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Quapaw tribe seeks dismissal of lawsuit over casino plans

By Associated Press - | Jun 16, 2015

? The Quapaw Tribe wants a federal court to toss out the lawsuit Kansas filed seeking to block the tribe from expanding its Downstream Casino in Oklahoma into southeast Kansas.

A filing Monday cites tribal sovereign immunity in seeking the dismissal of claims against tribal officials and entities named in the lawsuit. The tribe contends it has followed federal law.

Kansas is challenging a National Indian Gaming Commission decision allowing gambling on Cherokee County land now being used as a parking lot.

The federal government put the Kansas land in trust for the tribe in 2012. The tribe is planning a $15 million addition offering table games not allowed in Oklahoma.

A spokeswoman for the Kansas Attorney General’s office says the office will “vigorously oppose” the tribe’s motion for dismissal.