WPT Files Answer in Lawsuit vs. Players

Reel Deal · #1 08-25-06, 10:50 PM

World Poker Tour Files Answer to Lawsuit

August 25, 2006
John Caldwell

One of the biggest headlines made during the 2006 World Series of Poker was not made at the poker table. Right in the middle of the WSOP, seven top players filed a lawsuit against the World Poker Tour, citing anti-trust violations, and other infringements on players rights.

Yesterday, the WPT fired back, and filed their answer to the complaint (lawsuit), and gave some insight on their perspective on the lawsuit filed by the players.

The World Poker Tour indicated it had retained Makan Delrahim of the Washington D.C. based firm Brownstein, Hyatt and Farber to represent them in this matter. Mr Delrahim has previously worked for the US Department of Justice as Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust matters.

"We believe that our answer illustrates why we believe the allegations in the suit are misleading and without merit," said WPTE's General Counsel, Adam Pliska. "While we are disappointed that this action was ever filed, our company is pleased to be represented by such a distinguished legal team and deeply appreciates the support we have received throughout the poker community."

The most interesting portion of the 22 page answer filed yesterday by WPT counsel is the WPT actually attempts to turn the tables. One portion of the answer asserts that any of the players in this suit that are affiliated with, or participate in the business decision making process of an online poker room are actually putting the WPT at an unfair advantage. The answer asserts that by participating in profits reaped by accepting US bettors via their online poker site, these players put the WPT at a competitive disadvantage. The WPT's online poker site, WPT Online does not take US bettors due to the unclear legal situation surrounding online poker here in the US. The answer also claims that, by promoting online poker in the US, and and taking US bettors, these players are actually subsidizing the poker TV programming these online poker rooms produce, and as such, competing with the WPT in its core business producing poker television programming.

The paperwork filed by the World Poker Tour on Thursday opens new issues in this conflict, and it will be interesting to see how the players respond to this, and where this lawsuit goes from here.

Talking Poker · #2 08-25-06, 11:40 PM

This lawsuit was such a very, very bad idea, IMO. Totally needless.

And given the current state of affairs of online poker these days, I don't know why these players would want to draw this type of attention.

omahilo · #3 08-25-06, 11:44 PM

exactly what Negreanu said... plus he said that WPT will look into their taxes, etc... try to do anything they can to run these 7 players credibility into the ground.

Talking Poker · #4 08-26-06, 12:05 AM

Yeah, it could get ugly for them. And in theory, a lot more people too.

Reel Deal · #5 08-26-06, 08:02 AM

Couldn't agree more.

Robbie Robb · #6 08-26-06, 08:23 AM

I think it's also interesting that Negreanu pretty much hit the nail on the head that the WPT *would* bring the online representation into this. I gotta give them credit though - turning it around so that it's the players causing the WPT harm - sheer legal genius (IMO. IANL.)

Talking Poker · #7 08-26-06, 10:18 AM

Maybe it's because I never read the actual lawsuit, but I still don't get what they could possibly be thinking? I mean, yeah, the WPT uses your likeness to promote the WPT. BIG DEAL. Every minute of tv time (or magazine ad time or whatever) that you get (wearing all your sponsored gear or not!), makes you more recognizable, more marketable, and so on.

It's like they forget that if the WPT didn't exist, NO ONE would have any idea who they are - they wouldn't have ANY outside deals. Sure we may know a few of them from the WSOP, but do you really think anyone (other than a few of us die hards who have been following the sucky coverage for years) would even be watching the WSOP if not for the WPT??? If not for the WPT, there wouldn't be televised poker as we know it.

And here's my biggest issue: If you don't want to sign the release for WPT events, don't play in them!!! There are SO MANY tourneys year round, there is absolutely no need to play in the WPT as a professional poker player... unless of course you want a shot at that tv coverage!

Again, all I can think is that I just don't "get it." I saw a few of these guys at the WSOP but didn't say anything... Maybe I'll bring it up the next time I run into one of them.

Boobie Lover · #8 08-26-06, 01:12 PM

I'm not too surprised that Daniel got it right. Daniel is undoubetdly big friends with Lyle Berman and he alluded to playing with Lyle after he heard of the lawsuit. Lyle probably just clued him in on what they were planning on doing.

melioris · #9 08-26-06, 02:02 PM

I looked it up and so I figure someone else might want to know. The seven are Andy Bloch, Annie Duke, Chris Ferguson, Phil Gordon, Greg Raymer, Joe Hachem, and Howard Lederer.