The Snoqualmie Tribe of Washington state has filed a lawsuit against developer Larry Claunch and three of his business entities to recover .5 million the tribe invested in Claunch’s casino resort project in the island nation of Fiji.
The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court in Washington, seeks the $1.5 million plus interest, based on a past due promissory note related to the Fiji resort project.
In mid-2011, the tribe was approached by Larry Claunch’s One Hundred Sands Corporation to invest $1.5 million in the developer’s $290 million Fiji luxury resort casino project. One Hundred Sands has an exclusive 15-year gaming license as the only operator in Fiji. Plans called for a destination casino on Denarau Island, on the west coast of Fiji, and potentially a second casino at Suva, on the southeast coast.
In February 2012, Larry Claunch, on behalf of One Hundred Sands, Ltd., issued a promissory note that guaranteed it would repay the tribe $1.5 million, plus interest, by February 2, 2012. Dissatisfied with the pace of construction—One Hundred Sands only broke ground on the project last month—the tribe pulled out of the deal several months ago. Its investment was not repaid.
“We have been trying for months to recover the $1.5 million without having to file suit,” said Carolyn Lubenau, the chairwoman of the Snoqualmie Tribal Council. “But no one responded to the tribe’s demand. The note is past due and must be repaid in full.
“Snoqualmie Tribal Council’s primary job is to protect the welfare of the tribe and the Snoqualmie people,” said Chairwoman Lubenau. “Our goal with this lawsuit is to recover the money that was loaned to Mr. Claunch for Fiji so that it can be used to benefit our tribal members here at home.”
The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe in the Puget Sound region of Washington. The tribe owns and operates the Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie, Washington.
