Hearing on casino lawsuit put off till April 11
A hearing in a federal lawsuit that seeks to open Southeastern Massachusetts to commercial casino bids has been delayed until 11 a.m. April 11.
The Massachusetts Expanded Gaming Act gives the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian tribe first preference for a Region C casino, which prompted KG Urban Enterprises to file suit arguing that the tribal preference is a "race-based set aside" that violates the U.S. Constitution.
The status hearing had been rescheduled for Wednesday, but was delayed by U.S. District Judge Nathan Gorton because attorneys could not make the session.
The hearing was first scheduled for March 20, the day before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission held a hearing at Bristol Community College in Fall River about whether to open Southeastern Massachusetts, known as Region C in the state legislation authorizing casinos.
The gaming commission is expected to discuss Region C at its meeting Thursday and could make a decision on whether to open the region to commercial bids.
Late last week, a tribe attorney wrote to the commission saying it lacks authority to seek casino bids in the region. Commissioner James McHugh, a retired judge, has expressed a different opinion.
GEORGE BRENNAN
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