Media reports from Los Angeles in the USA are that Shana Hiatt, the
erstwhile hostess of seasons 1 to 3 of the World Poker Tour broadcasts
is on the litigative warpath against her former employer.
Hiatt filed actions in LA last week, naming World Poker Tour Enterprises,
CEO Steve Lipscomb personally and other officials of the company.
The complaint seeks injunctive relief and punitive damages for "intentional
interference with economic advantage." The initial hearing for
the matter is scheduled for October 17th.
Papers filed indicate that Hiatt's hassles started earlier this year
when she was approached by NBC with the suggestion that there might
be work for her at the network on some poker programming. WPT found
out about the approach, and apparently Lipscomb contacted NBC executives,
and informed them that even though Hiatt was no longer shooting episodes
of the World Poker Tour, she was still under contract to the WPT as
part of a non-compete clause in her contract.
The complaint alleges the non-compete was part of Shana's release
from the WPT, a document the lawsuit claims Hiatt never signed. The
complaint also asserts WPT options on Hiatt's services expired on
September 11, 2006, and she should be free to seek work wherever she
likes.
The suit seeks immediate injunctive relief, allowing Shana to seek
employment as a TV hostess for NBC. The suit also claims that Hiatt
left the WPT show because a 'hostile working environment' was created
in the Spring of 2005 through several people around the WPT spreading
rumors about Hiatt, and her husband.
Earlier this year, seven leading poker players filed suit against
the World Poker Tour, asserting unfair business practices mostly in
connection with the release players are required to sign to play in
WPT events.