Litigation

Kickapoo Tribe faces lawsuits over fatal casino bus crash in Texas

Thursday, July 7, 2016

The Kickapoo Tribe owns and operates the Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas. Photo from Facebook

The Kickapoo Tribe of Texas is facing at least two lawsuits in connection with a fatal casino bus accident in May.

Nine people died and 43 were injured as the bus was headed to the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino. The tribe has been added to at least two wrongful death lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of some of the victims.

The tribe could be hit with even more claims now that some of the families of the victims have settled with an insurance company, The McAllen Monitor reports. The $5 million payment did not include all of the victims and those who were left out are still seeking justice.

“The figures compared to the injury were insulting,” one attorney, who was not part of the settlement, told the paper.

As of Wednesday, there were 10 lawsuits filed on behalf of 17 people injured and seven deceased, the paper reported. The paper did not say how many included the tribe but prior news accounts indicate at least two of that nature.

Neither the tribe nor the casino operated the bus -- it was run by a private company -- but attorneys are hoping they can be held liable for the crash.

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma was ordered to pay $11 million in connection with a bus accident that occurred in Texas. The tribe is challenging the ruling.

Get the Story:
Casino bus crash victims could be left without compensation (The McAllen Monitor 7/7)
Casino bus tours continue a week after a rollover crash killed 9 and injured 43 (The McAllen Monitor 5/28)
Families of bus crash victims file lawsuit, seeking damages (KGBT 5/24)