The
Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians "feels completely vindicated" after the nation's highest court put an
end to a long-running gaming contract dispute this week, Chairwoman Regina Cuellar said.
In a statement to The Sacramento Business Journal, Cuellar said the case should "never should have gone to trial, based on defenses we raised at the outset." The tribe had asserted sovereign immunity, among other issues, in the decade-long drama.
But the
courts in California rejected those defenses and it cost the tribe dearly. Although a $30 million judgement has been thrown out, the tribe spent more than $7 million in legal fees and other expenses, The Journal reported.
Now that the
U.S. Supreme Court rejected the final appeal in the case, the tribe is going to be able to recover those costs, Cuellar said in the statement.
"But justice has finally prevailed, and we are happy to move forward,” the chairwoman said.
At issue were contracts with a company called Sharp Image Gaming. The firm helped the tribe open an ill-fated casino that barely lasted a week in late 1996.
As the tribe was about to open the
Red Hawk Casino with a new partner, Sharp Image went to court. In the lawsuit, the firm said it loaned money to the tribe and helped build the shuttered facility in exchange for a share of revenues.
Those types of arrangements are common in management contracts, an appeals court in California later determined.
But since the Sharp Image agreements were never approved by the
National Indian Gaming Commission, a
federal agency, they cannot be enforced, the court said in the ruling
Turtle Talk has posted documents from the case,
Sharp
Image Gaming, Inc. v. Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.
Read More on the Story:
Supreme Court passes on Red Hawk case, favoring owners in decade-old suit
(The Sacramento Business Journal June 28, 2018)
California Court of Appeal for the Third District Decision:
Sharp Image
Gaming, Inc. v. Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians (September 15, 2017)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Shingle
Springs Band prevails in long-running gaming contract dispute (June 25, 2018)
Supreme
Court delivers bad news to tribes as term draws to a close (June 25,
2018)
Shingle
Springs Band wins reversal of $30 million judgment in gaming dispute
(September 18, 2017)
Ex-manager
for Shingle Springs Band's casino told to pay $2.4M (September 12,
2014)
Shingle
Springs Band makes big strides in finances at casino (August 30, 2013)
Shingle
Springs Band takes more control of finances at casino (August 13,
2013)
Judge
rules against Shingle Springs Band in casino dispute (February 27, 2012)
