Native American Tribes Face Setback in $1bn Legal Action Against ScottishPower

The four Klamath Native American tribes have suffered a major setback in their $1bn legal action against ScottishPower's US subsidiary, PacifiCorp, over alleged damage to their salmon fishing grounds. On Thursday, a federal district court judge in Oregon affirmed a magistrate judge's opinion from May, recommending the dismissal of the lawsuit due to it being untimely. The tribes plan to demonstrate at ScottishPower's annual meeting this week and are likely to appeal the decision.

Key Takeaways:

• The Klamath tribes have launched a $1bn legal action against PacifiCorp in US District Court in Oregon, alleging that hydro-electric dams have ravaged a California salmon river and affected their federal treaty rights to fish for salmon in the Klamath river.
• The tribes claim that PacifiCorp and its predecessors have blocked the passage of salmon upstream, despoiling the fishing grounds.
• A 15-strong delegation from the tribes will attend ScottishPower's annual meeting, following a visit last year during which they confronted the company's board and secured a "personal commitment" to find the right solution from Ian Russell, the company's chief executive.
• The tribes are planning a documentary film screening in Edinburgh and a traditional salmon bake ceremony, as well as demonstrations outside the meeting at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall.
• ScottishPower has sold PacifiCorp to billionaire US investor Warren Buffett in a $9.4bn deal, which the tribes claim was done without addressing their concerns.
• The tribes have accused ScottishPower of selling them down the river by engaging in negotiations while planning to sell PacifiCorp and its dams.

Statistics:

• $1bn: The amount of money the Klamath tribes are seeking in their legal action against PacifiCorp.
• $9.4bn: The sale price of PacifiCorp to billionaire investor Warren Buffett.
• May: The month in which the federal district court judge in Oregon affirmed the magistrate judge's opinion recommending the dismissal of the lawsuit.
• 15: The number of people in the delegation from the Klamath tribes attending ScottishPower's annual meeting.
• 2: The number of years the Klamath tribes have been demonstrating at ScottishPower's annual meeting.

Sources:

• A federal district court judge in Oregon, cited in [Court decision]
• ScottishPower, cited in ["Tribes plan to demonstrate at annual meeting"]
• The Klamath tribes, cited in ["Tribes' $1bn lawsuit against PacifiCorp proceeds"]
• [Court decision] - "Klamath Tribe vs. PacifiCorp, US District Court, Oregon" (No date)