Analysis: Lawsuit claims Seneca gaming land is not sovereign

Wednesday, October 13, 2010  

"A class action lawsuit, expected to be filed as early as this week against the city, the Niagara Falls School District and the county, charges that uncollected taxes on non-sovereign land belonging to the Seneca Gaming Corp. has had the effect of keeping taxes for other county property owners artificially high almost since the casino opened in 2002.

"This will affect every property owner in Niagara County," said Niagara Falls attorney John Bartolomei, who will be filing the suit.

At issue are the tracts of land adjacent to the Seneca Niagara Casino, which is actually owned by the Seneca Nation of Indians rather than the gaming corporation.

"Land owned by the Seneca Nation is sovereign and therefore not taxable," Bartolomei said. "But land owned by the gaming corporation, like the Hickory Stick Golf Course in Lewiston, should be taxed like any other commercial property.""

Get the Story:
DYSTER, CITY IGNORING TAX BILLS ON NON-SOVEREIGN SENECA LAND: School Board Member Destino calls for immediate action (The Niagara Falls Reporter 10/12)