OMAHA TRIBAL CODE (2013)

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TITLE 2, RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

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RULE 2. Commencement of Action; Service of Process

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RULE 4. Pleadings, Motions and Orders

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RULE 11. Intervention

RULE 12. Substitution of Parties

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RULE 14. Jury Trials.

RULE 15... Assigning Cases for Trial.

RULE 16... Dismissal of Actions... viobees EAN cebeceashecee ee

“RULE 17. « Consolidation; ns Separate Trials ae

RULE 18. Evidence. . webeedinbges ediills vse

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= RULE2T° Special Verdicts and Inisiropatonies

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~ RULE 25. Judgments; Costs...

RULE 26. Default. 00.0

RULE 27. Summary Judgment. .............

RULE 28. Entry of Judgment...

RULE 29. “New Trials; Amendments...

RULE 30. “Relief from Judgment or Order.

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RULE 32. Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment es

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RULE 38. Appeal in Civil Cases. occ,

RULE 39. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies... 2... secs eeensives

TITLE 2. RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

OMAHA TRIBAL CODE (2013)

TITLE 2. RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

RULE 1. Scope of Rules.

(a) Scope. Except when different rules prescribed in this Code specifically apply, these rules shall

appellate courts of the Tribe in all actions, suits and proceedings ofa

govern the procedure in the tribal and

shed by law, and in criminal matters to the extent no different rule ts

civil nature, in all proceedings establi

specified.

(b) Construction. These rules shall be liberally construed to secure a just, speedy, and inexpensive

determination of every action.

proceedings, as a “civil action".

(d) Collateral References. Any procedures or matters not specifically set forth herein shall be

accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure insofar as such are not inconsistent with

handled in

by the Court.

these rules, and with general principles of fairness and justice as prescribed and interpreted

CHAPTER 2. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION AND PRELIMINARY MATTERS

RULE 2. Commencement of Action; Service of Process.

(a) Commencement of Action. A civil action is commenced by filing a written complaint with the

Clerk of the Tribal Court. The court shall have jurisdiction from such time as both the complaint is filed

and a. summons and copy of the complaint are properly served upon the defendant and’a return of service is

filed’with thé Clerk. oes : .

(b) Service of Process. Service of process shall consist of delivering to the party served a copy of the

complaint along with a summons (in a form provided by the Clerk), which need not be issued by the Judge

or Clerk, which advises the defendant that he is required to answer the complaint within thirty (30) days.or

a default judgment will be entered against him.

(1) The return of service shall be endorsed with the name of the person serving and the date, time,

and place of service and shall be filed with the Clerk.

(2) Service may be made on a party by delivery of the required papers to the party himself or upon

some person of suitable age and discretion over 14 years old at the parly's house or principal place of

business, or an officer, managing agent, employee, or partner of a non-individual party.

(3) Service by publication may be made upon order of the court for good cause shown by

publishing the contents of the summons in a local newspaper of general circulation at least once per

week for four weeks and by leaving an extra copy of the complaint or paper with the court for the

party.

(4) Service may be made by any law enforcement officer or tribal member who is a resident of the

Tribe, nol a party, 18 years of age or older.

(5) Service upon a resident otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Tribal Court may be made

anywhere in the United States; otherwise, service shall be made within the exterior boundaries of the

Tribal reservation.

(6) Ifa person personally refuses to accept service, service shall be deemed performed If the

person is informed of the purpose of the service and offered copies of the papers serviced.

served on the counselor or attorney of a party. Service of all papers except the complaint may be made by

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mail, First Class postage pre-paid and properly addressed.

RULE 3. Time.

(a) Computation. In computing any period of time set forth herein, the day that the period is to

commence from shall not be counted and the last day of the period shall be counted; provided however, that

any time period under seven (7) days will not include intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays in

the period and any period which would otherwise end on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday will be

deemed to end on the next day which is nota: Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

(b) Enlargement. The court for good ¢ cause shown may enlarge the prescribed period of time within

which any required act may be done. 2

heard ex parte, shall be served not later than five (5) days prior to the time specified for hearing.

(d). Service by Mail. Whenever service is accomplished by mail, three (3) days shall be added to the

prescribed period of time, but such additional time shall not cause Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays to

be counted in the time period if'they would not otherwise have been counted.

RULE 4. Pleadings, Motions and Orders.

(a) Pleadings. There shall be.a complaint and an answer plus a responsive pleading x shall be allowed

whenever, by cross-claim, counterclaim or otherwise, a party is first.claimed against unless the court shall

otherwise order. The court may grant additional leave fo plead | in the interest of narrowing and i defining

issues or.as justice may require. :

: (b) Motions and Orders.

(1) Motions. An application to the court for an order shall be: by motion and shall be in writing,

“unless made. orally during a hearing or trial, and shall set forth the relief or order sought and the oe

grounds therefore stated with particularity. A motion and notice of motion may be set forth together.

(2) Orders. An order includes every direction of the court whether included in a judgment or not,

and may-not be made without notice.to adverse parties nor vacated or modified without notice, except

as provided herein.

(3) Hearings on Motions and Orders. A motion or hearing on an order shall be automatically

continued if the judge before whom it.was to be heard is unable to hear it‘on the day specified and no

other judge is available to hear it.

(4) No-court orderin any civil matter shall i issue unless a Civil.action has been commenced'as

provided in Rule 2(a). . :

RULE 5. General Rules of Pleading. S

(a) Claims for relief. A pleading which sets forth a claim for affirmative relief shall contain:

GQ) A short, plain statement of the siobnds upon. which the court's jurisdiction depends, unless the

court already has jurisdiction over the matter...

