Buena Vista Rancheria casino in limbo amid court challenge

Monday, May 9, 2011  

The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians has been trying to open a casino for more than 10 years and it looks like the tribe will be waiting even long as a lawsuit plays out in federal court.

The tribe first negotiated a Class III compact with the state of California in 1999. A new deal was reached in 2004 and submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for review.

The BIA let the compact go into effect in December 2004. Amador County filed a lawsuit against the agency and, after five years of litigation, the case appeared to be dead.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, however, revived the lawsuit. In a decision issued on Friday, the court said the main issue in the case -- whether the tribe's 67.5-acre site can be used for gaming -- must be debated on the merits.

The tribe is seeking to build a casino with 950 slot machines and 20 gaming tables.

Get the Story:
Amador County gets legal win in fight against proposed casino (The Stockton Record 5/7)

DC Circuit Decision:
Amador County v. Salazar (May 6, 2011)

District Court Decisions:
July 12, 2010 | January 8, 2009

Related Stories:
DC Circuit revives lawsuit over Buena Vista Rancheria casino (5/6)