High court to look at lawsuit against casino

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court will decide whether a lawsuit attempting to shut down a new tribal casino in southwestern Michigan can move forward. The justices on Monday agreed to hear from the government and the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe. The tribe opened a casino earlier this year in Wayland Township, 20 miles south of Grand Rapids. But casino foe David Patchak sued to close the casino down, challenging how the government placed the land in trust for the tribe. A federal judge threw out his lawsuit, but the U.S. Appeals Court for the Federal Circuit said it could move forward. The justices will hear arguments next year. The cases are Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians v. Patchak, 11-246, and Salazar v. Patchak, 11-247. Published: Wed, Dec 14, 2011