The Yakama Nation and the Washington State department of revenue have been asked to work together on an interim agreement related to the failed cigarette tax agreement between the two, while the presiding judge studies the key legal issues involved in the case.

The move came after tribal officials and businessmen filed suit against the state seeking to prevent the enforcement measures against Yakama Nation cigarette retailers, because they’re no longer operating with a tax compact.

The state terminated the compact early in July and Yakama Nation tribal officials said they would not participate in continuing talks to arrive at a new compact.

The state said at that time that tribal cigarette retailers would be subject to the enforcement actions if non-taxed cigarettes were to be sold to non-Indians. 
Heidi Irwin, an assistant attorney general representing the defendants in the suit, said the judge asked for the interim agreement following a phone conference Sept. 5, and scheduled a second phone conference for July 12.  

She said the purpose of the interim agreement asked for by the judge is “to avoid having either the plaintiffs or defendants disadvantaged by the passage of time.”

The most recent lawsuit is the second filed so far this year in relation to the cigarette tax compact.

Suit was filed earlier this year by Richard Kip Ramsey to prevent implementation of a new tax compact negotiated by the state department of revenue and
Yakama Nation tribal officials, until the proposed agreement could be approved by the tribe’s general council.