Phone: (651) 644-4710
Fax: (651) 644-5904
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Joe represents the Firm's clients in a broad array of matters including real property, intellectual property, legislative affairs and lobbying, general business and finance, tribal regulation and Indian child welfare. He also has served as in-house tribal general counsel. He practices in the areas of general litigation in tribal, federal and state courts as well administrative forums on behalf of tribal governments and officials.
Joe represents tribes in all aspects of tribal gaming regulation, including internal governance and regulatory structure, compliance and enforcement efforts as well as litigation and administrative proceedings relating to those activities. He also assists clients in land acquisition and trust transfer efforts and has assisted a client in securing federal legislation directing an interagency transfer of nearly 1300 acres of land, restoring it to tribal ownership after it was lost over 70 years ago. Joe also assist clients in clearing and protecting intellectual property, including service and trademarks, and has been active in enforcing his client's rights against infringing users, including litigation.
Throughout his career, Joe has represented his tribal clients in Indian child welfare proceedings at the tribal, state and federal trial and appellate levels, both as parties and as amici curiae, and continues that practice presently.
Joe has taught Indian law at the William Mitchell College of Law and has presented and lectured at numerous continuing legal education courses. He is a special member of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association.
Joe's Indian-law experience includes:
- Klammer v. The Lower Sioux Convenience Store, 535 N.W.2d 379 (Minn.Ct.App. 1995). Established that Minnesota state courts must defer to tribal courts in cases arising on a reservation where the tribe has established a court that has jurisdiction over the matter.
- Bruce H. Lien Company v. The Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, 93 F.3d 1412 (8th Cir. 1995). Established that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act does not overcome the doctrine of comity and mandatory deference to tribal courts, and where there is a tribal law challenge to a gaming management agreement that matter must be first litigated in the tribal court.
- Prairie Island Indian Community v. Treasure Island Corporation, Cancellation Nos. 92028171, 92028379 (TTAB May 15, 2008). Ordering cancellation of seventeen federal trademarks held by the Corporation that infringe on the Community's intellectual property rights.
- Johnson v. Child Welfare Office of the Prairie Island Indian Community, CA-06-05 (Prairie Island Ct. App. Feb. 15, 2006). Established Community's extraterritorial jurisdiction over its members in need of protection or services, confirming the Community's jurisdiction over two tribal member children residing in the state of Florida.
- Webster, et al. v. The Oneida Gaming Commission, Docket No. 02-AC-025,9 O.N.R. 3-35 (2003). Affirmed tribal gaming commission's revocation of four individual's gaming licenses for malfeasance.
Joe has taught the following classes and seminars:
- Fee-to-Trust from the Tribal Perspective, 1st Annual BIA Midwest Region “Partners in Action” Conference Hinkley, Minnesota. 8/9/11 – 8/11/11
- Protecting Player Data in a Digital Gaming Age, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association Annual Conference Tulsa, Oklahoma. 8/16/11
- Unionism and Tribal Self Determination: The Collision of Labor Policy and Pre-Constitutional Sovereignty, Second Annual Indian Law CLE William Mitchell College of Law. 10/25/11
- Unions in Indian Country: The Role of Tribal Gaming Regulators, National Tribal Gaming Commissioners and Regulators Conference Palm Springs, California. 4/2010
- Gaming Commission Administrative Hearings Concerning Licensees, National Tribal Gaming Commissioners and Regulators Fall Conference Oneida, Wisconsin. 10/6/10
- Unions in Indian Country and the Role of Tribal Gaming Regulators, National Tribal Gaming Commissioners and Regulators Fall Conference Oneida, Wisconsin. 10/6/10
- Unions in Indian Country and the Role of Tribal Gaming Regulators, Wisconsin Gaming Regulators Training Conference Oneida, Wisconsin. June 9, 2010 and February 2009
- Course Co-Chair, Federal Indian Law Conference, Minnesota State Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education. February 27, 2009
- Trademark Issues in Indian Country, Indian Law Conference Minnesota Institute for Legal Education. January 2002
- Federal, State and Tribal Taxation in the Context of Federal Indian Law: Who is the Piper and Who is the Payor? Indian Law Conference Minnesota Institute for Legal Education. December 2002
- Sovereignty Today, Minnesota Institute for Legal Education. February 2002
