The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community of Michigan has to pay state tobacco taxes, a federal judge ruled on Monday.

The tribe filed suit against the state over the state's seizure of tobacco products. The state said the tribe and its members were failing to collect taxes.

U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell agreed with the state. He said the tribe can seek refunds for taxes paid to the state, although he said such a system might be open to review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In June, another federal judge barred the state from imposing property taxes on the reservation.

Get the Story:
Court bars tobacco tax lawsuit by tribe (AP 9/16)
Judge rules against KBIC in tobacco case (The Marquette Mining Journal 9/14)

Relevant Links:
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community - http://www.ojibwa.com

Related Stories:
Judge rebuffs state's attempt to impose taxes on tribe (06/02)
Michigan tribe rejects talk of tax deal with state (03/18)
Members of Michigan tribe protest state tax deal (3/16)
Mich. tribe still considering state tax agreement (07/15)
State wants Mich. tribal members to pay taxes (06/10)