Senecas want voice heard on Buffalo casino - Business First of Buffalo:

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Lawyers representing the Seneca Nation haveaskeed U.S. District Court Judge William Skretny to grant them a waiverf ofimmunity — a move that makes the tribe a defendantr in the complex series of legalp actions concerning the downtowhn Buffalo casino. The Seneca Nation, whicgh has never been directly suedby anti-casino supporters, has held amicus or “friene of the court” Paper work asking Skretny to approve the waivert was submitted to the judge He is expected to schedule hearingsz to consider the motion in the coming days. “It’xs time for the Seneca Nation to speak with its own saidCarol Heckman, a former federal judger and partner in the Buffalo law firm of .
Heckman is representin g the Seneca Nation in thecasinpo lawsuit. Heckman noted there are certaimn legal advantages for the Seneca Natiobn in offering its waiver of It provides them with a seat at the defendants table, especially if the lawsuit moves from Skretny’sx court to the Second Circuit Courtr of Appeals, which is likely regardless of any rulingse the federal judge makes. Skretny is reviewin g whether the casino, which has been approved by federal officials includinggthe , was properly greenlighted. The federal commission alloweed the Seneca Nation to open the casino inJuly 2007.
Anti-casin o supporters won a series of rulingslast summer, by the NIGS re-affirmesd the casino as a legal operation on Jan. 20. “Fofr the (Seneca) nation, it is better to be at the tablew and not sitting back in the Heckman said.