Lawsuit over Mashpee Wampanoag fishing rights still unresolved

Thursday, August 2, 2012  

A lawsuit over the fishing rights of a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts is still pending in state court.

Over a year ago, David Greene sued the town of Mattapoisett and a shellfish warden who seized his fishing gear. He is citing an earlier case that upheld his treaty and aboriginal fishing rights.

The town wants to add the state and the tribe to the lawsuit before it moves forward. A motion was filed a day after the state and the tribe signed a gaming compact that called on both parties to address fishing and hunting rights.

"Our position is the town and Mr. Greene are caught in the middle of this," town attorney John Davis told The Cape Cod Times. "This should be mitigated or resolved between the tribe and the commonwealth and not between Mr. Greene and a former shellfish warden for Mattapoisett."

The tribe and the state have until August 9 to respond to the motion, the paper said.

Get the Story:
Gaming compact might affect court case (The Cape Cod Times 8/1)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Tribal members retain rights to fish in Massachusetts (4/6)
Mashpee Wampanoag man sues town in fishing rights dispute (4/1)