Federal judge keeps alive lawsuit against Red Hawk Casino
By Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee
The owners of Red Hawk Casino just can’t shake a lawsuit by their former gambling partner.
A federal judge in Sacramento has denied a petition by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians to block a lawsuit by Sharp Image Gaming. It was the second time in six months that courts have turned back the tribe’s efforts to rid itself of Sharp Image’s litigation.
Sharp Image, a Chatsworth supplier of gambling devices, is suing the tribe for more than $100 million. The company says the Miwoks broke a contract that established Sharp Image as the tribe’s exclusive casino partner.
With last week’s decision keeping the lawsuit alive, Sharp Image expects the case to go to trial in February, said the company’s lawyer, Matthew Jacobs of Sacramento. The tribe’s lead attorney, Paula Yost of San Francisco, couldn’t be reached for comment.