« Ind. Courts - More on: Commission on Judicial Qualifications has filed judicial disciplinary charges against Judge Thomas Newman, Jr., Madison Superior Court #3. | Main | Ind. Courts - Crown Point city court: Income exceeds expenses; staff sees record caseload »

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Ind. Courts - Still more on: Judge seals records in French Lick casino dispute without hearing

Upating this latest ILB entry from Friday, the Indianapolis Star has a brief story today that Attorney General Steve Carter has joined the fray:

Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter is asking an Orange County judge to unseal the records in a lawsuit between the partners of a new casino in French Lick.

A hearing on whether the records should remain sealed is scheduled for Monday in the Orange County court in Paoli.

"Casino gambling operations have a long history of public scrutiny in Indiana," Carter said in a statement. "Attempts to elude public scrutiny raise doubt and create a cloud of suspicion."

Last month, Judge Larry Blanton ruled that the records in the lawsuit should be sealed pending Monday's hearing.

On June 8, Orange County Holdings filed suit against Lauth Resorts & Casino, its partner in Blue Sky Casino LLC, which won the right operate the French Lick casino. Lauth then sued Orange County Holdings.

The Bloomington Heral-Times also has a story, headlined "Casino project moves forward despite lawsuits," but their stories require a paid subscription. Shortsightedly, in my opinion.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 30, 2006 08:55 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts