The lawsuit comes at time of dire financial strain for the state's budget. But Tighe said the state would not be in this situation had it paid the tribe for land when it was taken, between 1801 and 1918. According to the lawsuit, the land was first taken to satisfy a "debt" by the state-appointed manager of the land. But Tighe said it is not clear why it continued, shrinking the reservation to its present 400 acres.