Skywalk case goes before federal appellate court

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An attorney for the developer of a popular glass bridge over the Grand Canyon is arguing in U.S. appellate court that a Native American tribal court is not giving his client a fair shot to protect his financial stake.

Troy Eid (EYED) told a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday that his client, David Jin, should not have to fight his legal battles in the Hualapai (WAHL’-uh-peye) tribal court system.

The Las Vegas developer and the Arizona-based tribe have been locked in a dispute, which could be worth tens of millions of dollars, over management fees and an incomplete visitor center.

Eid argues that the tribal court lacks jurisdiction.

Jeffrey Gross, an attorney for the tribe, told the panel that Jin signed a contract allowing the bridge operation to be governed by Hualapai law.