The Bay Mills Indian Community of Michigan will be back in court next Tuesday, August 9, in a lawsuit over its off-reservation casino.
The state of Michigan and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians are suing the Bay Mills Indian Community. They say the off-reservation casino is illegal under the tribal-state Class III gaming compact and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. A federal judge ordered the casino to close. The Bay Mills Indian Community has appealed and has raised a sovereign immunity defense. In response, the state of Michigan and the Little Traverse Bay Bands amended their complaints. They say the gaming compact and IGRA waived immunity for the Bay Mills Indian Community. The state also wants to add individual tribal leaders and members of the tribal gaming commission as defendants. Get the Story: