Hearing Delayed On Injunction To Stop Kialegee Casino

A hearing has been rescheduled in a lawsuit filed by the state of Oklahoma against the Kialegee tribe and its casino development project in Broken Arrow.

The hearing is now set for May 16, 2012.  At that hearing, a Tulsa County judge will decide whether a preliminary injunction should be granted to stop construction of the Red Clay Casino just north of the Creek Turnpike on 129th East Avenue.

The Kialegee Tribe started bulldozing the land last year and earlier this year trucked in several pre-fabricated buildings. Those buildings would be used as a temporary home for the casino until the construction is complete.

Neighbors don't want it close to their families. They say it would hurt property values and attract crime to the area.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt filed suit against the developers saying the tribe has no jurisdiction to build on the land. He also says the Kialegee tribe is preparing to act in violation of federal law.

The Kialegees told the court they can't be sued because they have sovereign power and the state has not shown how the casino would harm Oklahoma if construction moved forward.

4/6/2012 Related Story: Fight Continues Over Broken Arrow Casino