Judge grants preliminary injunction to keep Calif. tribal casino closed
Source: Fresno Bee
A federal judge in Fresno on Wednesday issued a preliminary injunction requested by the state government to keep Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino closed.
U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. ONeill presided over a brief hearing Wednesday morning about the closure, triggered Oct. 9 when an armed group representing one of competing tribal leadership raided the hotel-casino in search of documents related to late audits that have not been filed with the federal government.
The hearing a follow-up to an Oct. 15 meeting lasted barely an hour. ONeill noted it was clear the warring factions had made little or no progress in settling their disputes.
The judge said there are no signs pointing to progress being made by the factions, especially the McDonald and Lewis-Ayala groups, whose security forces fought in a busy casino nearly three weeks ago. The casino was closed by orders from the state Attorney General and the National Indian Gaming Commission because safety of patrons and employees could not be assured.
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/10/29/4204917/judge-to-rule-on-state-request.html