Oklahoma - Tribe Can Be Sued by Casino Patrons in State Court

Another brick taken out of the wall of tribal sovereignty……

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on June 30 that patrons of the Choctaw Nation’s casino can sue the tribe in state court.

In two separate decisions the court determined that the tribal-state compact's language allowed lawsuits against the tribe to be heard in the Oklahoma state court system. The tribe argued that lawsuits could only be filed in tribal court because of their sovereign status.

The tribe is considering an appeal or asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.