Jamul Indian Village can sue Caltrans says judge

February 10, 2009

SAN DIEGO, CA – A federal judge ruled last month that Caltrans has unjustly imposed a requirement for a full environmental impact study on the tribe’s plans to build a casino 25 minutes from downtown San Diego.
The Jamul Indian Village had sued for an injunction to stop Caltrans from blocking access onto the reservation if it proceeds with construction without an impact study.

U.S. District Court Judge Dana Sabraw denied Caltrans’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Caltrans argued the casino violated their state sovereignty and jurisdiction over the highway system.

The judge wrote: “The tribe merely seeks a declaration of its rights and an injunction restraining defendants from acting contrary to federal law.”

“It reiterates what we felt, that they were treating us in a discriminatory way,” said Jamul Council Member Richard Tellow.

Return to California Casinos.