Lawsuit Against Full Tilt Dismissed

According to news reports, a US District Court judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Clonie Gowen against Full Tilt Poker and a bunch of pros. The lawsuit was filed against Full Tilt’s parent company Tiltware LLC, Ray Bitar, and 13 Full Tilt pros. The lawsuit alleged a breach of contract, unjust enrichment and fraud.

For those of you that don’t know. Clonie Gowen was a Full Tilt red pro and claimed to have been promised a 1% stake in the company in exchange to use her likeness and to promote the company. She never saw a dime from her endorsement and claimed to have been offered a payout from Howard Lederer instead of her 1% share.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Johnston dismissed 12 of the 15 defendants in the case “with prejudice”, which means she can no longer pursue them. The only defendants that did not earn immunity were Tiltware LLC, its owner Ray Bitar, and professional Howard Lederer. Gowen’s attorneys have filed papers to continue the case over other issues that the judge did not dismiss.

Does this really surprise anyone? I’m sorry Clonie, but you failed to get a written contract. That is the first rule in any negotiation. Get your agreement in writing. Sadly, now it is a glorified case of “he said, she said.”

Gowen will likely never see a dime of this money. At least she got some cool SWAG out of the deal.