The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the Onondaga Indian Nation's petition to review the dismissal of its long-running lawsuit claiming a massive swath of land running down the middle of New York state.
The Nation had argued the 4,000 square miles in 11 counties was illegally taken by the state through a series of bogus treaties. The lawsuit also named the city of Syracuse and a number of local companies as defendants.
The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the land claim outright in 2012. The Supreme Court decision on Tuesday rejected a petition to review that dismissal.
While Tuesday's decision ends the Onondagas' lawsuit in U.S. courts, the tribe's attorney, Joe Heath, says a challenge may be filed with the United Nations or another international arena.
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