Judge hears arguments in lawsuit against Jamul Band casino


Artist's rendering of the Hollywood Casino Jamul, a project of the Jamul Indian Village and Penn National Gaming.

A judge in California heard arguments in a lawsuit that seeks to prevent the Jamul Indian Village from opening a casino on its reservation.

Walter Rosales and Karen Toggery used to live on the reservation until they were evicted to make way for the $360 million casino. They claim the tribe removed the graves of their family members and dumped them on land owned by Caltrans, a state agency.

The tribe is not a party to the suit and Chairman Raymond Hunter said the claims about the burial grounds have already been heard in the courts. In November 2007, a federal judge dismissed a case that Rosales and Toggery filed against the federal government.

"Our tribe reveres and honors our ancestors and the passing of all tribal members," Hunter told The San Diego Union-Tribune in a statement. "JIV has no record of remains placed legally in any place other than the cemetery."

Get the Story:
New lawsuit filed to stop Jamul casino (The San Diego Union-Tribune 4/17)

Related Stories
Lawsuit claims remains were removed for Jamul Band casino (4/16)

Join the Conversation