North Fork Rancheria wins legal fight that threatened to unplug new casino. Appeal filed
A federal judge rejected the Picayune Rancheria's attempt to block the new North Fork Mono Casino, but the tribe plans to appeal.Summary
A federal judge in Fresno denied the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians' motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the newly opened North Fork Mono Casino in Madera. The judge ruled that Picayune, which operates the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino about 39 miles away, failed to prove the $725 million, 264,000-square-foot casino would cause irreparable harm. He also criticized the timing of the motion, noting Picayune could have filed earlier and that an injunction would cause extensive losses to North Fork. This was Picayune's third federal lawsuit against the casino since 2012; its two previous suits failed. Picayune's lawyer announced plans to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, while North Fork has plans to expand into a resort with a 200-room hotel.
(Source：Modbee)