{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-30/buffalo-seneca-nation-gas-station-lawsuits","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-30/buffalo-seneca-nation-gas-station-lawsuits.md","title":"Buffalo Law Department Faces Seneca Nation Gas Station Lawsuits","headline":"Buffalo's 22-Attorney Law Department Handles Seneca Nation Gas Station and Interior Lawsuits","description":"Buffalo's law department, with 22 attorneys and a $5.6 million budget line, is handling lawsuits over the Seneca Nation gas station and the Interior Department.","section":"Legal & Disputes","published_at":"2026-10-30T00:06:47+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-30T00:06:47+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Buffalo's law department has 22 attorneys and a $5.6 million recommended city budget line.","The city is challenging the Seneca Nation's construction of a 28-bay gas station and convenience store complex.","Buffalo also filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Interior and various federal officials.","Attorney Barry Covert expects the city will probably appeal the judge's ruling against it."],"companies":[{"name":"Seneca Nation of Indians","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002p8k/seneca-nation-of-indians","website":"https://sni.org"}],"source":{"publisher":"Yahoo","title":"Lawsuits filed against Seneca Nation, U.S. government add to workload for Buffalo law department","url":"https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/lawsuits-filed-against-seneca-nation-232446191.html"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Legal & Disputes","Seneca Nation of Indians"],"body_markdown":"Buffalo's law department is handling lawsuits against the Seneca Nation's gas station project and the U.S. Department of Interior, with 22 attorneys on staff and a $5.6 million recommended city budget line. [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/lawsuits-filed-against-seneca-nation-232446191.html) reported the legal workload on October 29, 2026.\n\n## Buffalo's Court Fight Over the Seneca Gas Station\n\nCity of Buffalo attorneys were at work Monday in State Supreme Court as their legal bid to stop the [Seneca Nation of Indians](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002p8k/seneca-nation-of-indians) gas station project failed for now. The case challenges the legality of the Nation's ongoing construction of a 28-bay gas station and convenience store complex.\n\nAttorney Barry Covert of Lipsitz, Green, Scime, Cambria LLP said the city will spend heavily on the effort. \"The city of Buffalo will be using a lot of resources to try to prevent this development from happening on the Seneca property,\" Covert said. \"You're challenging even whether it's Seneca property rightfully or not.\"\n\nThe city has also filed a related federal court lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Interior and various federal officials. Covert said the Department of Justice will presumably be brought in to work with Interior's lawyers. He said the case requires coming up to speed on treaties between the federal government and the Seneca Nation going back to the early 1800s.\n\nThe corporation counsel's office also represents city officials, employees and departments including police, the Common Council, the school district and the Sewer Authority, and handles ordinance review, contracts and bonding. Other disputed property cases include the Buffalo Grand Hotel, AM & A's building, Cobblestone District and possibly the old Wonder Bread Building.\n\nRyan said the office had more than six vacancies when he came into office and has worked to fill slots. \"That's always something we look at, is trying to balance what the needs we can take care of in-house,\" Ryan said. The city called in outside attorneys at extra expense for complex labor union contract negotiations covering police, fire, DPW and other city workers.\n\n## Seneca Nation's Federal Funding and Gaming Compact\n\nAccording to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), the Seneca Nation received $357,754 in federal funding from the U.S. in May 2026, part of more than $7.7 million in federal funding for Western New York organizations announced by U.S. Congressman Nick Langworthy. The records list a June 2023 grant of $6 million from the Federal Transit Administration and a May 2019 grant of $290,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The Nation signed a Gaming Compact with the State of New York in 2002 under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to establish three Class III gaming casino facilities.\n\n## Earlier Rulings and Filings in the Dispute\n\nOn October 26, 2026, a judge denied Buffalo's request to halt construction of the gas station on Miami Street, ruling the city lacks jurisdiction, Yahoo reported. The decision rested on the property's restricted fee status, which gives the Seneca Nation federal oversight.\n\nBuffalo filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court on October 7, 2026, to pause construction of the Miami Street station, claiming the Nation began work without approvals and disputing the land's restricted-fee status, Yahoo reported. On September 28, 2026, the city sent a cease-and-desist order over the proposed second One Stop gas station on Miami Street, Yahoo reported.\n\n## Appeal Expected in Rochester\n\nCovert expects the city probably will appeal the court decision against it, but he feels it could be a tough assignment at the Fourth Appellate District in Rochester because the appeals court usually does not overturn court judges.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}