NEW HAVEN, CT (AP) -
The American Indian tribe that owns Foxwoods Resort Casino has won a federal lawsuit against the town of Ledyard over property taxes levied on leased slot machines.
U.S. District Court Judge Warren Eginton ruled this week in favor of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. He ruled the town's interest in taxing the leased equipment fails to justify the economic burden on the tribe and cited the tribe's self-determination and self-government.
The tribe argued the taxes, collected since 2003, violated federal law.
The town has argued that while the Pequots are a federally recognized tribe, and their property is tax-exempt, equipment owned by private companies on tribal land is taxable.
An attorney for the town declined comment. Messages were left for the tribe.
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