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Detroit Casinos, Tribes Settlement Approved

DETROIT, Michigan – As reported by the Detroit Free-Press: "Detroit's permanent casinos moved a "giant step" closer to reality, city leaders proclaimed Friday as a federal judge approved the settlement of a 7-year-old legal challenge.

"MotorCity Casino and Greektown Casino will pay $79 million to the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians under the settlement. Former Greektown Casino investors Ted Gatzaros and Jim Papas will pay the tribe another $15 million.

"The tribe sued in 1997, claiming the two casinos got illegal preferences to win licenses. MGM Grand Detroit, which has not settled although it was part of the lawsuit, said Friday it hoped the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati will dismiss it from the suit.

"…Representatives of Greektown and MotorCity said they were pleased with the settlement. But the two casinos said it's already too late to have their gambling houses built in time for the Super Bowl in February 2006.

"…Until now, all three casinos have been prohibited from putting shovels in the ground because of a federal court injunction…"

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