Federal Court Orders Guidiville Rancheria and Casino Development Partner to Pay $1.9M in Attorney Fees to City of Richmond

Here are the materials in Guidiville Rancheria v. United States (N.D. Cal.):

113 City of Richmond Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings

154 Upstream Point Response

162 City of Richmond Reply

212 DCT Order Granting Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings

255 City of Richmond Motion for Atty Fees

270 Upstream Point Response

271 Guidiville Response

273 City Reply

289 DCT Order Granting Motion for Atty Fees

The tribe has appealed to the Ninth Circuit on the merits of the claim and has already filed their opening brief:

Appellants Joint Opening Brief

Idaho Supreme Court to hear arguments today in instant racing case

Click here.

MGM Resorts Sues Connecticut over New Tribal Gaming Act

The complaint, filed in federal district court in Connecticut on August 4, is here: 273548545-MGM-v-Malloy Complaint.

The state law, signed by the Governor on June 19, 2015, is here.

From the complaint:

MGM seeks to have the Act declared invalid and enjoined on two principle bases:

a. The Act violates the Equal Protection Clause because it is a race-based set-aside in favor of the two Preferred Tribes at the expense of all other tribes, races, and entities; and

b. The Act violates the dormant Commerce Clause because it discriminates on its face in favor of the two in-state Preferred Tribes at the expense of out-of-state competitors, all of whom are barred from attempting to develop a casino gaming facility in Connecticut.

Federal Court Dismisses Challenge to Santa Ynez Chumash Casino

Here are the materials in Save the Valley LLC v. Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians (C.D. Cal.):

22-1 Santa Ynez Motion to Dismiss

26 Opposition

29 Reply

31 DCT Minute Order

We posted the complaint here.

GAO Issues Report Expressing Concern over Regulation of Indian Gaming

Here is “Regulation and Oversight by the Federal Government, States, and Tribes.”

 

Broadman on Gaming, Pot and Tribal Resistance As Economic Development

Anthony Broadman has published “Gaming, Pot and Tribal Resistance
As Economic Development” in the King County Bar Bulletin:

Gaming, Pot and Tribal Resistance As Economic Development

Federal Court Suit to Stop Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ Casino

Here is the complaint in Save the Valley LLC v. Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians (C.D. Cal.):

1 Complaint

California Valley Miwok Tribe v. California Gambling Control Commission Complaint

Here:

1 Complaint

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Held in Contempt over Gaming

Order here.

Materials here.

Massachusetts Gaming Claims against Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Survive Motions to Dismiss; Counterclaims Do, Too

Here are the updated materials in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) (D. Mass.):

65 Massachusetts Opposition to Rule 19 Motion

67 Aquinnah-Gay Head Community Opposition to 11th Amendment Motion to Dismiss

71 Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Reply in Support of Rule 19 Motion

72 Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss on Immunity Grounds

77 Massachusetts Motion to Dismiss

86 Massachusetts Officials Motion to Dismiss

87 Wampanoag Tribe Opposition to Massachusetts Immunity Motion

88 Massachusetts Reply

95 DCT Order Denying Motions to Dismiss

An excerpt:

This lawsuit involves a dispute between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a federally recognized Indian tribe concerning regulatory jurisdiction over civil gaming on Indian lands on Martha’s Vineyard. The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) and related entities have taken steps to commence commercial gaming operations on tribal lands without a license from the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth contends that operating gaming facilities without such a license would violate a 1983 settlement agreement that subjects the lands in question to state civil and criminal jurisdiction (and thus subjects them to state laws regulating gaming). Count 1 of the complaint alleges breach of contract, and Count 2 seeks a declaratory judgment.

The Commonwealth filed suit in state court on December 2, 2013. On December 30, 2013, the Tribe removed the action to this Court on the basis of federal-question and supplemental jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1367. On August 6, 2014, the Court granted motions to intervene by the Town of Aquinnah and the Aquinnah/Gay Head Community Association (“AGHCA”). The Tribe has moved to dismiss the AGHCA complaint on the basis of sovereign immunity and for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; it has further moved to dismiss all three complaints (with leave to amend) for failure to join the United States as a required party.

On October 24, 2014, the Tribe filed an amended answer that included a counterclaim against the Commonwealth and counterclaims against three third-party defendants (all of whom are officials of the Commonwealth). Plaintiff and third-party defendants have moved to dismiss the counterclaims on the grounds of sovereign immunity (as to the counterclaims against the Commonwealth) and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

For the reasons stated below, the motions of the Tribe will be denied and the motion of counterclaim-defendants will be granted in part and denied in part.

We posted motions to dismiss here. Materials on the state court removal and remand motions here. Complaint here.