Judge Rules for Fond du Lac Band in Duluth Casino Dispute

DULUTH (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa doesn't have to pay roughly $10 million that the city of Duluth claimed in back payments.

Tuesday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson of St. Paul is in regard to payments of revenue from Fond-du-Luth Casino that the city wanted from 2009 to 2011. The band had an agreement with the city, but stopped making payments in 2009.

The National Indian Gaming Commission said in 2011 that the agreement was illegal. That year, a federal judge ruled the band still had to make payments for 2009 to 2011.

Earlier this year, a judge upheld the gaming commission's notice of violation, rejecting the city's attempt to reinstate the agreement.

The band paid $75 million to Duluth from 1994 to 2009.