(2) A short, plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader i is entitled to relief; and

(3) A demand for judgment for the relief to which the pleader considers himself entitled. Such

claim for relief can be in the alternative or for several types of relief.

(b) Defenses and Denials. A party shall state in plain, concise terms the grounds upon which he

bases his defense to claims pleaded against him, and shall admit or deny the claims and statements upon

which the adverse party relies. If he is without information or knowledge regarding a statement or claim) he

shall so state and such shall be deemed to be a denial. Denials shall fairly meet the substance of the claims

or statements denied and may be made as to specified parts but not all of a claim, statement, or averment. A

general denial shall not be made unless the party could in good faith deny each and every claim covered

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thereby. A claim to which a responsive pleading is required, except for amount of damages, shall be

deemed admitted unless denied, if no responsive pleading 1s allowed the claims of the adverse party shall

be deemed denied.

directly stated, but may be in alternative or hypothetical form, on one or several counts or defenses, need

not be consistent with one another, and may be based on legal or equitable grounds or both.

(d) Affirmative Defenses. Matters constituting an affirmative defense or avoidance shall be

affirmatively set forth. When a party has mistakenly designated a defense as a counterclaim or vice versa,

the court may treat the pleading as if it had been properly designated if justice so requires.

(ec) Construction of Pleadings. All pleadings shall be construed so as to do substantial justice.

RULE 6. Form of Pleadings.

(a) Caption. Every pleading shall contain a caption heading, the name of the court, the title of the

action, the court file number (if known) and a designation as to what kind of pleading it is: All pleadings

shall contain the names of the parties except the name of the first party on each side may be used on all

pleadings after the complaint.

(b) Paragraphs, All averments of claim or defense shall he set forth in separate numbered paragraphs

each of which is limited, as nearly as possible, to a single circumstance. Claims or defenses founded upon

separate transactions or occurrences should be set forth in separate counts or defenses.

different part of the same pleading or in another pleading or in any motion. A copy of a written instrument

that is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof for all purposes.

(d) Paper Used in Pleadings. Insofar as.is possible, pleadings and other papers filed in-any action

shall be on 8 4” x 11” paper, double spaced, contain at least a 2-inch top margin and a 1-inch left side»

margin, and.contain the court file number on the first page thereof. Substantial compliance with this rule

will be sufficient for all parties not represented by, a:professional.attorney. ;

RULE 7. Defenses and Objections.

(a) When Presented. A defendant or other party against whom a claim has been made for affirmative

relief shall have thirty (30) days from the date of service upon him to answer or respond to the claim.

(b). Motions. Motions to dismiss or to make the opposing parties' pleadings more definite may be

made prior to answering a claim and an answer will not be due until ten (10) days after the disposition of

the motion by the Court.

RULE 8. Counterclaim or Cross-claim.

(a) Counterclaim. A party against whom a claim is made may assert in his answer any claims he has

against the party claiming against him and both claims shall be resolved at tral.

(b) Cross-claim. A party against whom a claim is made may assert any claim he has against a coparty and have such claim resolved at trial.

who is or may be liable for payment or performance of the claim of the opposing party and have such

complaint resolved at trial.

RULE 9. Amendment of Pleadings.

(a) Amendment Before Trial. A party may amend his pleadings once before the opposing party has

replied if no reply is required, not less than 20 days before the case is scheduled for trial. The opposing

parly may respond, if appropriate, and the trial date may be rescheduled, if necessary. Other amendments

shall be allowed only upon motion and order of the Court.

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(b) At Trial. When issues or evidence not raised in the pleadings are heard at trial, the judgment may

conform to such issues or evidence without the necessity of amending the pleadings.

RULE 10. Parties.

(a) Real Party in Interest. Every action shall be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest,

except a personal representative or other person in a fiduciary position can sue in his own name without

joining the party for whose benefit the action is maintained.

(b) Guardian Ad Litem. When:an infant, or insane, or incompetent person who has not had a general

guardian appointed is a party, the Court shall appoint a guardian ad literi.to represent such person in the

suit or action.

persons or parties interested in.a particular action may be joined in the action, but failure to join a party

over whom the Court has no jurisdiction will not require dismissal of the action unless it would be

impossible to reach‘a just result without such party; otherwise, the failure to join a party may be taken into

account to assure that justice is done.

RULE 11. Intervention.

A person may intervene and be treated in all-respects as a party to an action in cares:in.which property

in which he has an interest may be affected or a question of Jaw or fact common to-a claim of his may be

hu gated.

RULE 12. . Substitution of Parties.

Ifa party dies or becomes incompetent or transfers his interest or separates from some official

capacity, a substitute party may be joined or substituted, as justice requires.

RULE 13. Discovery.

(a) Interrogatories. A party may submit written interrogatories to any other party who must answer

them in writing, under oath, within 35 days of ‘receipt of such:

(b) Depositions. A party may take the oral deposition of an adverse party or non-party witness under

oath upon not less than 10 days notice, specifying the time and place on the reservation where such will

occur.

_ (c) Production, Entry or Inspection. A party may request another party to produce any documents

or things in his custody or possession for inspection or copying or request permission.to enter and inspect

property reasonably related to the case, and the opposing party shall within 35 days reply as to'whether or

not such will be allowed without further court order and if not, why not.

(d) Scope of Discovery. Parties may obtain discovery regarding any miatter, not privileged, which is

relevant to the pending action, whether or not such would be admissible at trial, if such appears reasonably

calculated to lead'to the discovery of admissible evidence; except, that discovery may not be had of the

work product of'a party’ s counselor or attorney. .

(ce) Protective Order. A party against whom discovery i is sought may move > the Court for a protective

order to prevent undue annoyance, harassment, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense,

and the court may order that the discovery cease or proceed only upon specified conditions.

