Osceola Blackwood Ivory Gaming Group is claiming that it helped the Chukchansi Casino in Coarsegold, California reboot after the Chukchansi tribe was forced to close it for over a year. It also claims the tribe owes it millions of dollars for its help and has sued to get the money.
In the almost 90 pages of the lawsuit the group claims it promoted the casino, oversaw media campaign and helped hire over 800 employees over the span of a week. It did all this for the promise of 25 percent of profits for five years, it claims.
Legal analyst Ton Capozzi told ABC 30 Action News “Now a new governing board comes in and says we’re not going to do this. Question becomes, is the new board responsible to follow the dictates of the first agreement of the old board? My impression is– they are.”
Osceola also claims the tribe has not dealt with it in good faith and so it is seeking punitive damages. It seeks $21 million plus restitution and punitive damages.
An attorney for the tribe responded last week that Osceola was paid millions of dollars but that there was never a management agreement that was approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission, which is required by federal law.
