Attorney General sues Kialegee Tribal King

The Broken Arrow casino under construction may be halted as Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt submitted a lawsuit today claiming the tribe violated state gaming compact.  The filing seeks an immediate injunction.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt today submitted a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tulsa against Kialegee Tribal King Tiger Hobia and others to stop a proposed casino in Broken Arrow. The court will officially file the case Wednesday.

The lawsuit, submitted in the Northern District of Oklahoma, seeks to stop the tribe and construction company Florence Development Partners from continuing construction of the proposed Red Clay Casino, citing the tribe’s failure to get federal approval of a lease for the property. The absence of lease approval and lack of jurisdiction over the land violates the state compact’s requirements for Indian gaming, Pruitt said.

“No one, tribal or otherwise, is above state or federal laws,” Pruitt said. “The Kialegees do not have the authority to pick and choose which steps to follow in the federal or state approval process of establishing casinos. The complaint filed today is to protect the interests of Oklahoma and its citizens, and ensure the rule of law is being followed.”

The 21-page filing names as defendants King Hobia, Florence Development Partners, First Warrior Thomas Givens and members of the tribe’s business committee.

For a copy of the lawsuit, go online to www.oag.ok.gov.