The Associated Press has reported that
World Series of Poker main event winner Jamie Gold has agreed to settle a $12 million dispute with Los Angeles TV producer Bruce Crispin Leyser. In a joint signed statement released on Tuesday, both
have agreed the matter should be resolved "without litigation."
Click here for Card Player's original story and review of the actual Leyser vs. Gold lawsuit filed in August of 2006.
"Jamie always intended on sharing his winnings with Crispin," the statement says. "Jamie and Crispin are happy to report they have fully settled this matter. They are pleased to be closing this chapter and look forward to continued success."
The former Hollywood agent turned poker pro won the 2006
WSOP main event by defeating 8,772 players. Since then the dispute has been a black eye on the poker industry, the
WSOP, and the parties involved.
The two did not make clear how much money Leyser would receive as Gold has already withdrawn half of the $12 million in winnings. The rest was frozen by court order after Leyser filed suit against Gold last summer in Las Vegas court.
Leyser said Gold agreed to the split in exchange for finding celebrities to represent Bodog by wearing their logo while playing in the $10,000 tournament
Leyser kept a voicemail that Gold left on his phone on the final day of the tournament in which Gold promised to pay Leyser "your half."
At a December court hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Roger L. Hunt rejected a motion by Gold's lawyers to lift an injunction set in September on the $6 million. The money remained inside the Rio All Suite Hotel Casino vaults until Hunt finally order the frozen funds to be moved into an interest-bearing account.
Hunt also indicated that Leyser would likely win his claim to the $6 million.
The following is a joint statement received on Wednesday from Jamie Gold and Crispin Leyser regarding the resolution of the civil lawsuit.
"Jamie and Crispin went into the
World Series of Poker as friends. There was an agreement that Jamie would share his winnings with Crispin. After Jamie won the tournament, Jamie and Crispin began to be pulled in different directions. Jamie always intended on sharing his winnings with Crispin. Both now agree that this matter should have been resolved without litigation. Jamie and Crispin are happy to report they have fully settled this matter. They are pleased to be closing this chapter and look forward to continued success."
Comments
asj
over 15 years ago
A man is only as good as his word.
Truthseeker
over 15 years ago
This is a good article! There's no opinion by the reporter and gramatically it's your best work! Nothing wrong with this...all your articles and cardplayers should look this good.
SevenKidsPoppy
over 15 years ago
What was behind Bodog's split with Gold, does anyone know? And Mr. Boland, it's "grammatically," with two m's.
maxima191
over 15 years ago
It's funny that Gold now settled the case after Bodog let him go-Congrats Crispin!
RiPoker
over 15 years ago
I am under the assumption Bodog paid Mr. Golds entrance fee. Then when he won was under contract but the resulting threat of litigation resulted in termintion of any contractual obligations. I
parsifals
over 15 years ago
with regard to the comment about this article being grammatically sound... well, nothing on cardplayer really ever is. but this is a sentence rife with problems:
"Hunt also indicated that Leyser would likely win his claim to the $6 million."
the legal language and tense are way off here.
Truthseeker
over 15 years ago
Ha! I spelled grammatically wrong. That was always my weakness when I was a reporter...but that's why they make editors! Unfortunately, cardplayer has no idea what an editor is.
callnraze
over 15 years ago
What's the odds that either one of these dudes enjoy the new found wealth. Big stacks bring more than hoped for sweet dreams and often leave one pining for those carefree days of scuffling for a 200 dollar buy-in which kept the blood bubbling just fine thankyou and nary a moments sleep, or friendship lost, a freebie add on. The gold ring is often anti-climatic compared to the journey between step 1 and the mountain top.