Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01593/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01593-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Breach of Contract

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 1 Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion for 

Temporary Restraining Order

KAMALA D. HARRIS

Attorney General of California 

SARA J. DRAKE, State Bar No. 102565 

Senior Assistant Attorney General 

WILLIAM P. TORNGREN, State Bar No. 58493 

Deputy Attorney General 

WILLIAM L. WILLIAMS, JR., State Bar No. 99581 

Deputy Attorney General 

1300 I Street, Suite 125 

P.O. Box 944255 

Sacramento, CA 94244-2550 

Telephone: (916) 324-3725 

Fax: (916) 323-2319 

E-mail: Bill.Williams@doj.ca.gov 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

(FRESNO DIVISION) 

STATE OF CALIFORNIA, 

Plaintiff,

v. 

PICAYUNE RANCHERIA OF 

CHUKCHANSI INDIANS OF 

CALIFORNIA, A FEDERALLY 

RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBE,

Defendant.

 Case No. 1:14-CV-01593 LJO SAB 

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION FOR TEMPORARY 

RESTRAINING ORDER 

Pending a hearing on Plaintiff State of California’s (State) motion for preliminary 

injunction, which is currently set for hearing on October 15, 2014 at 1:30 p.m., the Court makes 

the following findings of fact and conclusions of law: 

1. The State and the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California (Tribe) 

entered into a class III gaming compact (Compact) on September 10, 1999. Pursuant to the 

Compact the Tribe operates the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino (Casino) located in Madera 

County, California. 

Case 1:14-cv-01593-LJO-SAB Document 5 Filed 10/10/14 Page 1 of 3
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 2 Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion for 

Temporary Restraining Order

2. The Compact makes provisions to protect the public health and safety. Under section 

8.1.2 of the Compact, the Tribe agreed to ensure “the physical safety of Gaming Operation 

patrons and employees, and any other person while in the Gaming Facility.” Section 10.1 of the 

Compact provides: “The Tribe will not conduct Class III gaming in a manner that endangers the 

public health, safety, or welfare . . . .” 

3. An intra-tribal dispute exists among Tribe’s members. As a result of this dispute, 

three factions claim tribal leadership rights and the right to the Casino’s possession and control. 

The intra-tribal dispute involves armed factions and thus pose a threat to the public health, safety, 

and welfare. 

4. The Court has jurisdiction over this case under section 1331 of title 28 of the United 

States Code because the State’s claim arises under federal statutes and the federal common law. 

This Court also has jurisdiction pursuant to section 2710(d)(7)(A)(ii) of title 25 of the United 

States Code because this action is initiated by the State to enjoin conduct related to the Tribe’s 

class III gaming activity that violates the Compact. 

5. The State has made a strong showing that it is likely to prevail on the merits of its 

claim because the ongoing tribal standoff between armed factions at the Casino breaches the 

Tribe’s duties under the compact. 

6. The State has no plain, speedy or adequate remedy at law to redress the injuries it will 

suffer if the Tribe is not temporarily restrained and enjoined in the above described manner, 

including but not limited to the threat of physical violence against residents of California and 

members of the Tribe. 

7. The equities clearly favor the State and its interests to protect the public health, 

safety, and welfare. 

8. Issuance of this temporary restraining order will serve the public interest by 

preserving the status quo, and avoiding injury to the people of the State, until the State’s motion 

for preliminary injunction can be heard and determined in due course. 

9. The State has acted timely in seeking a temporary restraining order to preserve the 

status quo until its motion for preliminary injunction can be heard and determined. 

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 3 Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion for 

Temporary Restraining Order

Based upon the forgoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, and good cause appearing, 

it is hereby ordered that the State’s motion for a temporary restraining order is granted without 

requiring the State to post security, and that the Tribe, and all if its officers, agents, servants, 

employees and attorneys and all persons acting under the Tribe’s direction and control, including 

both factions currently claiming to constitute the tribal government, are hereby enjoined and 

restrained from: 

1. Attempting to repossess, or take control of, the Casino, located in Madera County, 

California (Casino). 

 2. Deploying tribal police or other armed personnel of any nature within 1000 yards 

from the Casino, the property on which the Casino is located, and tribal properties surrounding 

the Casino including the nearby hotels and tribal offices. 

3. Possessing, carrying, displaying, or otherwise having firearms on the Tribal 

Properties. 

4. Operating the Casino unless and until it is established before this Court that the public 

health and safety of Casino patrons, employees, and tribal members can be adequately protected 

from the violent confrontations and threats of violent confrontation among the tribal factions 

disputing leadership of the Tribe and control of the Casino. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: October 10, 2014 __/s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill________ 

 JUDGE OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Case 1:14-cv-01593-LJO-SAB Document 5 Filed 10/10/14 Page 3 of 3