FRESNO – Federal judge Lawrence O’Neill today lifted the injunction that closed the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino over a year ago.
After months of negotiations on a memorandum of understanding with Madera County, and a settlement agreement with the National Indian Gaming Commission announced yesterday, Judge O’Neill handed down his ruling today in U.S. District Court in Fresno, removing the final hurdle to the Tribe reopening the casino and putting over a thousand people back to work.
Though a date certain for reopening has not been announced, the Tribe is committed to making that happen as soon as possible.
The casino was shut down on Oct. 10, 2014, after the disputing factions of the Tribe got into an altercation that ended in arrests, and felony charges being filed against 15 defendants. All those charged in the incident have since settled their cases.