(f) Failure to Make Discovery. If a party fails to respond or appear for discovery as provided in this

tule, the opposing party may move for an order to compel the defaulting party to perform and the court may

award costs to the nondefaulting party. If a party fails to perform after being ordered to do so by the Court,

the Court may, upon motion, order that a certain fact, claim, or defense be deemed established or strike part

of a claim or defense, or dismiss or render a judgment by default against the non-complying party in an

aggravated case.

(g) Use of Discovery. Answers to interrogatories and depositions may be used in a motion, hearing or

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at trial to impeach or contradict the testimony of the person discovered. The answers to interrogatories and

depositions of an adverse party may be used by any other party for any purpose.

RULE 14. Jury Trials.

(a) When Allowed. Trials of all civil actions shall be to the court without a jury unless a partly to the

action files a request for a jury trial with his complaint or answer or other initial responsive pleading in the

action. A judge may, upon good cause shown, waive pre-payment of the required fee.

(b) Issues Triable. Unless the requesting party specifies otherwise, all factual issues properly triable

by a jury shall be decided by the jury at trial. A party requesting a jury trial may specify only those issues

he wants tried to the jury, and any other party may specify, not less than 15 days before the date scheduled

for trial, any other issues he wishes to be so tried. Once any or all issues of a case have been requested for a

jury trial, such request may not be withdrawn without the consent of all the parties.

(1) A judge may, upon his own motion, order the trial by a jury of any or all of the factual issues

of a case regardless of whether or not the parties have requested such.

(2) A judge may, upon motion of any parly or its own initiative, find that some or all of the issues

designated for jury trial are not properly triable to a jury, and order that no jury trial be held on such

issues.

(3) A judge may hear and decide an issue or issues without a jury if either party to an issue fails to

appear at trial, regardless of any request made for a jury trial on such issues.

RULE 15. Assigning Cases for Trial.

(a) Assignment of Judge and Date. The Chief Judge shall determine which judge shall hear a case,

and shall provide by rule for the placing of cases on the court calendar with or without the request of any

party provided all parties are given adequate notice of trial dates.

(b) Postponement. Upon motion of a party, the court may in its discretion, and upon such terms as it

deems just, including the payment of any cost occasioned by such postponement, postpone a trial or

proceeding upon good cause shown.

RULE 16. Dismissal of Actions.

(a) Voluntary Dismissal. Prior to the responsive pleading of a party against whom a claim has been

made or motion to dismiss or for summary judgment on such claim, the party making the claim may file a

notice of dismissal and his claim shall be deemed dismissed without prejudice. In all other circumstances a

party may move the court to dismiss his own claim and the court shall do so either with or without

prejudice as is just and proper given the stage of the proceedings, provided, however, if a cross-claim or

counterclaim has been filed against the moving party, the judge shall dismiss the claim only with the

consent of the adverse party or only if it appears that the other party can prosecute his claim independently

without undue additional hardship.

(b) Involuntary Dismissal. A party against whom a claim has been made may move the court to

dismiss the claim of the adverse party upon any of the following grounds:

(1) Failure of the adverse party to prosecute his claim;

(2) Failure of the adverse parly to comply substantially with these rules,

(3) Failure of the adverse party to comply with an order of the court,

(4) At the close of the presentation of the other party's evidence and without prejudicing his own

right to present evidence, failure of the opposing party to establish a right to relief based on the facts

and law presented; or

(5) Whenever dismissal appears proper based upon a failure to prove a claim.

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court shall, for good cause shown, order otherwise. The court may postpone ruling on a motion to dismiss

for failure to establish a right to any relief until the close of all the evidence.

(d) The court may order a party moving to dismiss his own claim to pay the costs of the adverse party

if the proceeding has progressed beyond the pleading stage, and may order payment of costs in other

circumstances where such is deemed appropriate.

RULE 17. Consolidation; Separate Trials,

(a) Consolidation. The court may, upon motion of any party or its: own motion, order some or all of

the issues of separate actions tried together when there is a common issue of fact or law relating the actions

or if such will tend to avoid unnecessary cost or delay.

(b) Separate Trials. The court may, to avoid prejudice orin furtherance of convenience, order a

separate trial of a claim or issue:

RULE 18. Evidence.

The rules-of evidence applicable.to criminal trials set out. at Rule 3 of the Tribal Rules of Criminal

Procedure (T.R.Cr.P.) shall also.be applicable to criminal proceedings, provided that.the constitutional right

of confrontation applicable to: criminal trials shall not be applicable to civil trials.

RULE 19. “Subpoenas.

(a) Issuance. Subpoenas for attendance of witnesses or production of documents or things shall be

issued. and served as provided elsewhere in this Code.

(b) Failure to Appear. A person who has-been properly served with a subpoena and fails to appear or

produice may be deemed in contempt of court.

testify in the same manner as if he were in attendance upon a subpoena.

RULE 20. Jurors.

(a) Number of Jurors; Alternate. There shall be six jurors chosen to hear a case plus the Court:may

allow one additional juror to be chosen as an alternate juror. In the event that an alternate juror is chosen

and hears. the case, he shall be dismissed prior to the jury's deliberation if not needed, and treated like a

regular juror.if needed.

(b) Examination of Jurors. The court shall permit the parties or their counsel (but not both) to

conduct the examination of prospéclive jurors and may itself examine the jurors. :

(1) A challenge is an objection made to a potential trial Juror. Either party may challenge jurors

but where thére are several parties on either side, they must join in a challenge before it can be made.

