on May 21, 2018 without hearing oral argument.
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology