Ohio Attorney General Says ‘Casinos’ Real Issue in Shawnee Tribe Case

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Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro moved to intervene in the case against the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma’s claim for lands in Ohio.

In May 2005, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma filed this suit claiming that it retained hunting and fishing rights throughout most of central and southern Ohio and that it still held aboriginal title over several of its former reservations that were ceded to the United States government in the early 1800s.

Last Thursday, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma voluntarily dismissed all of its claims against the State of Ohio, Franklin County and several other defendants. A day later, the Tribe filed a motion asking the court to dismiss almost all of the other defendants in the case and asking the court to approve “settlement agreements” the tribe had entered into with a few private defendants and several other parties who were never even part of this litigation. Petro says the judge should not approve these settlements.

Petro asks U.S. District Court federal Judge Carr to deny the Tribe’s request for approval of so called “settlements” because no local government or landowner can negotiate away the state’s rights and interest in land.

“In our view, the Court’s approval of these settlement agreements is neither necessary nor proper. The Court should approve the dismissal of this lawsuit, but refuse to approve or adopt the language contained in the Tribe’s proposed order.” said Attorney General Petro.

“The Tribe’s claims of settlements with Ohio landowners are nothing more than a dressed up attempt to bring casino gambling to our state,” said Attorney General Jim Petro. “The Court does not need to approve the settlements because there is nothing to settle. The Tribe’s claims for land are completely without merit.”

Petro continued, “I will continue to vigorously defend state laws which do not allow for Class III casino gambling and do everything in my power to stop it.”

Source: Ohio Office of the Attorney General

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