Michigan: Sault Tribe’s former legal counsel advised hiding assets from casino project judgments, records show

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 8:35 PM
  • Krystal Nurse, Lansing State Journal

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is due back in Ingham County court Wednesday to defend allegations they attempted to bury assets ahead of a nearly $89 million judgment.

Lawyers for New Boston-based JLLJ Development LLC and Lansing-based Lansing Future Development II filed a temporary restraining order on the tribe’s Kewadin Casinos Gaming Authority after lawyers found a Sept. 13 resolution the tribe adopted to shield itself of financial liability from court judgments. The resolution followed an August trial for damages due to the developers for two failed casino deals…

Michael Perry of Fraser Trebilcock Davis and Dunlap, co-counsel for the developers, deferred comments about the hearing until after Wednesday.