Stone, Tribe Both Claim Win In Ruling

Sat., Feb. 21, 1998

By John Craig johnc@spokesman.com

A Colville Confederated Tribes judge ruled Friday that the tribal government may retain an interim executive director until a court decides whether Lou Stone was properly fired earlier this month.

Both Stone’s attorney, John Perry, and tribal attorney Steve Suagee claimed partial victory in Judge Dennis Nelson’s ruling.

Nelson left intact a temporary restraining order preventing the tribe from replacing Stone permanently, but he denied Stone’s bid to be reinstated immediately.

Instead, the judge will review written arguments before deciding whether Stone should get his job back while awaiting trial. Stone is suing to overturn the tribal council’s decision to fire him less than three months into a two-year contract.

Nelson promised a ruling by March 20. He also may rule on Stone’s request for an order barring four council members from taking any further action against him because of alleged conflicts of interest.

Nelson could have ruled immediately on the questions of reinstatement and conflict of interest. His failure to do so may have some bearing on the council’s 10-0 decision Thursday to “ratify” its earlier vote to fire Stone and name an interim director.

Perry said the original decision violated a tribal requirement for the chairman or vice chairman to preside over council meetings. He argued Thursday’s second vote violated Judge Mary Wynne’s Feb. 11 temporary order preventing the council from taking any action to replace Stone.

Suagee said both votes were legal. Based on Nelson’s comments Friday, Suagee said he is “reasonably confident that the court will lift Judge Wynne’s order and allow us to go forward with the recruitment and hiring process.”

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