"A long-running and contentious dispute between the city of Duluth and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is back in federal court, where a judge could determine if a revenue-sharing agreement is legal.
The legal battle is over tens of millions of dollars in casino revenue the Band once agreed to share with the financially struggling city. In a one-of-a-kind arrangement in 1994, the downtown casino signed a contract that gives Duluth 19 percent of gross revenue from slot machines — about $6 million a year. City officials use the money to maintain city streets. Fond du Lac Chairwoman Karen Diver said the city has received way too much, and the Band doesn't owe it a penny more. "To date the city has gotten over $80 million," she said. "I would think that the tab is clear."" Get the Story: