State Supreme Court Allows Suit Against Indian Woman

SAN FRANCISCO — The state Supreme Court on Thursday allowed a county to sue a reservationIndian to repay welfare costs that supported the woman's child while the youth was in another person's custody.

The court unanimously denied review of a lower-court ruling that allowed state courts to enforce child-support orders despite federal laws protecting reservation Indians from certain types of state and local government regulations.

The ruling by the 4th District Court of Appeal now becomes binding on trial courts statewide.

The case involved a $2,500 payment sought by Inyo County from Elizabeth Jeff, a member of the Bishop Paiute-Shoshone Tribe. Her daughter lived with the child's grandmother, who received welfare benefits from June, 1986, to April, 1988. The county then sought reimbursement from Jeff.