The Cayuga Nation plans to sue two New York counties for raiding the tribe's smoke shops and seizing tribal property. The tribe always contended that Cayuga and Seneca counties lacked jurisdiction over its two smoke shops. A ruling from the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, confirmed that. The counties seized over $500,000 of tobacco products and cash from the smoke shops in November 2008. The property was never returned. "They’re done, they’re past the spoilage date….Of course, all of this was completely avoidable," Daniel French, an attorney for the tribe, told The Syracuse Post-Standard. Get the Story:
Cayugas win cigarette tax dispute, now plan to sue Cayuga, Seneca counties for seized smokes (The Syracuse Post-Standard 5/12)
Court backs tribal sales (AP 5/12) New York Court of Appeals Decision:
Cayuga Nation v. Gould (May 11, 2010) New York Appellate Division Decision:
Cayuga Nation v. Gould (July 10, 2009) New York Supreme Court Decision:
Cayuga Nation v. Gould (December 9, 2008) Related Stories:
Appeals court sides with Cayuga Nation in tobacco tax case (5/11)
New York court hears Cayuga Nation tobacco tax lawsuit (3/25)
DOJ brief backs Cayuga Nation in tobacco tax dispute (02/25)
Editorial: Cayuga Nation tobacco battle a big issue (2/22)
Cayuga Nation wants seized cigarettes back (7/17)
Second county rejects Cayuga tobacco tax offer (7/16)
County to appeal Cayuga Nation tobacco case (7/15)
Cayuga Nation offers settlement in tobacco case (7/14)
Cayuga Nation wins tobacco taxation decision (7/13)
Battle over Cayuga Nation tobacco continues (3/6)
Cayuga Nation halts sale of tax-free cigarettes (2/20)
Judge rules against Cayuga Nation tobacco sales (2/19)
Cayuga Nation to reopen disputed smoke shops (01/30)
Court halts Cayuga Nation tobacco prosecution (01/22)
Cayuga Nation seeks halt to tobacco prosecution (1/13)
Cayuga Nation plans to fight tobacco tax charges (12/10)
Cayuga Nation in court over raid of smokeshops (12/4)
Cayuga Nation claims 'reservation' exemption (12/2)
Cayuga Nation heads to court after smokeshop raid (12/1)
County authorities raid Cayuga Nation smoke shops (11/26)