Court Says Tribal Immunity Extends to Health Care Contractor

A California appeals court overturned a Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board decision and held that a nonprofit health care organization that works with several Indian tribes is entitled to sovereign immunity. Although there was no evidence that the tribes working with United Indian Health Services Inc. intended to share their immunity with the nonprofit, the California 1st District Court of Appeal said policy considerations require it to bestow immunity upon the firm. “Ultimately, because United Indian’s existence, purpose and operations are central to tribal self-governanc...