City sues Fond du Lac Band in federal court over land-into-trust

Thursday, April 3, 2014  

The city of Duluth, Minnesota, filed a lawsuit in federal court in hopes of stopping the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians from pursuing a land-into-trust application.

The city filed its suit after the Minnesota Supreme Court said the tribe can't be sued in state court due to sovereign immunity. The city claims its approval is required before the tribe can acquire trust land.

The tribe already submitted an application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to place the historic Carter Hotel in trust. The 1-acre site is next to the tribe's casino so the city is suing based on a gaming agreement that has been the subject of litigation in the federal courts.

Get the Story:
City of Duluth sues Fond du Lac Band over Carter Hotel (The Duluth News Tribune 4/3)
Duluth files lawsuit against Fond du Lac Band (Northland's News Center 4/2)

Minnesota Supreme Court Decision:
City of Duluth v. Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (March 12, 2014)

Related Stories:
Court stops lawsuit over Fond du Lac Band land-into-trust bid (3/13)
Court revives suit over Fond du Lac Band's land-into-trust bid (4/16)