Settlement Finalized for 60 Plaintiffs in Case With Stones, Kuraitis
It seems a fork in the road has been reached for the remaining plaintiffs' ongoing legal battle against Stones Gambling Hall in relation to the Mike Postle cheating case.
For 60 of the plaintiffs, a settlement has apparently been reached, according to court documents obtained by PokerNews.
As the original count of plaintiffs numbered over 80, there's potential for the case to continue. However, that looks unlikely given that they'll need to find a new lawyer.
Remaining Defendants Settle
The story that dominated headlines in the poker world last fall ever since it first appeared seems to have reached its conclusion with the news of the settlement almost a year later.
While the primary story revolved around the activities of Postle, he was able to beat the rap and the only remaining defendants were the venue and house tournament director Justin Kuraitis. The presiding judge left room for plaintiffs' lawyer Mac VerStandig to file an amended complaint against Kuraitis and Stones, something he wrote on PokerNews that he planned to execute.
The primary object that seemed ripe for attack was the rake generated in the games in which the players were wronged. In the meantime, while VerStandig and his clients were allowed to plan their next move, settlement talks began and both parties have now found an agreeable middle ground.
"First, in the above-captioned case, Defendants King��s Casino and Kuraitis have settled with the Plaintiffs set forth in Exhibit A," the court document reads. "The Settlement Agreement has been executed by the settling parties."
Some Loose Ends Remain, But End Likely Reached
Settlement details rarely become public knowledge due to non-disclosure agreements typically signed. Thus, the poker world will likely never know what sort of reparations were ultimately regained by Postle's victims. However, it's safe to say it's unlikely to be anything close to the roughly $250,000 he allegedly pilfered.
There is the potential for the story to continue to develop as 60 names are listed in the exhibit of those who agreed to a settlement, which doesn't quite encompass all of the original plaintiffs. The court documents states that some non-settling plaintiffs have been unreachable.
As for the others, they'll have to proceed without the counsel of VerStandig if they proceed at all. The document states he'll be withdrawing from the case no later than Sept. 11.
Reached by PokerNews, VerStandig declined comment.
VerStandig requested an extension on filing an amended complaint for the remaining parties in the case. If granted, those parties will have until Oct. 1 to file something relevant with the court.
If this is the last of the story, it hit the poker world like a lion and went out like a lamb, quietly settled in a conference room somewhere with the primary subject not even present.
In this Series
- 1 Mike Postle Accused of Cheating During Livestreamed Cash Games
- 2 10 Suspicious Hands Played by Mike Postle on Livestream
- 3 Stones Gambling Hall Suspends All Poker Broadcasts Following Alleged Cheating
- 4 Stones Launches Investigation Into Postle Cheating Saga
- 5 PokerNews Podcast: Stones Scandal
- 6 Mike Postle Goes on Mike Matusow's 'The Mouthpiece' Podcast, Denies Cheating
- 7 LATB, WSOP, PokerStars, and More on Security of Their Livestreams
- 8 Mike Postle, Stones Parties Hit With $10M Lawsuit
- 9 Graphics Company Reacts to Mike Postle Cheating Allegations Saga
- 10 Watch List: Investigative Videos Mike Postle Cheating Allegations
- 11 Watch Whistleblower Veronica Brill on Joey Ingram's Podcast
- 12 PokerNews Podcast: Jeff Boski on Postle Scandal
- 13 Mike Postle's Lawyer: "I Know Such Streaks Are Possible"
- 14 The Postle Lawsuit is Not as Clear Cut As It May Seem
- 15 Top 10 Stories of 2019: Mike Postle Caught Cheating on Livestream
- 16 Mike Postle Accused of Avoiding Court Summons
- 17 Mike Postle Files, Possibly Leaks Own Motion to Dismiss
- 18 Marle Cordeiro Files Lawsuit Against Mike Postle Seeking $250K
- 19 Stones in New Motion to Dismiss Mike Postle Lawsuit: ��Casinos Do Not Owe a General Duty of Care to Gamblers"
- 20 Motion for Sanctions Filed Against Mike Postle; Latest on Motion to Dismiss
- 21 Plaintiffs Respond to Stones & Justin Kuraitis Motions to Dismiss in Mike Postle Case
- 22 PokerNews-Op Ed: Postle Tightlipped in Oral Arguments, Motion to Dismiss Outcome a Coinflip
- 23 Plaintiffs' Case Against Mike Postle, Stones Dismissed by Judge
- 24 Plaintiff's Lawyer Offers a Reflection on the Stones/Mike Postle Ruling
- 25 Judge Dismisses Marle Cordeiro��s Case Against Mike Postle for Lack of Jurisdiction
- 26 Settlement Finalized for 60 Plaintiffs in Case With Stones, Kuraitis
- 27 Mike Postle, Justin Kuraitis Break Silences in Wake of Settlement
- 28 Leaked Term Sheet Reveals Details Regarding Stones/Kuraitis Settlement; Plaintiffs Paid $40,000
- 29 The Muck: Kuraitis, Stones Lash Out After Twitter Silence
- 30 Plaintiff's Counsel Maurice "Mac" VerStandig Reflects on the Mike Postle Litigation
- 31 Galfond, Berkey Helping Propel Research into Mike Postle's Play
- 32 Top Stories of 2020, #5: Mike Postle Saga Winds Down
- 33 Postle Hit With Two Motions to Strike, Dropped by Lawyers