(2) Challenges to jurors are either peremtory or for cause. Each h party or side shall be entitled to

three peremtory challenges: :

(3) Challenge for cause shall be made against potential j jurors on the grounds that they are not

entitled or qualified to be jurors, they are familiar with the case, have formed opinions regarding the

case, or if for any other reason it appears likely or reasonably possible that they will not be able to

render a fair, impartial verdict. The judge may take evidence relative to a challenge for cause and shall

in any event render a decision thereon.

(d) Selection of Jury. The clerk shall draw lots to determine potential jurors and shall replace jurors

for whom a challenge for cause is sustained until a full panel is passed for cause. Upon exercise of

peremtory challenges the clerk shall administer the oath to the jurors selected for the trial, the form of

which shall be prescribed by rule of the court.

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(e) Discharge of Jurors. If, after the proceedings begin and before a verdict is reached, a juror.

becomes unable or disqualified to perform his duty, the alternate juror shall take his place; if there is not noe

alternate juror the parlies may agree to complete the action with the other jurors. Ifno agreement can be

reached, the judge shall discharge the jury and the case shall be tried with a new jury.

(f) View of Jury. The Court may, for good cause shown, allow the jury to view the property or place

of occurrence of a disputed or otherwise relevant event.

(g) Separation of the Jury. Any time prior to their verdict when the jurors are allowed to leave the

courtroom, the judge shall admonish them not to converse with or listen to any other person on the subject

of the trial and further admonish them not to form or express an opinion on the case until the case is

submitted to the jury for their decision.

(h) Deliberation. Once the case is submitted to them, the jury shall retire to deliberate in private

under the charge of an officer of the court called the bailiff, who shall remain outside of the jury room and

who will refrain from communicating with them except to inquire whether they have reached a verdict, and

he shall prevent others from improperly communicating with the jury.

(i) Things Taken by Jury. The jury may take with them when deliberating any of the following:

(1) the Court's instructions;

(2) papers or things received in evidence as exhibits;

(3) notes taken by the jurors themselves, but not notes taken by non-jurors.

(j) Additional Instructions. If after the jury retires, there is some question on an instruction or other

point of law or disagreement regarding the lesiimony, the jury may request additional instructions from the

Court, such to be given on the record afler notice to the parties or their counsel.

(k) No Verdict. If thej jury is discharged before rendering their verdict or for any reason prevented

from giving a verdict, the action shall be retired. :

(1). Declaration of the Verdict. When all or at least five of the six jury members agree on a verdict, -

they shall so inform the bailiff who shall notify the court. The jury shall be conducted into the courtroom

and the Clerk shall.call the jury roll; the verdict shall be given in writing to the clerk and then read by the

clerk to the court; inquiry shall be made by the court to the jury foreman as to whether such is their verdict.

Either party may have the jury polled individually to determine if such is, in fact, their verdict. If

insufficient jurors agree with the verdict, the jury shall be sent out again to reconsider; otherwise, the

verdict is complete and the jury shall be dismissed. If the verdict is read or recorded incorrectly by the clerk

or foreman, the jury shall retire to correct the verdict.

RULE 21. Special Verdicts and Interrogatories.

The court may in its discretion require the jury to return their verdict in the form of specific findings or

specified issues or may require the jury to return a general verdict accompanied by answers to questions

related to the issues under consideration.

RULE 22. Instructions to the Jury; Arguments.

(a) Instructions. At the close of the evidence at such earlier lime as the Court may direct, any parly

may file written requested instructions for the court to give to the jury. The court shall inform the parties or

their counsel of the instructions it intends to give and hear argument thereon oul of the hearing of the jury.

(b) Arguments. Final arguments for the parties shall be made afier the jury has been instructed. The

court shall not comment on the evidence of the case and, if it should restate any of the evidence, it shall

inform the jury that they are the sole judges of the facts.

RULE 23. Motions for Directed Verdict and for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict.

(a) Motion for a Directed Verdict. A party who moves for a directed verdict at the close of the

evidence offered by the opposing side may offer evidence as if no motion had been made in the event that

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the motion is denied. A motion for directed verdict shall state the grounds therefor and may be granted by

the court without the assent of the jury.

(b) Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding The Verdict. A party who has made a motion for a

directed verdict at the close of all the evidence, which motion has been denied or not granted, may, within

ten (10) days after entry of judgment move to have the verdict and any judgment entered thereon set aside

and entered according to his motion for directed verdict; or if there has been verdict, the party may so move

within ten (10) days after the jury has been discharged. A motion for a new trial may be made in the

alternative. The court shall enter judgment or make any-orders consistent with its decision on the motions.

RULE 24. Finding by the Court.

In cases tried without a jury, and except.in cases where a party defaults, fails to appear or otherwise

waives such, findings of fact and conclusions of law shall be made by the court in support of all final

judgments, Upon its own motion or the motion of any party within ten days of the entry of judgment,

findings may be amended.or added to and the judgment:may be amended accordingly. °

RULE 25. Judgments; Costs.

(a) Definition. A judgment includes any order finally and conclusively determining the rights of the

parties.

(b) Judgment on Multiple Claims. When more than one claim for relief is presented in an action,

“however designated, a final judgment may be entered on less than all of such claims only upon the Court's

specific finding that such is justified. Absent sucha finding, an order or decision will not terminate the

action as to any of the claims until all claims are finally decided, nor will the appeal period commence to

run, : :

(1) Generally. Except in the case of default judgment, every final judgment shall grant the relief

to. which the party in whose favor it is rendered is entitled, even if such relief is not demanded in the

pleadings, It may be given for or against one or more of several claimants; and it may, if justice so

requires, determine the ultimate right-of the parties on each side-as between or among themselves.

