Gaming briefs for August 24, 2004

Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.

Lawyers square off in dispute

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- The Eastern Pequot tribe has asked a Superior Court judge to throw out Donald Trump's $10 million breach of contract lawsuit, saying the matter should be argued after the tribe's federal recognition status is decided.

The southeastern Connecticut tribe received federal recognition in June 2002, but state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and the towns of Ledyard, North Stonington and Preston are appealing.

Trump and Amalgamated Industries Inc. made a deal with the Paucatuck Eastern Pequots to finance the faction's federal recognition effort and to profit from a casino, and they say they spent more than $10 million on lawyers, genealogists, historians and anthropologists.

But when the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs recognized the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot faction and the larger Eastern Pequot faction as one tribe, the unified council of the new tribe, dominated by the larger faction, voted to retain Eastern Capital Development for help developing a casino.

Now Trump and Amalgamated Industries are suing the tribe and Eastern Capital Development for breach of contract and other allegations.

Arguments in the case were made Monday in New Britain Superior Court. No decisions were made, and the case was continued to Sept. 10 because some lawyers involved are still waiting to address the court.

The Eastern Pequots' lawyer, Robert D. Tobin, told Judge Susan Peck that the case should be dismissed because the tribe's federal recognition status has not been upheld on appeal.

Trade group joins cause

The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, a trade group for makers of slot machines and related equipment, has made a $20,000 contribution to to the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. The Nevada Council, an advocacy and education group affiliated with the National Council on Problem Gambling, distributes the compulsive gambling brochures found in most Nevada casinos and operates a 24-hour hotline for people with gambling problems.

"Over the years we have received support from various individual gaming equipment manufacturers in Nevada," said Carol O'Hare, executive director of the Nevada Council. "AGEM's decision to become a corporate member reflects this industry's ongoing commitment to this important issue."

"We're proud to join the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and look forward to becoming actively involved in their many worthwhile programs and services that address this community health issue," AGEM President Walt Stowe said.