A group of opponents of the La Center, Washington casino project, to be developed and managed by the Mohegan Tribe, recently filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals. They’re appealing a federal judge’s December dismissal of their lawsuit contesting the U.S. government taking 152 acres into trust for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and its proposed casino. The Mohegans and the Cowlitz agreed to partner on a casino more than a decade ago. Plaintiffs include Clark County, Washington, the city of Vancouver, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community in Oregon and the operator of slot-free La Center card rooms.
Cowlitz Chairman Bill Iyall said, “The most disappointing thing is that even in the face of a summary dismissal, the county and the city of Vancouver are appealing. It’s a horrible waste of taxpayers’ resources. It should not delay the project.”
The Cowlitz were federally recognized in 2000. That ruling was challenged and affirmed in 2002. Then the tribe applied for trust status of the land. The federal government first approved the plan in 2010, but a court challenge caused the decision to be rescinded.
