Complaint Challening Trust Acquisition for North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians

Here is the complaint in Stand Up for California v. DOI (D. D.C.):

Stand Up for California Complaint

An excerpt:

This “reservation shopping” case involves a dispute over the Secretary of the United States Department of Interior’s decision to acquire 305.49 acres (the “Casino Parcel”) in trust on behalf of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians (the “North Fork Tribe” or the “Tribe”) under 25 U.S.C. § 465 for the purpose of enabling the Tribe to develop and operate a mega-casino funded by Las Vegas-based Station Casinos, Inc. (“Station Casinos”) almost 40 miles from the Tribe’s reservation. The Tribe already has ancestral lands in trust on which gambling can occur, and therefore the Secretary’s decision has been highly controversial and widely opposed. As is explained in detail below, the decision was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and was not in accordance with the federal policy strongly favoring on-reservation gambling, and the limited exception for off-reservation Indian gambling. Indeed, the Casino Parcel was strategically chosen adjacent to State Route 99 to provide easy access to nearby metropolitan areas with large numbers of potential gamblers.

 

Complaint Challenging Trust Acquisition for Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians

Here is the complaint in Citizens for a Better Way v. DOI (D. D.C.):

Citizens for a Better Way Complaint

From the complaint:

This dispute centers on the November 21, 2012, decision of the Department of the Interior (“DOI”), through Secretary Kenneth Salazar (“Secretary”), to acquire a 40-acre parcel of land located near rural Wheatland, California (“Yuba Site”) in trust on behalf of group of Indians alleged to be the Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California (“Enterprise”) and the underlying September 2011 determination approving off-reservation gaming on the Site. The purpose of the acquisition is to allow Enterprise to develop an off-reservation casino-resort with 1,700 slot machines and 170-room hotel in the middle of a farming community in Yuba County. The Secretary published notice of the trust decision in the Federal Register on December 3, 2012. 77 Fed. Reg. 71,612-01 (Dec. 3, 2012). The Secretary did not publish notice of the underlying gaming determination, made in September 2011, in the Federal Register.

Updated Materials in Saybrook v. Lake of the Torches EDC and Godfrey & Kahn

A nice messy case:

Saybrook Opening Brief on Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Lake of Torches Opening Brief on Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Godfrey & Kahn Response on Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Lake of Torches Motion to Lift Stay

Saybrook Response to Motion to Lift Stay

Saybrook Exhibit

The complaint is here.

A related state court complaint is here.

Second Circuit Briefs in Gambling Addict’s Suit against Foxwoods

Here are the briefs in Tassone v. Foxwoods Resort Casino:

Tassone Brief

Foxwoods Brief

Indictment in Illegal Gambling Activity on St. Regis Mohawk Reservation

Here is the indictment in United States v. Gray (N.D. N.Y.):

US v Gray et al Indictment

Press release here.

Pechanga coverage here.

Strange Article on Michigan Casinos and Fiscal Cliff

Here, h/t Pechanga.

The lede:

Michigan’s casino industry could face some problems if the nation falls off the ‘fiscal cliff’ at the end of the year.

The meat:

Jake Miklocjik is an analyst who closely follows the casino industry in Michigan.   He says the state’s two dozen casinos should fare better than those in Las Vegas, since the Michigan casinos are closer to their core clientele.

“By itself, when I look down through the fiscal cliff issues…I don’t really see a big impact on Michigan casinos,” says Miklocjik.

Miklocjik says Michigan’s casinos face more threats from other forms of gambling than they do from the fiscal cliff.

Huh?

Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community v. Salazar Complaint

Yet another Carcieri-based complaint. This is one of many reasons why there won’t be a Carcieri fix.

Colusa Complaint

Michigan v. Bay Mills Cert Stage Briefing Complete

Here are the briefs:

Michigan v Bay Mills Cert Petition w Appendices

Bay Mills Cert Opp

Michigan Cert Stage Reply

A Conference date for this petition hasn’t been set yet.

Federal Court Vacates Arbitration Award Favoring Wisconsin in Video Poker Dispute with Ho-Chunk Nation

Here are the materials in State of Wisconsin v. Ho-Chunk Nation (W.D. Wis.):

Arbitration Award

DCT Order Denying Arbitration Award

Ho-Chunk Motion to Vacate

Ho-Chunk Reply

Wisconsin Brief

News coverage here.

Reply Briefs in Mashantucket Pequot Second Circuit Tax Case

Here:

Connecticut Reply Brief

Town of Ledyard Reply Brief

Opening briefs are here.