Judge rejects tribal immunity claim, will allow lending suit

HELENA, Mont. | A federal judge in Vermont has rejected Montana tribal officials' claims of sovereign immunity and said that he will hear a civil case alleging the tribe's online payday lending company illegally preys on poor borrowers.

U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford's order Wednesday to proceed with the lawsuit against Plain Green LLC's leaders and non-Native American backers is a setback for lenders who use tribal sovereign immunity to offer high interest short-term loans in states with laws that bar or cap such loans.

http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/judge-rejects-tribal-immunity-claim-will-allow-lending-suit/article_c799e359-32e3-5d3b-80f1-bc135e43c204.html