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A federal district court judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by one of Minnesota’s horse racing tracks against executives who oversee five tribal casinos in the state.

Running Aces, which operates a harness track in Columbus, claimed several Minnesota tribal gaming entities were operating card games in violation of state and federal gambling laws. 

initial suit filed by Running Aces last April

 named more than two dozen casino executives from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the Prairie Island Indian Community. Attorneys for Running Aces later amended the suit, adding Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and claiming that casino executives had also violated additional state law.  

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz on Tuesday dismissed the case. His order was not based on the merits of Running Aces’ claims, but rather on who was — or was not — included as defendants in the case.

Schiltz wrote that the executives named in the suit did not represent the tribal nations who own and operate the casinos. 

The judge further raised concerns about the absence of the tribal nations from the lawsuit — noting they would have been impacted by any decision if the case had proceeded, but could not be made to participate in the court’s proceedings because tribal nations are immune from such lawsuits. 

Schiltz dismissed Running Aces’ complaint without prejudice, leaving an avenue open for the lawsuit to be filed again.

The casino executives named in the suit had asked the court to dismiss the case.

In a brief statement to MPR News on Tuesday, Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council President Grant Johnson — one of the tribal executives named in the lawsuit — said the council is grateful that lawsuit was dismissed.

“We agree with the decision by Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz that the lawsuit was improperly brought against our employees and Tribal leaders,” the statement read.

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Melissa Olson

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A federal district court judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by one of Minnesota’s horse racing tracks against executives who oversee five tribal casinos in the state.


Judge dismisses lawsuit claiming tribal casinos in Minnesota are running illegal games

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