(a) In all civil cases, the Magistrate of a Court of Indian Offenses shall have discretion to apply:

(1) Any laws of the United States that may be applicable;

(2) Any authorized regulations contained in the Code of Federal Regulations; and

(3) Any laws or customs of the tribe occupying the area of Indian country over which the court has jurisdiction that are not prohibited by Federal laws.

(b) The delineation in paragraph (a) of this section does not establish a hierarchy relative to the applicability of specific law in specific cases.

(c) Where any doubt arises as to the customs of the tribe, the court may request the advice of counselors familiar with those customs.

(d) Any matters that are not covered by the laws or customs of the tribe, or by applicable Federal laws and regulations, may be decided by the Court of Indian Offenses according to the laws of the State in which the matter in dispute lies.

(a) In all civil cases, judgment shall consist of an order of the court awarding damages to be paid to the injured party, or directing the surrender of certain property to the injured party, or the performance of some other act for the benefit of the injured party, including injunctive relief and declaratory judgments.

(b) Where the injury inflicted was the result of carelessness of the defendant, the judgment shall fairly compensate the injured party for the loss he or she has suffered.

(c) Where the injury was deliberately inflicted, the judgment shall impose an additional penalty upon the defendant, which additional penalty may run either in favor of the injured party or in favor of the tribe.

(d) Where the injury was inflicted as a result of accident, or where both the complainant and the defendant were at fault, the judgment shall compensate the injured party for a reasonable part of the loss he or she has suffered.

(e) No judgment shall be given on any suit unless the defendant has actually received notice of such suit and ample opportunity to appear in court in his or her defense.

(a) The court may assess the accruing costs of the case against the party or parties against whom judgment is given. Such costs shall consist of the expenses of voluntary witnesses for which either party may be responsible and the fees of jurors in those cases where a jury trial is had, and any further incidental expenses connected with the procedure before the court as the court may direct.

(b) In all civil suits the complainant may be required to deposit with the clerk of the court a fee or other security in a reasonable amount to cover costs and disbursements in the case.

The procedure to be followed in civil cases shall be the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure applicable to United States district courts, except insofar as such procedures are superseded by order of the Court of Indian Offenses or by the existence of inconsistent tribal rules of procedure.

Courts of Indian Offenses shall be bound by the Federal Rules of Evidence, except insofar as such rules are superseded by order of the Court of Indian Offenses, or by the existence of inconsistent tribal rules of evidence.