A gaming management company is suing leaders of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, accusing them of an illegal casino takeover.

Gov. Darrell Flyingman took control of the tribe's Lucky Star Casinos on August 19. He acted when the National Indian Gaming Commission refused to extend Southwest Casino and Hotel Corp.'s management contract for the casinos.

Southwest now claims Flyingman and other tribal officials have illegally interfered with the casino business. The suit claims $16 million in damage, $1 million in damages for defamation, $150,000 for copyright infringement plus additional damages for conversion and conspiracy.

Part of the lawsuit involves a casino surveillance video that purportedly shows tribal legislators receiving checks from Southwest. Some of the video showed up on YouTube but has been removed due to the lawsuit.

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Judge denies restraining order against tribal officials (The Journal Record 8/28)