SUMMARY JUDGEMENT DENIED IN WPT - POKER PRO LITIGATION

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It looks like a long summer of legal proceedings lies ahead

Last year's anti-trust legal action by seven poker professionals against the World Poker Tour was in a Vegas district court again this week for a ruling on a request by the players for a summary judgement in their favour.

But it was not to be - District Court Judge Otis D. Wright II denied the request, indicating that in the absence of an agreed settlement between the players and the WPT, the issue will have to be judicially heard in full.

The dispute has its genesis in claims by former World Champions Chris Ferguson, Greg Raymer and Joseph Hachem, along with Howard Lederer, Annie Duke, Andy Bloch and Phil Gordon that the releases that players are required to sign before they can play in WPT  events infringed on their personal property rights and prevented them from pursuing their livelihood of professional poker.

The group filed a class action anti-trust lawsuit against World Poker Tour Enterprises, Inc. late last year.  This was followed in April this year by a request from the players for a summary jurdgement, now denied.

WPT's legal counsel Adam Pliska applauded the Judge's decision, saying: "We are very pleased with Judge Wright's order denying the Motion for Summary Judgment. We feel that this decision confirms our contention that this case is without merit."

Some of the players have refused to play in WPT events until the issue is resolved, claiming that the WPT restrictions deny fans the chance to see top players competing. There is as yet no indication of when the issue will be heard in full in court, and there has thus far been little indication that a settlement might be achieved.