Development Management

DENNIS G. CHAPPABITTY

P.O. Box ******

Sacramento, CA 95829

916-***-****(voice/fax)

email: *******@*********.***

Brief Summary of Qualifications/Experience

Oklahoma Bar licensee in good standing since December of 1982 with a Juris Doctor (1981)

from the University of New Mexico School of Law, and a B.S. in Geography (1972) from Oklahoma State

University.

Admitted to practice as a full member in the United States District Courts for the Western

District of OK, Northern District of CA, District of Arizona, the Federal Circuit, the 9th and 10th Circuit

Courts of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court.

Representation in general practice as a sole practitioner emphasizing Federal Indian Law and

Traditional Tribal Law, federal civil litigation, federal administrative, federal criminal practice.

Practiced/advocated before Tribal Courts/administrative forums, Court of Indian Offenses; Interior

Board of Indian Appeals. Experienced as lead trial counsel in the preparation and conduct of both jury

and non-jury trials in federal, state and tribal courts.

Emphasis in practice of administrative law within federal administrative boards, federal EEO

complaints and Merit Systems Protection Board of Appeals process.

Experience includes conduct of criminal defense in state and high profile federal jury trials.

Tribal enrollment/Indian blood quantum representation. Presented oral argument before 9th Circuit

Court of Appeals Panel in Seattle, WA in 1993 on 25 USC 81 contract involving Crow tribal trust assets

and in San Francisco, CA in 2002 on unlawful arrest on Indian reservation filed under FTCA.

Prepared and delivered testimony before committees; media and other public appearances on

legislative issues to include research and analysis of regulations and public policies. Developed and

administrated Tribal Courts and Tribal Foster Care Review Boards; Tribal land management and

economic development; Tribal employee rights.

Currently, Special Counsel for the Tax Commission, Apache Tribe of Oklahoma responsible

for asserting any valid tax claims for unpaid or underpaid oil & gas royalties within the taxing

jurisdiction of the Tribe.

Special Counsel for the Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma Tax Commission September 99 to

June1, 2001 responsible for asserting any valid tax claims through appropriate demand or legal

proceedings and assisting in negotiation, preparation, and execution of any settlement agreement with

business entities within the tax jurisdiction of the Kiowa Indian Tribe.

Litigated Indian gaming contract disputes in federal district courts. Handled complex business

litigation matters involving disputes occurring on Indian reservations. Provided representation to

Indian tribal governments in the area of gaming contract negotiation and economic/business

development project negotiations.

Served as the Comanche Indian Nation appointee to the Kiowa, Comanche & Apache

Development Authority as Secretary-Treasurer. The Authority was charged with the commercial

development of 1200 prime acres of jointly held Indian trust lands in Oklahoma and the management

of a bingo hall operating on federal trust property. Experienced in business law as it relates to issues

involving tribal trust properties and long term leasing requirements.

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Legal consultant services to consortium member tribes in the area of training and technical

assistance on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and tribal responsibilities in area of Domestic

Violence. Tribal capacity building and court advocacy training and representation. Advice to Director

and Board of Directors on federal and state policy on ICWA issues and assumption of law enforcement

authority by California Tribes.

Served as Staff Attorney for the Comanche Indian Tribe of Oklahoma from December 1982 to

February 1985. Provided in-house advice to the Tribal Business Committee on various legal matters,

conducted legal research in areas of law relating to operation and administration of tribal governments,

Tribal land management, federal trust responsibility, federal and state policies, legislation and

regulations. Monitored activities involving high stakes gaming and reviewed gaming management

contracts for Tribes.

Served as Judge of the Comanche Indian Nation Children's Court from 1983 to 1985, a Court

of limited jurisdiction handling cases of neglect, abuse, dependency and delinquency involving tribal

juveniles. Developed and implemented state-tribal court cooperative agreements in areas relating to

Indian Child Welfare/services. Directed the judicial review of the Comanche Foster Care Review Board.

Advised the Tribal Business Committee on court policy and implementation of tribal judicial policies

and directives through court staff. Provided training to staff and Review Board in coordination with

State Court Judges.

