Judge rules against Grand Canyon Skywalk developer

BY: The Associated Press

Published: March 19, 2012 at 3:11 pm

This March 28, 2007 file photo shows tourists walking on the glass-bottomed Skywalk that extends 70 feet over the edge of Grand Canyon West's Eagle Point, in Arizona. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Rob Schumacher, File)

FLAGSTAFF — A federal judge says a Las Vegas developer must keep fighting in tribal court as he tries to retain his contractual rights to the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

The tourist attraction is on Hualapai tribal land in northwestern Arizona.

David Jin alleges the tribe acted in bad faith in asserting tribal jurisdiction over the case. But U.S. District Judge David Campbell disagreed on Monday, saying Jin first must exhaust remedies in tribal court.

Campbell issued a stay in the federal case.

Earlier this year, the tribe cut Jin out of a revenue-sharing and management contract that the two sides signed in 2003. Jin contends the action violates his constitutional rights

Jin’s attorneys say they’ll challenge the ruling.

A tribal spokesman says the ruling shows that tribal court is the proper venue.