Lawsuit filed over agreement between Oneida Nation, State, and local restaurant
Story Created:
Nov 10, 2009 at 3:22 PM EST
Story Updated:
Nov 10, 2009 at 9:17 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Several parties, including the Oneida County Chapter of the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Owner's Association and Oneida County Legislator Michael Hennessy, as an individual, filed a petition for an injunction with the Oneida County Clerk's Office Tuesday afternoon to stop the NY State Liquor Authority from granting day passes which allow the Beeches in Rome to serve alcohol at five restaurants and three lounges off the gaming floor at Turning Stone Casino.
"If the state will not grant the Oneida Indian Nation a liquor license then they shouldn't be entitled to circumvent the law by having day to day virtually permits that run 365 days out of the year and by their own rules and regulations they're not entitled to do that," says Terry Karst, owner of Beck's Ivy Grill and member of the local chapter of the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Owners Association.
A tentative court date of December 16 is set for a hearing in front of State Supreme Court Judge Shaheen in Utica.
A spokesperson for the State Liquor Authority says the authority has not been served with any legal papers and therefore has no comment.
Oneida Nation Spokesperson, Mark Emery, believes the lawsuit will prove to be as frivolous as he believes it is. Emery says, the vender in question, the Beeches in Rome, followed all applicable rules and regulations. He says the state liquor authority routinely grants permits like the one in question.
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