Tribe won’t pursue legal action against Empire Resorts

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council said Wednesday that they will not pursue legal action against their former casino development company, Empire Resorts.

Following a review of contracts, Council said they agree with Empire that their relationship was only legally bound until December of 2007.

Two weeks ago, Empire Resorts notified the SRMT that it was abandoning the Sullivan County/Catskills Mountains/Monticello Raceway casino project they had been jointly working on. Empire Resorts said they were teaming up with another company to build an entertainment venue at a different Monticello site.

The SRMT said they were hurt and betrayed, and threatened legal action.

However, they’ve since changed their minds.

“The Tribe is in the process of issuing a letter to Empire Resorts formally

acknowledging expiration of the purchase agreement on December 31 and to formally terminate the partnership with Empire,” Council said.

Empire Resorts inaccurately reported to the media on Friday that the SRMT had agreed to arbitration. Council denies the report, stating that they have not yet received any arbitration documentation from Empire Resorts.

“The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is aware that Empire Resorts has stated publicly that it has filed for arbitration to have the development agreements declared null and void,” Council said. “The Tribe would like to correct the record: The Tribe has not yet received the filing and has not agreed and will not agree to arbitration. The Tribe does not view arbitration as necessary since the Tribe acknowledges that the agreements have expired.”