August 19, 2008 –
MAYETTA: The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN) filed a petition for injunctive relief in Shawnee County District Court yesterday against Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. and its affiliates (Harrah’s). Prior attempts to resolve the issues between the parties through negotiations have not been successful.
Russ Brien, Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, who is on the legal team representing the PBPN on the case, said, “The Nation filed a lawsuit to enforce its rights under a non-compete agreement with Harrah’s and requested the court enjoin Harrah’s ongoing activity which violates the agreement. For a reasonable time period after it stopped operating the Nation’s gaming operations, Harrah’s agreed not to develop, promote, or encourage the expansion of any casino gaming and agreed not to own, operate, manage or otherwise engage in any casino business in the State of Kansas. The petition alleges Harrah’s active involvement in a proposed casino in Sumner County, Kansas is in clear violation of the non-compete agreement.”
The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board is slated to announce its selection for the contract for a state-owned casino in Sumner and Cherokee counties this comng Friday, August 22. Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. is among those listed along with Marvel Gaming and Penn National Gaming Inc. for a gaming operation in Sumner County. Penn National is the only applicant listed for Cherokee County.