Costner’s casino share is OK’d

The South Dakota Supreme Court has backed Kevin Costner in a legal battle over a Deadwood casino he owns, ruling Thursday that the actor-director doesn’t have to sell his share in the business to sever his relationship with two partners.

The actor wants to become the sole owner of the Midnight Star, an eating and gambling establishment where costumes that Costner wore in various movies line the walls.

Costner owns 93.5% of the casino. He hired Francis and Carla Caneva to manage the operation and gave them ownership of 6.5%. He fired them in July 2004, asking them to part ways as partners, and dissolved the partnership when they declined.

The court dispute centered on the value of the casino. The Supreme Court said the property must be revalued; if the casino is determined to be worth no more than the $4.9 million Costner has put into it, the Canevas will not be entitled to any money, his lawyer said.