A breach-of-contract lawsuit has been filed against Jim Gannarelli, Bear River Casino’s general manager and former Mazatzal Casino chief executive officer, by his former employer, the Tonto Apache Tribe.

He is being sued in the Tonto Apache Tribal Court.

The allegations are without merit and “I’ve kept the Bear River Tribe completely informed on every issue pertaining to this,” Gannarelli said.

“The breach of contract lawsuit recently filed by the Tonto Apache Tribe against Mr. Jim Gannarelli, the new general manager of our casino, remains a set of unproven and potentially defamatory allegations,” Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria Chairman Leonard Bowman wrote in a statement provided to The Eureka Reporter. “The Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria believes in due process of law, not trial by press. Bear River has confidence in Mr. Gannarelli’s gaming expertise, management skills and personal integrity. Mr. Gannarelli is a valuable human resource and we have welcomed him to Humboldt County to assist us in creating over 200 quality jobs at the Bear River Casino.”

Gannarelli worked for the Tonto Apache Tribe in Payson, Ariz. for four and a half years, leaving in January. He began working at Bear River Casino in April.

When he left his employment with the Mazatzal Casino, the tribe voluntarily gave him three months severance pay and thanked him for his service, Gannarelli said.

One of the charges against Gannarelli is that he began working at Bear River Casino while still employed by the Tonto Apache Tribe.

That allegation is false, he said.

“(I’ve) never been paid by anybody (else) while working for them,” Gannarelli said.

There was a “major change in the tribal council and I believe that (the lawsuit is) strictly to do with the change in council,” he said.

Gannarelli thinks it is a personal vendetta, he said.

Gannarelli’s wife has also been sued by the tribe and she has had no involvement with the tribe, he said.

“I believe they are all allegations without merit and I feel strong that in a proper court of law that it will be dismissed, Gannarelli said.

This is a country where anybody can sue or be sued by anyone else with tribes being an exception, because they have sovereign immunity to lawsuits, he said.

“The reason I think they chose tribal court is because they have sovereign immunity,” Gannerelli said.

Ganarelli has been involved in the gaming business for 24 years, 19 and a half of those years with Native American gaming. He said, he has worked for at least 15 casinos during his career and has never previously been sued by any tribes.

This is “just a frivolous lawsuit and allegations,” he said.

The Bear River Casino in Loleta is planning its grand opening for Aug. 10.

Representatives from the Tonto Apache Tribe could not be reached for comment.
  
 
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