The British television producer resident in Vegas who is suing current
World Series of Poker champion Jamie Gold for half his $12 million
in winnings has claimed in his suit that on the day before the final
table began Gold left a telephone message assuring him that their
deal was good.
Gold's accuser is a man named Bruce Crispin Leyser, who claims that
he has voicemail messages and other evidence on an agreement with
Gold to share half his winnings in return for recruiting celebrities
to endorse Gold's sponsors, the Bodog group.
In his filing, Leyser claims that Gold said in a phone message for
him: "I wanted to let you know about the money.
You're obviously very well protected; everything will be fine,
but nothing's going to happen today, that's for sure. I have the best
tax attorneys and the best minds in the business working for me from
New York and L.A., and what we're probably going to do is set up a
Nevada corporation, and it's going to ... have to pay out of the corporation.
I can't just pay out personally because I could get nailed."
Gold said payment might take a few days, and he asked Leyser to be
patient.
"I promise you, you can keep this recording on my word,
there's no possible way you're not going to get your half ... after
taxes."
According to the complaint, Leyser said Gold has refused to pay, but
his attorney Richard Schonfeld declined to comment when asked whether
there was a written agreement to share the winnings.
Leyser attended the final table, watching as Gold eliminated seven
of his eight competitors over a 12-hour stretch.
In a statement released through his lawyer and publicist, Gold said
he was "disappointed" that "a person
he has only known since July of this year has elected to file litigation
rather than continue the parties' discussions in an effort to find
a resolution to this matter."
The $12 million that is in contention remains in the custody of WSOP
organizers Harrah's Entertainment following a court order freezing
the money until the case has been cleared. "It may be Defendant's
desire to divert the funds at issue into a business or corporate entity
and Plaintiff could then lose his ability to collect the funds that
he is lawfully entitled to," the lawsuit stated.