Three Connecticut towns that have fought tribes on land-into-trust and federal recognition have joined a case over taxation.

The towns of Preston, Ledyard and North Stonington filed in brief in a case involving Jo-Ann Dark Eyes. The towns say Dark Eyes, a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, should pay taxes on income she earned as a tribal official.

Dark Eyes claims an exemption for the time she was on the tribal council and lived on the tribe's settlement reservation. She is seeking a refund of about $200,000.

Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal and the towns counter that Dark Eyes was living on land that hadn't been taken into trust. They say she can only claim an exception for the time the land was in trust.

Get the Story:
Three towns enter tax battle against Mashantucket woman (The Norwich Bulletin 8/10)

Related Stories:
Connecticut towns want to join case over taxation (07/30)
Brief filed in Indian taxation case in Connecticut (07/19)
State claims tribal tax decision could be costly (05/21)
Mashantucket Tribe joins appeal over taxation (5/20)