(2) Judgment by Default. A judgment by. default shall not be different:in kind from, or exceed in

amount that specifically prayed for m the demand for judgment.

(d) Costs. Uniess the court shall otherwise direct, the court shall allow-necessary costs and.

"disbursements to the prevailing party or-parties as a matter of course. Such:prevailing party shall file with

the court a verified memorandum of his costs and necessary disbursements within five (5) days of the entry

of judgment and serve a copy of such.on the opposing party. If such are not objected to within-ten (10)

days, they shall.be deemed to be part of and included i in the judgment rendered. The appellate court may

award costs in a like manner.

(e) Attorney's Fees. The court shall not award attorney's fees in a case ‘unless such have been

specifically provided for by a contract or agreement of the patties which is under dispute, or unless it

reasonably appears that the case has been prosecuted for purposes of harassment only or that there was no

reasonable expectation of success on the part'of the affirmatively claiming party.

RULE 26. Default.

(a) Entry of Default. When a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought has

failed to plead or otherwise defend as provided by these rules his default may be proved by affidavit and

judgment upon demand by default granted to the opposing party.

(b) Judgment by Default. Judgment by default may be entered by the court if a party's claim against

the opposing party is for a sum of money which is or can by computation be made certain, and if the

opposing party has been personally served on the reservation. Judgment by default for other relief can be

entered only upon receipt of whatever evidence the court deems necessary to establish the claim. Notice of

entry of a default judgment shall be served upon the party against whom it is taken.

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or default judgment.

RULE 27. Summary Judgment.

Any time 30 days afler commencement of an action, any partly may move the court for summary

judgment as to any or all of the issues presented in the case and such shall be granted by the court if it

appears that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to

judgment as a matter of law. Such motions, which shall be served not less than ten (10) days prior to the

hearing on said motion, may be supported by affidavits, discovery, or memoranda, all of which must be

made available to opposing parties a least five (5) days prior to the hearing.

RULE 28. Entry of Judgment.

(a) Judgment. Judgment upon verdict of a jury shail be signed by the clerk and filed. All other

judgments shall be signed by the judge and filed with the clerk.

(b) Effectiveness; Recordation. A judgment is complete and shall be deemed entered for all

purposes when il is signed and filed as provided herein. The clerk shall immediately make a notation of the

judgment in the judgment dockel.

judgment, judgment may nevertheless be entered thereon.

(d) Satisfaction of Judgment. A judgment may be satisfied in whole or in part, as to any or all of the

judgment debtors by the owner thereof or his attorney of record executing under oath and filing an

acknowledgment of satisfaction specifying the amount paid and whether such is full or partial salisfaction.

A judge may order the entry of satisfaction upon proof of payment and failure of the judgment creditor to

file a satisfaction. The clerk shall file all satisfactions of judgment and note the amount thereof'in the

judgment docket.

(e) Effect of Satisfaction; Limitation. A jidemest satisfied in 4 Whole with such fact being entered i in

the judgment docket, shall cease to operate as such. A partially satisfied judgment or unsatisfied judgment

shall continue in effect for eight (8) years or until satisfied. An action to renew the judgment remaining

unsatisfied may be maintained any time prior to the expiration of eight (8) years and will extend the period

of limitations an additional eight (8) years and may be thereafter extended once more by the same

procedure.

RULE 29. New Trials; Amendments.

(a) Grounds; Time. Any party may petition for a new trial on any or all of the issues presented by

serving a motion not later than ten (10) days after the entry of judgment, for any of the following reasons:

(1) Error or irregularity which prevented any party from receiving a fair trial;

(2) Misconduct of the jury or jury members;

(3) Accident or surprise, or newly discovered evidence which ordinary prudence could not have

guarded against or produced at trial;

(4) Damages so excessive or inadequate that they appear to have been given under the influence of

passion or prejudice;

(5) Insufficiency of the evidence to justify the verdict or other decision, or that itis contrary to the

law; or

(6) Error in law.

(b) Harmless Error. A new trial shall not be granted on the basis of error or irregularity that was

harmless in that it did not result in a substantial injustice.

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which reply memoranda and affidavits shall be allowed if desired.

(d) Court Initiative. The court may, on its own initiative, not later than ten (10) days after entry of

judgment, order a new trial on any grounds assertable by a party to the action, and shall specify the reasons

for so ordering.

(ce) Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment. A motion to alter or amend a judgment shall be served

not later than ten (10) days after entry of judgment.

RULE 30. Relief from Judgment or Order. - -

(a) Clerical Mistakes. Clerical mistakes i in judgments, “Grdets or r other parts of the record and errors

therein arising from-oversight or omission may be corrected by the court at any time of its own initiative or

on the motion of any party and after such notice as the court may direct; mistakes may be corrected before

an appeal is docketed in the Appellate Court, and thereafter while the appeal is pending may be corrected

with leave of the Appellate Court.

(b) Mistakes; Inadvertence; Excusable Neglect; Newly Discovered Evidence; Fraud, ete. On

motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may, in the furtherance of justice; relieve a party or his

legal representative froma final judgment, order, or proceeding for the following reasons:

(1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or. excusable neglect;

(2) newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to

move for a‘hew trial under Rule 29a);

(3) fraud; a

4 misrepresentation or other misconduct of an adv erse party;

(5). when, for any. cause, the summons in an action has not Deen personally served upon ‘the

defendant and the defendant: has failed to appear in Said action, :

(6) the judgment is void;

(7). the judgment has been satisfied, released, or discharged, or a prior judgment upon which it is

based has been reversed or otherwise vacated, or it is no longer equitable that the judgment should

have prospective application; or

(8) any other. reason justifying relief from the operation, of the judgment.

The motion shall be made within reasonable time and for reasons (1), (2), (4), or (5), not more than three

(3) months after the judgment, order, or proceeding was entered or taken. Motions based upon reason (3)

shall be filed within one (1) year of the judgment or within ninety (90) days of discovery of the fraud,

whichever comes later. A motion under this subdivision (b) does not affect the finality of a judgment or

suspend its operation. This rule does not limit the power.of a court to entertain an independent action to

relieve a party from a judgment, order or proceeding or to set aside a judgment for fraud upon the court.

The proceduré for obtaining: any relief from a Judgment shall be °e by motion as prescribed 1 in these rules or

by an independent action. 6 APR 2.6 an # lien:

RULE 31. Harmless Error. .

No error in either the admission or the-exclusion. of evidence, dnd no error or defect in any ruling or

order or in anything done or omitted by the court or by any of the parties, is grounds for granting a new trial

or otherwise disturbing a judgment or order, unless a refusal to take such action appears to the court

inconsistent with substantial justice. The court at every stage of the proceedings shall disregard any error or

defect that does not adversely affect the substantial rights or violate the constitutional rights of the

aggrieved parties.

RULE 32. Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment.

(a) Stay upon Entry of Judgment. Proceedings to enforce any judgment may be instituted no sooner

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than thirty (30) days after service except as otherwise provided in this Code.

(b) Injunction Pending Appeal. When an appeal is taken from an interlocutory or final judgment

granting, dissolving, or denying an injunction, the court in tts discretion may suspend, modify, restore, or

grant an injunction during the pendency of the appeal upon such conditions as it considers proper for the

security of the rights of the adverse party.

the court may obtain a stay, unless such a stay is otherwise prohibited by law or these rules. The bond may

be given within ten (10) days after the time of filing the notice of appeal. The stay is effective when the

bond is approved and received by the court.

(d) Stay in Favor of the Tribe, Officer or Agency Thereof. When an appeal is taken by the Tribe,

or an officer or agency of the Tribe, and the operation or enforcement of the judgment is thought to be

stayed, no bond, obligation or other security shall be required from the appellant to obtain a stay.

(ec) Power of Appellate Court Not Limited. The provisions of this Rule do not limit any power of an

appellate court or of a judge or justice thereof to stay proceedings during the pendency of an appeal or to

suspend, modify, restore, or grant an injunction during the pendency of an appeal or to make any order

appropriate to preserve the status quo or the effectiveness of the judgment subsequently to be entered.

(f) Stay of Judgment upon Multiple Claims, When a court has ordered a final judgment on some

but not all of the claims presented in the action under the conditions stated in Rule 25, the court may stay

enforcement of that judgment until the entering of a subsequent judgment or judgments and may prescribe

such conditions as are necessary to secure the benefit thereof to the party in whose favor the judgment is

entered.

(g) Waiver of Undertaking. In all cases the parties may, by written stipulation, waive the

requirements of this rule with respect to the filing of a bond or undertaking. In all cases where an

undertaking is required by these rules, a deposit in ‘court in the amount of such undertaking, or such lesser

amounts as the court may order, is equivalent to the filing of the undertaking.

(h) Other Relief. No stay, injunction, waiver of. undertaking or security for costs or any other relief:

from a judgment or order shall be granted by. the court without actual notice and opportunity to be heard on

the part of the prevailing party to the action.”

RULE 33. Disability or Disqualification of a Judge.

(a) Disability. If by reason of death, sickness, or other disability, a judge before whom an action has

been tried is unable to perform the duties to be performed by the court under these rules afler a verdict is

returned or findings of fact and conclusions of law are filed, then any other judge regularly sitting in or

assigned to the court may perform those duties; but if such other judge is satisfied that he cannot perform

those duties because he did not preside at the trial or for any other reason, he may in his discretion grant a

new trial.

(b) Disqualification. Whenever a party to any action or proceeding, civil or criminal, or his attorney

shall make and file an affidavit that the judge before whom such action or proceeding is lo be tried or heard

has bias or prejudice, either against such party or his attorney or in favor of any opposite party to the suit,

such judge shall proceed no further therein, except to call in another judge to hear and determine the matter.

Every such affidavit shall state the facts and the reasons for the belief that such bias or prejudice exists, and

shall be filed as soon as practicable after the case has been assigned or such bias or prejudice is known. If

the judge against whom the affidavit is directed questions the sufficiency of the affidavit, he shall enter an

order directing that a copy thereof be forthwith certified to another judge (naming him), which judge shall

then pass upon the legal sufficiency of the affidavil. If the judge against whom the affidavit ts directed does

not question the legal sufficiency of the affidavit, or if the judge to whom the affidavit is certified finds that

it is legally sufficient, another judge must be called in to try the case or determine the matter in question.

No such affidavit shall be filed unless accompanied by a certificate of counsel of record that such affidavit

and application are made in good faith.

RULE 34. Injunctions; and Restraining Orders.

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(a) Preliminary Injunction; Notice. No preliminary injunction shall be issued without notice to the

adverse party.

(b) Temporary Restraining Order; Notice; Rehearing; Duration.

(1) No temporary restraining order (TRO) shall be granted without notice to the adverse party

unless it clearly appears from specific facts shown by affidavit or by the verified complaint that

immediate and irreparable injury, loss or damage will result to the applicant before notice can be

served and a hearing had thereon.

(2) Every temporary restraining order granted without notice shall be endorsed with the date and

hour of issuance; and shall be filed forthwith in the clerk's office and entered of record; shall define the

injury and state why it is irreparable and why the order was granted without notice; and shall expire by

its terms within such time after entry, not to exceed fifteen’ (15) days, or as the court fixes, unless

within the time so fixed the order, for good cause shown, is extended for a like period or unless the

party against whom the order is directed consents that it may be extended for a longer period. The

reason for the extension shall be entered of record. *

3) In case.a temporary restraining order.is granted without notice, the motion for é an injunction

‘shall be set down for hearing at the earliest possible time and takes precedence over all matters except

older matters of the same character; and when the motion comes on for hearing the party who obtained

~ the injunction and, if he does not do so, the court shall dissolve the temporary retraining order.

(4) On two (2) days notice to ‘the party who obtained the temporary restraining order without”

notice or on such. shorter notice to that party as the court may prescribe, the adverse party bound. by the

temporary restraining order may appear and move its dissolution or modification and in that event the

‘court shall proceed to hear and determine such motion as expeditiously as the ends of justice require.

(c). Security. Except as otherwise provided by law, no restraining order or injunction shall i issue

except upon the giving of security by the applicant; in such sums as the court deems proper, for the

payment of such costs and damages as may be incurred or suffered by any party who is found to have been

wrongfully enjoined or restrained. No such security shall be required of the United States, the Tribe, or of

an officer, or agency, of either; nor shall it be required of a married person in a suit against the other party

» to the marriage contract.

A surety upon.a bond or undertaking under this Rule submits himself to the jurisdiction of the court

and irrevocably appoints the clerk of the court-as his agent upon whom any papers affecting his liability on

_ the bond or undertaking may be served. His liability may be enforced on motion without the necessity of an

~ independent action. The motion and such notice of the motion as the court prescribes may be served on the

clerk of the court who shall forthwith mail copies to the persons giving the security if their addresses are

known.

(d) “Form and Scope of Injunction or Restraining Order; Service. Every order erantiag an

injunction and every restraining order shall be specific in terms; shall describe in reasonable detail the act

or acts sought to be restrained; and is binding only upon the parties to the action, their officers, agents,

servants, employees, and the attorneys; and.upon those persons in.active concert OF. Participation with them

who receive actual notice of the order by personal service or otherwise.

(ec) Grounds for Temporary Restraining Order or Injunction, A temporary restraining order or

injunction may be granted after hearing: —

(1) When it appears by the pleadings on file that a party is entitled to the relief demanded, and

such relief, or any part thereof, consists of restraining the commission or continuance of some act

complained of, either for a limited period or perpetually; and/or,

(2) When it appears from the pleadings or by affidavit that the commission or continuance of some

act during the litigation could produce great or irreparable injury to the party seeking, injunctive relief;

and/or

(3) When it appears during a lawsuit that either party is doing or threatens, or is about to do, or is

procuring or suffering to be done, some act in violation of the rights of another party respecting the

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subject matter of the action, and tending to render the judgment ineffectual; and/or

(4) In all other cases where an injunction would be proper in equity.

RULE 35. Extraordinary Writs.

(a) Grounds for Relief. Where no other plain, speedy and adequate remedy exists, relief may be

obtained by obtaining an extraordinary writ which may be granted for one of the following reasons:

(1) Where any person usurps, intrudes into, or unlawfully holds or exercises a public office or

does or permits to be done any act which by law works a forfeiture of his office; or

(2) Where an inferior tribunal, board or officer exercising judicial functions has exceeded its

jurisdiction or abused its discretion; or

(3) Where the relief sought is to compel any inferior tribunal, board or person to perform an act

which the law specially enjoins as a duty resulting from an office, trust or station; or to compel the

admission of a party to the use and enjoyment of a right or office to which he is entitled and from

which he is unlawfully excluded by such inferior tribunal, board or person; or

(4) Where the relief sought is to arrest the proceedings of any tribunal, board or person, whether

exercising functions judicial or ministerial, when such proceedings are without or m excess of the

jurisdiction of such tribunal, board or person.

RULE 36. Writ of Habeas Corpus.

(a) Appropriate relief by habeas corpus proceedings shall be granted whenever it appears to the court

that any person is unjustly imprisoned or otherwise restrained of his liberly. Upon the filing of the

complaint the court shall, unless it appears from such complaint or the showing of the plaintiff that he is not

entitled to any relief, issue a writ directed to the defendant conimanding him to bring the person alleged to

be restrained before the court and shall proceed in a summary manner to hear the matter and render

judgment accordingly. If the writ is not issued, the court.shall state its reasons therefor in writing and file

the same with the complaint, and shall deliver a copy thereof to the plaintiff. If the defendant cannot be

found, or if he does not have such person in custody, the writ (and any other process issued) may be served

upon any one having such person in custody, in 1 the manner and with the same effect as if he had been made

defendant in the.action.

(b) The defendant shall appear at the proper time and place with the person designated or show good

cause for not doing so and must answer the complaint within the time allowed. The answer must state

plainly and unequivocally whether he then has, or at any time has had the person designated under his

control and restraint, and if so, the cause thereof. If such person has been transferred, the defendant must

state that fact, and to whom, and when, the transfer was made, and the reason or authority therefor. The

writ shall not be disobeyed for any defect of form or misdescription of the person restrained or defendant, 1f

enough is stated to show the meaning and intent thereof.

be modified accordingly. Pending a determination of the matter the courl may place such person in the

custody of such individual or individuals as may be deemed proper.

(d) No Wril of Habeas Corpus shall issue where the party on whose behalf the writ is sought has been

convicted of a criminal offense and has failed or refused to timely file a request for appeal of such

conviction, except in cases where all three of the following conditions are met:

(1) The appeals period has run; and

(2) Defendant was nol represented by counsel at trial; and,

(3) A sentence in excess of two (2) months was imposed at trial.

