Washington state tobacco case denied
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a request for further review of a Washington state tobacco company's tax appeal.
The Yakima Herald reported Wednesday that cigarette manufacturer King Mountain Tobacco must pay $58 million in federal excise taxes.
The Supreme Court released its decision without comment June 10, a month after the U.S. Solicitor General opposed the review.
A U.S. District Court awarded the government the unpaid federal taxes from the company and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling.
King Mountain is owned and operated by the Wheeler family, citizens of the Yakama Nation.
The Wheelers say the company on tribal land in White Swan, 171 miles southeast of Seattle, is exempted from federal excise taxes by the 1855 Yakama Treaty.
Published: Fri, Jun 21, 2019
