Connecticut slot tax case dropped

LEDYARD, Connecticut – As reported by the Connecticut Day: "It's a legal dispute between the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the town, but the town insists it now involves the wrong party and the wrong venue.

"The tribe, which leases slot machines from the Atlantic City Coin and Slot Service Co. for its gaming operation at Foxwoods Resort Casino, filed a federal lawsuit last year challenging Ledyard's taxation of AC Coin's machines. The tribe dropped AC Coin as a co-plaintiff in the case on Nov. 20.

"Ledyard says AC Coin, not the tribe, should be challenging the property taxes.

"On Wednesday, the town and the state filed separate motions to dismiss the case. The town had originally sought to have the case dismissed in September in a motion deemed moot by U.S. District Court in Bridgeport. The state's request to intervene in the case is pending.

"'We're not taxing the Mashantuckets, we're taxing AC Coin,' Lloyd Langhammer, an attorney representing the town, said Thursday.

"…Langhammer said he believes the tribe may have dropped AC Coin as co-plaintiff in an attempt to stress that the case involves an Indian issue and belongs in federal court. The tribe has argued since filing its original complaint Aug. 3 that taxing the slot machines is illegal under federal Indian law…"