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Court Deals Setback to California Tribe17 April 2003CALIFORNIA -- As reported by the Sarasota Herald Tribune: "The northern California Indian tribe backed by some well-heeled Sarasotans has lost its first hand at establishing a casino in West Sacramento, but might gamble on an appeal of an unfavorable federal court ruling. "The Upper Lake Band of Pomo Indians filed a notice of appeal on March 26, essentially reserving the right to challenge the court's decision. "...Three Sarasota couples -- Roy and Susan Palmer, Bob and Diane Roskamp, and Phil and Unni Kaltenbacher -- created a company to back the tribe, picked the 67-acre casino site and took their cause to federal court. "The couples invested roughly $40 million in the casino project. "...The partners are still committed to the project, says Palmer, a casino industry veteran who is leading the effort. "The 149-member tribe, with the Sarasotans' help, has been pressing for implementation of a 1983 federal court ruling in its favor. "That decision said the tribe had been improperly deprived of its tribal lands in Lake County, Calif., which borders and is northwest of Yolo County, the county surrounding Sacramento. "...But another federal court ruled that the Pomos had taken too long to take advantage of the earlier ruling. "...If the tribe does give [tribe's attorney, Norman] Ronnenberg the opportunity to appeal, he will argue that federal laws are supposed to be viewed in a broad and benign fashion with respect to tribal matters, and that the court hearing the West Sacramento land case had ruled too narrowly considering the circumstances..." |