The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians will seek relief and potentially appeal a recent circuit court ruling against its gaming entity for nearly $89 million damages for two failed casino projects, and hire a new law firm as legal counsel.

Tribal officials announced the move [Monday], nearly two weeks after Ingham County Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk ordered the Kewadin Casinos Gaming Authority to pay $88.88 million in breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation damages to the development entities behind the casino proposals in Lansing and New Boston.

Investors and developers in the projects initially loaned the gaming authority $8.8 million to advance the projects.