Oregon court allows gaming compact lawsuit

Friday, June 19, 2009  

A group called People Against a Casino Town can challenge the Class III gaming compact for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled on Thursday.

The group questions whether the state governor had the authority to sign the compact. The group says the state constitution bans casinos.

The tribe opened the Three Rivers Casino in 2004 and has been operating under a federally-approved compact. Legal challenges to the Indian lands status of the gaming site were rejected in the federal and state courts.

"All this lawsuit is doing is wasting taxpayers money," tribal spokesperson Bob Garcia told The Oregonian. "If the residents of the state of Oregon want to end tribal gaming, stop the Oregon lottery, stop the Oregon slot machines. Then they can have a say in what tribes do in Oregon. Take care of your own house first."

Get the Story:
Court says group can sue over Florence casino (The Oregonian 6/19)

Court Decision:
State ex rel Dewberry v. Kulongoski (June 18, 2009)