Appeals court won’t hear Lake County appeal

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000 | 12:51 p.m.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd District of the Illinois Appellate Court also lifted a stay imposed Dec. 22 while the court considered whether to take up the venue issue. That means Lake County court officials are free to follow the Dec. 22 decision of Circuit Judge Stephen Walter to send the case to Cook County, where the state's gambling regulators meet.

Michael Dockterman, an attorney for Lake County Riverboat L.P., said the developers will continue their attempt to keep the case in Lake County with an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.

In their lawsuit against the Illinois Gaming Board, the developers allege state lawmakers violated the constitution last spring by changing the law to make sure operators of a defunct East Dubuque riverboat could move their dormant gambling license to Rosemont. The developers want a chance to win the license and build a casino in Lake County.

The original Lake County judge on the case had barred the Gaming Board from approving the Rosemont project in October. Legal maneuvering and a flurry of new judges has postponed any decision on the core issues in the case.

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