A San Diego County Indian tribe is suing the state, contending it was tricked into a casino deal that has forced it to pay millions of dollars.
The Pauma Band of Mission Indians filed the federal lawsuit earlier this month. It contests a 2004 compact with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger permitting the tribe to add a resort to its casino and add thousands of slot machines in return for paying the state hefty shares of the revenue.
The tribe says it has paid about $26 million, but its plans for the $300-million resort have fallen through. It wants its money back and reversion to a 1999 state deal that would reduce its annual payments.
A Schwarzenegger spokesman, Jeff Maceda, said the governor made the deal in good faith and stands by it.
The casino is in North County, not far from state Route 76, and is about 45 miles from downtown San Diego.
