Litigation | New York

Factions of Cayuga Nation in court over Class II gaming facility

Thursday, December 18, 2014

The LakeSide Entertainment facility in Union Springs, New York. Photo from 500 Nations

Factions of the Cayuga Nation of New York were in federal court on Wednesday as a dispute over a Class II gaming facility turned into a dispute over the tribe's leadership.

Clint Halftown, the tribe's longtime federal representative, sued the village of Union Springs in hopes of protecting the LakeSide Entertainment facility. But his rivals say he no longer represents the tribe and they want the case dismissed.

The facility is located on land that is not yet in trust and Halftown claims the village is threatening enforcement actions. But court rulings -- including the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community -- would appear to protect the tribe from being sued for activities that do not occur on "Indian lands" as that term is defined by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Turtle Talk has posted documents from the case, Cayuga Nation v. Tanner.

Get the Story:
Cayuga Nation groups in federal court over Union Springs lawsuit authority (The Auburn Citizen 12/18)