Gambling news from http://www.lufkindailynews.com/
LIVINGSTON — A day after the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas filed a civil lawsuit against lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Jo Ann Battise, chairperson of the tribe, said it was difficult to gauge the mood of the tribe right now.
"We had intended to meet with the tribal people, but we had a death in the community," she said softly. "We sent out memos (to the tribe that a lawsuit was being filed against Abramoff) Monday morning ... We had 53 or 54 people come down to Austin to support us."
The lawsuit was kept under wraps until the moment of filing because "we continue to be under surveillance from all parties," said Cheryl Downing, vice chair of the tribe.
The tribe says it is still reeling from the effects of Abramoff's alleged deals. Abramoff and Michael Scanlon allegedly hired Ralph Reed and his company, Century Strategies, to lobby the Texas Legislature to prevent tribal interest legislation from becoming law. The tribe's gaming establishments were at the brunt of the issue. To Reed saying the lawsuit was "frivolous", Carlos Bullock, tribal council secretary said, "he hasn't read the lawsuit. It's based on facts."
Fred Petti, a member of the tribe's legal team, said that in a civil lawsuit of this kind, the defendants have 20 days to either answer it or file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which he believes the court will not grant.
"We were done wrong," Battise said, anger lacing her voice. "We gave $50,000 in good faith. We were not told of the hidden agenda — conniving lies and conspiracy. It took us a while, that's right, but it got to a point that we want to recover damages done to us."
The tribe first started to get an inkling that they were "cheated" in September 2004, Bullock said.
Petti said the tribe was looking for compensation for the lost opportunities to improve quality of life; replace aging infrastructure; and make improvements to the reservation to help children and adults. "It would be in the tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars. It's for the jury to decide."
The Alabama-Coushatta's gaming establishments took people off welfare and gave them good jobs and income, Battise said. The gambling facilities ran for nine months from November 2001 before it was shut down.
The tribe was a target, Downing said.
"People were doing stuff under the table," Bullock said.
"We played by the rules," said Clint Poncho, council member.
"We weren't aware that we were targeted," Battise said. "Our basis (for the lawsuit) is harm, putting people out of jobs. That hurts us. They grossly misled us. It's an issue of principle."
No one knows or understands how much Abramoff's alleged deals hurt the tribe, Downing said. "It's ruined us for years."
Apart from monetary justice, Downing said, she wants to see Abramoff and all the others named in the lawsuit do community service to the Indian communities. Downing added it was ironic how a gaming establishment was the center of big games and dealings.
Asked if it was deja vu, history repeating itself against the Native Americans, she said, the weapons had changed, but the outcome was much the same.
Asked how the tribe would react to politicians who might make big promises to them as the elections near, the five council members sat in silence for a long time.
"That's a reality we have to deal with," Bullock said, breaking the silence. "It's hard to trust someone. For us to open back up... we need help with the Texas legislature and the federal legislature. There are good politicians, and there are also Jack Abramoffs."
|
|
World Casino Directory 
Gambling Forums 
