Jamie Gold Lawsuit Update #2

The drama of the Jamie Gold/Crispin Leyser $6 million dispute continues. Last Friday, December 15, Leyser filed a petition in federal court, disputing Gold’s story regarding the agreement they had prior to Gold’s winning the main event at the 2006 World Series of Poker.

While Gold said he offered Leyser half of his winnings because he felt bad that Leyser could not get sponsored for the event, Leyser says the offer was a business agreement, not a friendly gesture. Gold has since taken his offer off the table.

As was detailed previously here on Poker Source Online, Leyser argues that Gold was offered a free seat in the main event by online poker room, Bodog.com, only if he could secure celebrities to wear Bodog.com clothing in the tournament. Gold then reportedly offered to share any winnings with Leyser if Leyser was able to get the celebrities.

Leyser was able to get two celebrities, Dax Shepard (Punk’d) and Matthew Lillard (Scooby Doo, Scream) to play for Bodog. Before play started on the final day of the tournament, Gold allegedly called Leyser to reiterate that he would get half of his winnings, which were then guaranteed to be over $1 million (total).

"Clearly, the uncontested evidence in this case demonstrates that the reason Jamie Gold left Crispin Leyser the telephone message on Aug. 11, 2006, was because Crispin Leyser secured celebrities for Bodog who in exchange gave Jamie Gold the seat in the tournament," wrote Leyser’s attorney, Richard Schonfeld.

The Rio casino is holding the half of Gold’s winnings that are in dispute.

The dispute is scheduled to be considered by U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt Thursday morning.

Related links
Original story
Update #1

Originally published December 19, 2006