Served as Judicial Planner for the Comanche Indian Nation from November 1981 to December

1982. Developed tribal law and order code and child welfare code; prepared grant proposal for tribal

court funding; provided technical assistance on court operations; provided policy input to the tribal

government in areas of judicial planning; conducted needs assessments in the form of pubic meetings

with tribal constituents for child welfare and judicial planning; governmental liaison with state and

federal programs crucial to tribal children's court operation; negotiated tribal-state agreement with the

State of Oklahoma, Department of Human Services to provide both financial and service assistance in

the area of child welfare; member of the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association as a tribal

advocate on national issues affecting Indian children; youth and families.

Presenter in August 2002 at Native American Family and Domestic Violence Conference held

in Sacramento on Tribal Disenrollments. Presenter in October 2001 at 16th Annual California Indian

Conference and Gathering held at California State University Sacramento on Tribal Enrollment

Problems in California . Panelist on "Small Indian Business Legal Issues" at National Indian Business

Association Annual Conference in Arlington, VA in April '97. Facilitator at '95 National Native American

Conference on Holistic Rehabilitation in Albuquerque, New Mexico sponsored by the University of

Arizona; Presenter at American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Conference on "Entrepreneurial

Approaches for Native American Vocational Rehabilitation Programs" in August '94, Seattle, WA.

Panelist on "Developing a Tribal Gaming Control Agency" at California-Nevada Indian Nevada

Gaming Association, Annual Conference, '91, Reno, NV. Panelist on "Starting a New Business; The

Legal, Insurance and Tax Issues" at the "RES' 93" Reservation Economic Summit and American Indian

Business Trade Fair sponsored by The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development

in Phoenix, AZ, June '93. Panelist at Oklahoma City University Law School on Indian Reservation

Economic Development, February '86.

Appointed in October 1997 by the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Council as directors on the

Fox Peak Economic Development Corporation Board". The Corporation was established by the Tribe

as a public entity to engage in any lawful business for promoting the economic development, health

safety and general welfare of the people of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, Fallon, Nevada. Served

as the CEO/President of the Corporation from July 1999 to June 2000.

Featured in article titled Casino Cash and Tribal Discord in February 2003 Edition of

Comstock s Business Magazine which reports on responsible business practices and quality of life

in California s Capital Region.

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Speaker at functions held by tribal organizations in Oklahoma and California to encourage

development of personal initiative, educational goal setting and interest of Native American youth in

careers in the legal profession. Frequent guest speaker in 1995 - 2002 on national public broadcasting

radio show "Native America Calling", Albuquerque, NM participating in discussions on Indian Civil

Rights/Justice in Indian Country and other topics of general interest to Native Americans. Most recent

radio appearance was broadcast from Albuquerque, NM on November 14, 2003 to discuss the EEOC

administrative class action, Crazythunder v. DHHS, against the Indian Health Service filed on behalf of

American Indian and Alaskan Native women in GS-8 and above. Chappabitty is class counsel. Other

appearances were on November 14, 2000 at the National Congress of American Indians Annual

Conference in St. Paul, MN on topics of Tribal Enrollment/membership Issues and January 2002 on

Tribal Law Enforcement Liability Problems in California - Failure of Agreement to Certify Tribal Police

as State Officers.

Tribal Membership/Affiliation

Member, Comanche Indian Nation of Oklahoma and affiliated by Chiricahua Apache (Warm

Springs) blood with Ft. Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma.

Military Experience

Commissioned as reserve officer, 2d Lieutenant, May 1972 in US Army, Armor Corps. Served

as Brigade Race Relations Officer with 1st Brigade, 2D Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea from

September 1974 to November 1975. Completed U.S. Army Reserve obligation as a Captain in Armor

Corps in 1986. Received Army Commendation Medal for outstanding service while stationed in

Republic of Korea. Staff/administrative level officer experienced and rated in top percentile upon exit

from active duty commitment in 1975.

Organizations

Federal Bar Association, Indian Law Section. Oklahoma Bar Association, Indian Law Section.

Comanche Little Pony Gourd Society.

References: (Available on request.) (1/1/04)

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