Judge allows Seneca-Cayuga tobacco lawsuit

Monday, September 10, 2007  

A federal judge says the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma can pursue its lawsuit over the multi-state 1998 tobacco settlement.

The tribe wants to recover more than $4 million it paid into an escrow account that was created by the state. Small tobacco manufacturers that didn't participate in the settlement are required to pay into the account to cover potential liabilities [Oklahoma attorney general Tobacco Information].

A federal judge had said the tribe's tobacco corporation could not sue the state. But another judge on Thursday said the tribe can pursue the case on the theory that its sovereign immunity bars the state from requiring the payments into the account.

Get the Story:
Judge revives tobacco lawsuit: Tribe to get day in court (The Tulsa World 9/8)

Court Decision:
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe v. Oklahoma (September 6, 2007)

Relevant Links:
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe - http://www.sctribe.com
Seneca-Cayuga Tobacco Company - http://www.senecacayugatobacco.com

Related Stories:
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe still rolling own cigarettes (9/5)
Seneca-Cayuga cigarette factory shut down (06/27)
Federal judge rejects Seneca-Cayuga tobacco suit (12/1)
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe sues over $10M tobacco account (8/2)