Illegal Casinos?

[patric]

This story makes you wonder how many other casinos were built here under similar circumstances:


Cherokee County sues federal agency over Oklahoma casino
Associated Press - February 27, 2008 12:35 PM ET

COLUMBUS, Kan. - The Cherokee County Commission in Kansas is suing the U.S. Interior Department to block construction of an Oklahoma Indian tribe's casino.

The commission supports a competing proposal by Penn National Gaming Incorporated to build a resort casino just across the border in Kansas.

The commission alleges the Interior Department failed to follow its own policies when it put land into trust for the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma. The tribe then could build its casino on that land.

A spokesman for the tribe says it plans to continue construction.

The Interior Department referred calls to its Bureau of Indian Affairs where a spokeswoman didn't return a telephone message.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.

[cannon_fodder]

Lawsuits are the new form of tribal wars.

Suits over casino sites.
Suits over other tribes status.
Suits over payouts from the fed (many with merit mind you).

Most of them are business decisions to stop other tribes from opening competitive casinos.  It sure doesn't do much to negate the image of the "casino thirsty savage."  Again, I understand they are business decisions - but to sue another tribe to stop federal recognition because you want to protect casino revenue seems harsh to me.

[sgrizzle]

Longer story:
http://www.centredaily.com/business/story/431264.html

This whole thing is just a GOB suit.

[tim huntzinger]

And who is paying the legal costs for Cherokee County? Why, that would be the competing casino! Surprise!

[BierGarten]

I don't think it is logical to read an article that says that a lawsuit has been filed and then state "This story makes you wonder how many other casinos were built here under similar circumstances."  We don't know what the "circumsntances" are.  We only know what the plaintiffs say the circumstances are.  The two can be, and likely are, different.

The Quapaw casino is going to be the biggest casino in Oklahoma.

[tim huntzinger]

Remember, the Quapaws are not being sued, the Feds are.  The goal of the suit is to scare away investors.

[BierGarten]

The casino construction is well underway.  The fact that it is already being built means that the tribe has already raised the money.  No need for investors at this point.  

Without reading the suit, I imagine the plaintiff is seeking either monetary damages or an injunction from further construction.

[tim huntzinger]

Cash funds are needed for different phases of construction, is my guess. Either way these are the kind of spurious actions that waste time and money.

[patric]

"the Interior Department failed to follow its own policies when it put land into trust for the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma"... is the phrase that makes me wonder if other casinos have been built without the proper legal foundation.