LEDERER ASKS JUDGE TO CONSIDER POKER A SKILL GAME

Howard Lederer’s lawyers have been quite quick and have written to the Federal Court asking them for a conference in which they can discuss the effect of the ruling US District Court Judge Weinstein on the Lederer’s civil charges.

In US v Dicristina, the Eastern District of New York Judge Jack Weinstein has ruled that poker is a game of skill and the Illegal Gambling Business Act does not apply. Lederer is now saying that he wants a “status conference” with Judge Leonard Sand and the prosecution that is present in the Southern District of New York.

The legalese of the tone of the letter does not at all detract from the intended message at all. If poker is not considered illegal gambling then why are the charges not dropped yet or at least on hold? The co-defendants Chris Ferguson and Rafael Furst have their own legal representation and have joined in taking part in requesting the conference.

There have been separate charges of fraud and money laundering which are contested by Lederer, who has filed a motion to dismiss the charges in the beginning of July for the lack of evidence.

A class action lawsuit was filed in Nevada on behalf of the United States players and another was filed in Canada by the consumer rights group which remains pending.

Source: Pokerfuse