South Dakota court rules in favor of Trucano in casino sale

The court determined that Trucano was not in contempt for any unpaid debt.

South Dakota Circuit Judge Eric Strawn has ruled in favor of Michael Trucano in the matter of a suit claiming Trucano was “in contempt regarding an unpaid debt involving a casino and hotel,” according to a local report in KELO News. The case was heard before the State Supreme Court, which also upheld the circuit court judge’s decision.

Spearfish’s Mark and Annesse Brockley had accused Trucano of being in contempt after the couple sold a hotel and casino in downtown Deadwood to several men “who later transferred the property to a new group that eventually became known as G Squared and included Clarence ‘Nick’ Griffin.” Brockley’s sold the property in 2004 for $2m.

During 2011, Trucano and Griffin formed N.M.D., a limited liability company. Both owned half of the company’s shares.

According to the local report, G Squared ceased making payments to the Brockleys in the summer of 2014. The couple later sued G Squared, along with its owners. Griffin assigned his interest in the company over to his wife, Kimberly Griffin in March 2015.

Trucano signed his N.M.D. membership interest to the Trucano Living Trust in June 2015.

In other South Dakota news, two business owners have requested that the state’s Lottery Commission raise both the limit on jackpot machine payouts and the minimum betting amount players can wager on video gaming machines.

They are asking for “a tiered system of maximum bets ranging from $3 to $5 along with jackpot increases” and “that the lottery office should pay any winnings above $2,500.”

South Dakota first implemented a video lottery in 1989. The current state law on the books permits a maximum betting amount of $2 per play on video lottery machines and a jackpot payout amount no larger than $1,000.

Since the statewide video lottery’s debut, both lobbyists and South Dakota Lottery officials have pushed to see these limits raised, according to the local report.

Isabella Santos

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