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Thursday, June 22, 2006
Ind. Courts - More details on: Judge seals records in French Lick casino dispute without hearing
WKYT 27 Kentucky Television has this report. Some quotes:
PAOLI, Ind. -- The details of a dispute over the new Orange County casino remain secret as an Indianapolis real estate developer has countersued its partner in the $300 million project.A judge ruled that court records in the lawsuits will remain sealed until at least the end of next month, when he will hold a hearing on whether the records should be made public.
Orange Circuit Judge Larry Blanton on Tuesday scheduled the hearing for July 31.
Lauth Property Group Inc. also Tuesday filed its lawsuit against Bloomington businessman William Cook, whose company, Cook Group Inc., this month sued Lauth.
Blanton on June 8 granted Cook Group's motion to seal the records.
The companies have not commented on the lawsuit, but Ernest Yelton, executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission, said that the dispute was over control of the casino.
State law that allows certain information _ including records containing trade secrets and confidential financial information _ to be sealed.
Blanton said he interpreted the law to say that he was not required to conduct a hearing before sealing the file.
"My understanding is I can close records and then have a hearing," he said. "On the 31st, we will talk about that. Anyone who wants to file a brief can do so."
The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky., and The Herald-Times of Bloomington are asking the judge to unseal the lawsuits and documents filed with them.
Yelton said Monday the lawsuit should not delay the $300 million casino's scheduled November opening in French Lick, about 50 miles south of Bloomington.
Stephen Key, general counsel of the Hoosier State Press Association, said he doubted the judge could seal documents in a lawsuit without an apparent need to do so.
"I'm kind of at a loss (to say) why that would be given the treatment to seal the entire record," Key said. "Obviously with the magnitude of the (casino) project, there would be great interest" in the community about the dispute.
Blanton said the July 31 hearing could not be held sooner because the lawyers are from Chicago and Indianapolis and because William Cook is out of the country.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 22, 2006 07:44 AM
Posted to Ind. Trial Ct. Decisions