AG: Lawsuit against Mississippi Choctaw casino could be frivolous

Thursday, July 29, 2010  

A lawsuit that seeks to stop the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians from building a casino could be ruled frivolous, warns Attorney General Jim Hood.

Hood researched state law, federal law and the tribal-state Class III gaming compact. He's determined that the state has no legal basis to block the casino, which will be built on the reservation.

But Gov. Haley Barbour (R) has decided to hire his own lawyer to fight the casino. Hood said that could lead to legal sanctions against the state -- and taxpayers will foot the bill.

"Our federal district court held the same way, that the compact was solid, and then the 5th (U.S.) Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed it," Hood told The Memphis Commercial Appeal. "So, when you have courts ruling like that, it's a tough circumstance to go out and make some legitimate challenge to it."

The casino would be located near Sandersville, in Jones County. The site is considered part of the reservation although it is not contiguous to the main reservation.

The site is about 80 miles from tribal headquarters in Philadelphia, where the tribe operates two casinos.

Get the Story:
Barbour suit could hurt taxpayers (The Memphis Commercial Appeal 7/29)
Politics Heats Up Neshoba County Fair (WTOK-TV 7/28)

An Opinion:
Frankie Benton Sr.: Why not let Choctaws open Jones casino? (The Hattiesburg American 7/29)

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