(e) Where the party on whose behalf the writ is sought has been convicted of a criminal offense and

has filed an appeal of said conviction, no Writ of Habeas Corpus may issue until the Appeals Court has

ruled on the appeal, except in cases wherein both of the following conditions are met:

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(1) No appeals court ruling has been made within sixty (60) days of filing of the appeal;

(2) The party on whose behalf the writ is sought has at least ten (10) days remaining on his

sentence at the time the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is filed.

(f) Habeas Corpus; Decision. In each case, the court, upon determining the case, shall enter specific

findings of fact and conclusions of law and judgment, in writing, and the same shall be made a part of the

record in the case, provided that where the court uses a "form" order approved by the Chief Judge, no

separate findings of fact or conclusions of law shall be required. If the court finds in favor of the

complainant, it shall enter an appropriate order with respect to judgment or sentence in the former

proceedings and such further orders with respect to rearraignment, retrial, » custody, bail, or discharge as the

court may deem just arid proper in the case. a See

RULE 37. Execution.

(a) Time. If within thirty (30) days after entry of a-judgment awarding money damages and/or costs

against a party, or. within thirty (30) days after final resolution.of an appeal to the appellate court from such

a judgment it is made to appear:to the court that the judgment debtor has been served notice of entry of

judgment and not paid the judgment amount in full or commenced making installment payments ina

manner agreed to by the parties, or.is not current in such payments, the Court shall, upon motion of the

judgment creditor, heard ex parte, order the Tribal Police to execute ‘on the personal property of the.

judgment debtor as provided herein...

(b) Procedure. The court shall order the judgment debtor. to appear before i it ‘and answer +r under oath

“regarding all his personal properly. The court shall:then determine what property of the judgment debtor is

available for execution and order the Tribal Police to seize as much of such property as reasonably appears

necessary to-pay the judgment amount. Failure of the judgment debtor to appear may be deemed a

contempt of court, Sale ofthe seized property shall be at a public auction conducted by the Tribal Police

after giving at least 10 days public notice posted in at least three conspicious public places on the

reservation. Property shall be sold to the highest bidder who shall make payment for property in cash at the

time of the sale. The person conducting the auction may postpone such in his discretion if there is

inadequate response to the auction or the bidding, and may reschedule such upon giving the required

__ hotice. The person conducting the sale shall give a certificate of sale to the purchaser and shall make a

oo return to the Court reciting the details of. the sale.

judgment debtor to satisfy a money judgment the loss of which will not impose an immediate substantial

_ hardship on the immediate family of the judgment debtor. Only property of the judgment debtor himself

may be subject to execution and not property of his family, except property conveyed to the debtor's family

in contemplation of the judgment being entered against him or gifts.

(d) Redemption from Sale. At-any time within six (6) months after sale under this Rule, the

judgment debtor may redeem his property fromthe purchaser thereof by paying the amount such purchaser

paid for the property plus eight (8) percent interest, plus any expenses actually incurred by. the purchaser,

such as taxes and i Insurance, to maintain the property.

RULE 38. Appeal i in Civil Cases.

(a) Appellate Court. All Sppeals f from the Tribal or J uvenile Court, shall be heard by the Tribal

Appellate Court.

(b) Right to Appeal. Any party who 2 aggrieved by any final order, commitment or judgment of the

trial court may appeal in the manner prescribed by this Rule.

Title 4, Rules of Appellate Procedure.

RULE 39. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies.

(a) No court of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, or established pursuant to 25 C.F.R. § 11.1 ef seg, on

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the Omaha Indian Reservation, shall have jurisdiction to entertain any civil suit or action, or any privately

initiated criminal complaint, against the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, the Tribal Council, a Tribal

Government agency or instrumentality, or any Tribal Official or employee complaining of the official

conduct thereof unless the plaintiff in such actoin has first exhausted Tribal administrative remedies in an

effort to correct the matter complained of.

(b) To exhaust administrative remedies under this section a petitioner, plaintiff or complaining

witness must:

(1) make a good-faith effort to invoke and comply with all then existing, reasonable administrative

procedures for handling disputes, grievances or complaints applicable to the office or department in

which the matter arose, and

(2) upon compliance with Subsection (1) above, file a written complaint with the Tribal Chairman

setting out the basis for the complaint and the administrative remedies pursued to correct the matter

complained of.

the Tribal Chairman has taken no action on the complaint within sixty (60) days of the date it was filed, the

complaining party shall be deemed to have exhausted administrative remedies for purposes of this section.

(d) Any complaint in the Tribal Court against the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, the Tribal Council, a

government agency or instrumentality or any tribal official or employee complaining of the official conduct

thereof which fails to demonstrate on its face that the filing party has complied with the requirements of

this section shall be dismissed by the court without prejudice to that parly's right to file the suil again when

and if these requirements have been met.

(ce) Notwithstanding the above, the court has jurisdiction to entertain an application for a temporary

restraining order against the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, the Tribal.Council, a Tribal Government agency, or

instrumentality, or any Tribal Official or employee after hearing, where petitioner demonstrates compliance

with Rule 34, Rules of Civil Procedure, and where the failure to issue such temporary restraining order for

the minimum time necessary to exhaust remedies under this section would produce irreparable i injury, loss.

or damage to petitioner and where the i issuance ‘of said temporary restraining order would not cause undue

loss or inconvenience to defendant. : ’

(f). Nothing in this Rule constitutes a waiver of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska sovereigii immunity

from suit in civil actions or the comparable immunities and defenses of any officer, agency or

instrumentality thereof.

History: Omaha Tribal Council Resolution No. 80-03 (10-24-79) originally enacted Title 28, Civil Procedure, of the

United States Code before amending the rules to their current form.

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This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.