The office of American Web Loans in Red Rock, Oklahoma, owned by the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. Photo by Jane Daugherty.
Chairman John Shotton of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe in Oklahoma is fighting a $700,000 fine that the state of Connecticut imposed on him in January. Shotton said he wasn't given a chance to defend himself or participate in the process. He has filed a civil rights lawsuit that challenges the state's authority over him. "The lawsuit I filed in federal court is my response to the unprecedented, unwarranted, unconstitutional and unjustified attacks by these Connecticut banking regulators," Shotton said in a press release. "The state of Connecticut, without allowing me to respond to the allegations against me, and without any semblance of due process, has issued a final judgment against me for $700,000. This is an example of the most egregious form of racial discrimination and this action is a direct violation of the civil rights afforded me under the Constitution of the United States and US law. " The Connecticut Department of Banking fined Shotton $700,000 and two tribal entities $800,000. The state claims the tribe's online lending business violates banking laws. In addition to raising a civil rights claim, Shotton said he is entitled to sovereign immunity as the tribe's leader. The complaint in the case, Shotton v. Pitkin, was posted by Turtle Talk. Get the Story:
Oklahoma tribe's leader files lawsuit to challenge payday loan fines (The Oklahoman 3/12)
CT target of Okla. tribe's civil-rights suit (The Hartford Business Journal 3/11)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories:James Williams: Lac Vieux Desert Band regulates online lending (03/06)
Cash lenders accused of targeting tribal members in New Mexico (3/5)
Lac Vieux Desert Band relies on revenue from lending business (3/2)
Native American Financial Services Association names director (02/05)
Internet lenders linked to Miami Nation agree to $21M settlement (01/19)
Chairman of Otoe-Missouria Tribe fined for online loan operation (01/07)
Tribes withdraw Internet lending lawsuit after losing decision (11/04)
Opinion: Tribes turn their acumen to Internet lending industry (10/24)
Law Article: Clash of competing sovereigns in tribal lending case (10/06)
NAFSA puts a positive spin on decision in tribal lending lawsuit (10/2)
2nd Circuit rebuffs tribal online lenders in dispute with New York (10/1)
Jane Daugherty: Tribes lose out in battle over Internet lending (10/09)
Tribes seek expedited appeal in New York online lending suit (10/08)
Judge rebuffs tribal online lenders in case against New York (10/01)
Otoe-Missouria Tribe sees benefits from Internet lending firms (09/16)
Tribal online lenders off to court in lawsuit against New York (09/11)
Otoe-Missouria Tribe defends online payday lending business (08/14)
