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Former exec sues River Rock Casino

CALIFORNIA -- As reported by the Press Democrat: "As River Rock Casino prepares to embark on a major expansion, its former chief operations officer is pressing a lawsuit claiming he was forced out after questioning millions of dollars in unauthorized expenditures.

"Former casino executive Norman Runyan filed a lawsuit last week in Sonoma County Superior Court alleging he was fired unjustly from his $300,000 job.

"He said the firing came after he insisted on an independent audit to clear up as much as $15 million in accounting discrepancies on the books.

"Runyan, who also served since 2002 as general manager and chief executive officer until his dismissal in November, named as defendants River Rock Casino and River Rock Entertainment Authority, the tribal agency that owns and runs the casino.

"He also named Dry Creek Rancheria Tribal Chairman Harvey Hopkins. The lawsuit alleges Hopkins, who is a licensed excavating contractor, steered business to his company at a higher cost and with bad results for the casino operation.

"...A spokesman for the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo denied Runyan's charges..."

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