Lawsuit filed over casino license for Pope County, contending Cherokee firm lacks experience
A lawsuit filed Tuesday asked the Pulaski County Circuit Court to issue a temporary restraining order halting any movement on a casino in Pope County until the question of whether Legends Resort and Casino has casino experience can be answered.
The case — filed by John “Cliff” Goodin in the courtroom of Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox — also takes issue with how the license recipient’s name is listed on the gambling license issued last month.
Dustin McDaniel, Cherokee Nation Businesses’ attorney, said the Pope County license was issued “properly and consistently” with Racing Commission rules and “CNB’s application.”
“We are confident in our legal position and will work quickly to dismiss this new lawsuit which rehashes old allegations already addressed by the Arkansas Racing Commission, not to mention the Commission’s expert consultant which found CNB to have superior experience,” McDaniel said.
When asked for comment about the legal challenge, Racing Commission spokesman Scott Hardin said the commission was aware of the complaint made in Tuesday’s filing, and that “a very similar issue is pending before Judge Fox.”