Champerty: the White Man's Latest Way to Access the Benefits of Native Gaming

Detroiter's Michael Malik and Marian Ilitch organized a gaming syndication, Gateway Casino Resorts, and other affiliates, to bankroll the legal process and other expenses associated with expediting the Federal Recognition process for the Shinnecock Indian Nation. In exchange for bankrolling Recognition, the Detroiters bargained for exclusive rights to develop, manage and operate any gambling hall that the Shinnecock might have the right to pursue once they had won Recognition. Some suggest such is "Champerty."

In addition to bankrolling the Shinnecock legal expenses, the Detroiters reportedly paid now-disgraced businessman and convicted felon Ivy Ong $25 million for the assignment of an earlier such agreement he had with the Shinnecock.

In essence, the Detroiters bargained with the Shinnecock and agreed to bankroll their legal matter in trade for any casino development rights the Shinnecock might be eligible for as a result of Federal Recognition.

cham·per·ty noun - \ˈcham-pər-tē\ Definition of CHAMPERTY : a proceeding by which a person not a party in a suit bargains to aid in or carry on its prosecution or defense in consideration of a share of the matter in suit [From Middle English champartie, from Middle French champart (part of the field: a feudal lord's share of his tenant's crop), from champ (field), from Latin campus (field) + part.] "Champerty, which is illegal in many, but not all, states, occurs when someone helps pay the costs of someone else's lawsuit in exchange for a share of any proceeds." Wade Lambert and Arthur S Hayes; Investing in Patents to File Suits is Curbed; The Wall Street Journal (New York); May 30, 1990.