40.23 F
Batesville
February 13, 2025
State News

Lawsuit Alleges Coercion in Pope County Casino Licensing Dispute

In a legal battle unfolding in Pope County, the Gulfside Casino Partnership filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, July 2, accusing Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB) of employing coercion and unlawful practices to secure a casino license. The lawsuit names Pope County Judge and quorum court members as defendants.

Gulfside maintains that it has met all regulatory requirements to apply for the casino license. Originally applying in 2019, the Mississippi-based casino had its license award initially granted and later overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court due to issues surrounding a support letter issued by the Pope County Judge.

Central to Gulfside’s complaint is the “Economic Development Agreement” (EDA), which outlines provisions for an economic development fee to be paid to various entities within Pope County. Gulfside alleges that the CNB EDA binds County Judge Ben Cross to issue a letter of support and mandates the Pope County Quorum Court to pass a resolution supporting CNB or its designated entity in exchange for financial considerations.

The lawsuit argues that Gulfside’s legal rights and obligations are compromised by the CNB EDA, asserting that such agreements cannot legally bind county officials as per established legal precedent.

Citing precedent from Johnson v. Board of Commissioners, the lawsuit contends that officials cannot obligate themselves through such agreements, and any resulting support letters or resolutions issued are invalid.

Amendment 100 mandates that the Racing Commission awards casino licenses to applicants in Pope County, precluding Judge Cross and the Quorum Court from independently awarding or selecting a licensee.

Gulfside seeks to have the CNB EDA declared void on grounds of public policy violation.

The Batesville Tribune continues to monitor developments in the Pope County casino license dispute and will provide updates as they unfold.

You can read the entire lawsuit below.

912530d6-0e46-4ed1-891f-8065e8859d58-gulfise_complaint

Related posts

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More