Lawsuit Against Nevada Tribe Over Horse Roundup Dismissed

In a significant legal decision, a federal judge has dismissed claims against a Nevada Indian tribal government concerning a controversial horse roundup in Washoe County. The ruling underscores the tribe's sovereign immunity, even amidst allegations of wrongful horse herding.

On January 29, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Miranda Du ruled that the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe's status as a sovereign government protects it from legal claims, despite allegations that the roundup included horses that should not have been captured, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

However, Judge Du maintained a January 17 order preventing the horses from being sent to slaughter while the search for Lady, a privately owned horse believed to have been mistakenly rounded up, continues.

Lady's owner reported that immediately following the roundup, she pleaded with officials to search the temporary holding pens for her horse, but her requests were denied.

This case is part of a broader effort by the nonprofit American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) to recover at least 271 horses in Palomino Valley.

For more details, read the original article by Las Vegas Review-Journal.