BISMARCK (KCND) - The North Dakota Senate has approved $15.2 million to pay back the owner of a former Fargo horse betting business.
Susan Bala was convicted of illegal betting. She spent time in prison, and was ordered to pay back taxes. But a federal appeals court overturned the conviction, and ordered the state to pay Bala back. The lawsuit settlement was for $13.5 million. With interest, that amounts to an estimated $15.2 million.
The money has been added to a "deficiency appropriations" bill - and the money will come from the Strategic Infrastructure Investment Fund.
Bismarck Senator Dick Dever says the legislation includes a provision that those funds can only be paid out on the order of the court which has not yet been issued.
The bill now goes to the House to see if it agrees.