Imagine hitting on a pair of simulcast bets which yielded a total payout of $17,000. Then imagine two years down the road being dubbed an 'unsecured creditor' of the now-bankrupt location in which you placed
the winning bet. Then imagine being asked to repay the track your winnings.
This scenario is not some sort of warped fantasy. According to punter named Bryan Clifford and a report by WMUR 9 New Hampshire, the situation is real and Clifford is being sued to pay back the winnings in which he won fair and square more than two years ago.
The whole situation has arisen because Clifford was issued a pair of cheques for the winnings from Hinsdale Grey hound Race Track -- the location in which he placed the wager on the simulcast race -- within 90 days of Hinsdale filing for bankruptcy.
The report explains that the account in which Hinsdale paid Clifford from was the track's general operating account. Therefore, Clifford was deemed an unsecured creditor when the track shut down.
The report explains that Clifford refuses to settle in the case. He has stated that he has paperwork which proves that Hinsdale got paid by Belmont Park for the winning wager, and that Hinsdale did not lose a dime in this situation.
To view the article and video report of the whole situation, click here.
(With files from WMUR 9 New Hampshire)
Assuming story is 100%
Assuming story is 100% accurate - and there's no reason to believe it's not - all
I can say is, welcome to America (yes, I'm American). Frivolous lawsuits and
frivolous legal actions are as American as apple pie.
Should bettor Bryan Clifford pay back even a penny of his winnings, it would set a
dangerous precedent and undermine credibility in simulcast/racino sites.
How about some tort reform one of these days?
Another new way to cheat the
Another new way to cheat the bettors, will it never end??!!
What is not clear with the
What is not clear with the story is the bankruptcy trustee not the track is suing Bryan Clifford. Firstly, the bettors got victimized when the track went bankrupt and they lost their funds in their telephone account wagering accounts. Now they are getting victimized a second time when the bankruptcy trustee is going after bettors who withdraw funds 90 days before the establishment went bankrupt arguing they are got preferential treatment under the law regardless if it was their own winnings.
Poor bettors like Bryan Clifford have the deck stacked against them as they have to hire an attorney to defend themselves and incur fees of $10,000 or more or choose to settle the case with the bankruptcy trustee who has no conscious in going after bettors who took out their own winnings.