SEARCH NEWS:

 

Colorado's Central City and Historic Casinos Sue Black Hawk Casinos

The lawsuit states that the City of Black Hawk and many of Black Hawk's casinos and owners, including Windsor Woodmont Black Hawk Resort Corp., Mardi Gras Casino and Fitzgerald's, ``engaged in and concealed a civil conspiracy and tortious scheme to harm competition in the Gilpin County, Colorado limited stakes gaming industry and to cause economic harm to Central City and its residents, businesses, and casinos ... ''

The 31-page complaint describes civil violations including restraint of trade, monopolization, and breach of contract, as well as racketeering under the Federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations laws and the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act.

The complaint states that beginning in 1996, the defendants formed an ``association-in-fact'' for the purpose of designing, executing and concealing an unlawful scheme with the intent of blocking construction of a road (the Southern Access Road), which would have provided access directly to Central City from I-70. The scheme to block the road included the purchase by Black Hawk of mining claims within parcels designated for annexation by Central City. These parcels, which Black Hawk purchased with public funds, were then conveyed to Black Hawk casinos and businesses and individuals aligned with Black Hawk with the purpose of interfering with proposed annexations of property necessary to construct the Southern Access Road.

The complaint also states that Black Hawk and others threatened property owners with adverse consequences if they cooperated with Central City's efforts to build the Southern Access Road, and that Black Hawk and others interfered with Central City's elections to accomplish their unlawful objectives.

< Gaming News