MIAMI (April 17, 2002) — Colson Hicks Eidson, P.A., a trial law firm in Coral Gables, today announced that the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit has affirmed the order of trial judge Shelby Highsmith requiring the Miccosukee Indian Tribe to pay $16 million in damages to Tamiami Partners, Ltd., effectively ending a decade long battle between the Miccosukees and the company that built the bingo hall.

Colson Hicks Eidson represented Tamiami Partners. The company entered into a contract with the tribe to build and operate the Miccosukee bingo facility. In 1993, the Miccosukees terminated the contract, ejected Tamiami Partners from the facility and took over operations.

“This decade long litigation has come to an end,” said Dean Colson, partner, Colson Hicks Eidson. “We are pleased with the ruling. At every step, the court has found what the tribe did was wrong and they have recognized that our clients were terribly damaged by the tribe’s actions.”

Attorney Colson Hicks Eidson also worked on this case.