Most charges in New York tobacco suit dismissed

Wednesday, December 5, 2007  

A federal judge has dismissed all but one charge in a tobacco taxation lawsuit against two New York tribes.

John A. Catsimatidis, who owns a supermarket chain, sued the Shinnecock Nation and the Unkechaug Nation . He accused the tribes of failing to pay state taxes on the sale of tobacco to non-Indians.

Judge Carol Bagley Amon dismissed most of the charges, including a claim by Catsimatidis for $20 million. She left intact one charge of misleading advertising.

The two tribes say their major source of income is tobacco sales.

Get the Story:
Much of Suit Aimed at Indian Cigarette Sales Is Dismissed (The New York Times 12/5)
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Two New York tribes depend on brisk cigarette sales (11/6)
New York tribes cite sovereignty in tax suit (10/11)