Gossip Column: Plaintiffs Respond to Motions to Dismiss in Postlegate Scandal, ‘ActionFreak’ Wins Big Against Galfond & More

Justin Kuraitis, Phil Galfond & Marcos Rojo - Gossip Column
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  • Attreyee Khasnabis May 5, 2020
  • 5 Minutes Read

Even with a global Coronavirus (COVID-19) affecting cities, states, and countries, life still goes on. As do court cases. Yes, you guessed correctly! We are talking about the Postlegate scandal that broke out in September 2019 and is still going strong. In the latest update, Maurice “Mac” VerStandig, representing the plaintiffs in the case, has filed two documents refuting the Motion to Dismiss that had been filed by Stones Gambling Hall and the former Stones Live production manager Justin Kuraitis.

The other news that has been part of this feature for several weeks now revolves around the Galfond Challenge. Run It Once founder and former WSOP bracelet winner Phil Galfond kicked off his third challenge against ‘ActionFreak,’ aka Ioannis Kontonatsios on April 27. While Galfond has been in the lead for most of the encounters, during the fifth session, ‘ActionFreak’ managed to win approximately €105K from Galfond.

While most individuals have understood the importance of ‘social distancing’ during these trying times. Football players are seemingly having a hard time grasping the concept. The latest in the list of offenders who violated protocols during lockdown is Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo, who was caught on video playing poker and smoking with friends.

 

Postlegate Saga Continues: Plaintiffs Respond to Stones & Justin Kuraitis Motions to Dismiss

Even with the novel COVID-19 pandemic raging across the world, there seems to be no break from Mike Postle and the Stones Gambling Hall. The cheating scandal, which is now better known as ‘Postlegate’, took a new turn on May 4 when two new court documents were filed in the United States District Court Eastern District of California. Both documents were filed by noted gaming attorney Maurice “Mac” VerStandig, who is representing 88 Plaintiffs in a three-prong battle against Postle, Stones Gambling Hall, and Justin Kuraitis.

Mike Postle & Justin Kuraitis
Mike Postle & Justin Kuraitis

 

Before we get deep into the newest development, let’s do a quick recap. Postle, who was a Stones Gambling Hall pro, was accused in September 2019 of cheating during the live streams at Stones. He is alleged to have gained access to his opponent’s hole cards, thus making his decisions easier. Many poker fans on social media speculate that Kuraitis, the former Stones Live production manager, worked in conjunction with Postle on the alleged scam. Due to this assumption, Kuraitis, like Postle, faces a $10 million lawsuit for, as the plaintiffs argue, failing to operate a fair game of poker.

Kuraitis and Stones recently filed a Motion to Dismiss the civil suit, against which VerStandig filed a rebuttal on Monday. VerStandig argues that Postle isn’t the only one responsible for the alleged cheating scandal. He believes the casino and the Stones Live producer, Kuraitis, deserve much of the blame, and he’s attempting to hold those individuals responsible in civil court.

The Motion to Dismiss that was filed by defendants, Kuraitis and King’s Casino Management Corp, which owns Stones Gambling Hall, was done on the agreement that the casino doesn’t have a duty to protect players from other players cheating. Furthermore, the casino argues that the plaintiffs haven’t proven specific financial loss.

In response to the Motion to Dismiss, VerStanding filed two new court documents. The first, a six-page opposition to Kuraitis`s motion asking the court to dismiss the case. And the second, a 72-page document directed at the casino’s dismissal request.

In Monday’s court filings, VerStandig writes, “the Motion asserts Mr. Kuraitis cannot be liable to Mesdames (Veronica) Brill and (Kasey Lynn) Mills for fraud.” He then disputes that argument, claiming Kuraitis personally made a “series of demonstrably counterfactual statements” to Brill, the whistleblower, regarding the alleged cheating scandal.

“As noted in their opposition to the motions filed by both Stones and Mr. Postle, the Plaintiffs respectfully request leave to amend their pleading should further allegations be necessary to conform to the pleading rigors of this Honorable Court. The Plaintiffs set forth, in both of those respective opposition briefs, extensive but non-exhaustive lists of the additional factual matter they are prepared to allege if necessary,” the court document read.

Based on these two documents, VerStandig has asked the court to deny the motion to have the civil case dismissed.

 

‘ActionFreak’ Wins Big Against Phil Galfond in 5th Session

PLO legend Phil Galfond is making most of his quarantine time by playing entrepreneur Bill Perkins and the online beast ‘ActionFreak’, aka Ioannis Kontonatsios, as it was revealed on partypoker recently, in the Galfond Challenge. And unsurprisingly, he is presently ahead in both challenges. While his last session against Perkins took place on April 21, following which Galfond was in the lead with $90,144.05, the challenge against ‘ActionFreak’ has progressed rather speedily.

Phil Galfond
Phil Galfond

 

The fifth session between the PLO duo was played on May 4 and ended with ‘ActionFreak,’ booking a profit of €105,000. The challenge with ‘ActionFreak’ entails playing 15,000 hands of €150/€300 PLO and includes a €150,000 side bet at even money.

The challenge started on April 27 was cut short by connection issues. The remainder of the session was completed on Tuesday, April 28. While ‘ActionFreak’ has come out on top in the opening session, Galfond fought back in the second session, ending with a very marginal lead of €3,632.83.

The third and fourth sessions were dominated by Galfond, who booked massive six-figure profits in both of them. The fifth session saw ‘ActionFreak’ make a commendable comeback as he won an estimated €105K on partypoker.

Galfond and ‘ActionFreak’ will be back in action on Tuesday, May 5.

Moreover, Galfond will also be playing Dan ‘Jungleman’ Cates in a one-off ‘mini-challenge.’ There is more than money riding on this challenge as the loser will have to post a video detailing how the other man is the better player, according to Galfond’s initial briefing online.

 

 

Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo Violates COVID-19 Lockdown to Play Poker

Argentina’s Marcos Rojo has become the latest footballer to join the list of players to have violated lockdown protocols. The soccer star flouted COVID-19 lockdown protocols after images of him playing poker and smoking with a group of people surfaced on the internet.

Rojo is a defender for the professional football club Manchester United and the 30-year-old is presently on loan to Estudiantes since the January transfer window.

Marcos Rojo
Marcos Rojo

 

Argentina’s lockdown rules remain in place until at least 10 May. Taking note of the development, Manchester United had to remind Rojo of his responsibilities after the video showed the defender disobeying social distancing rules.

Sadly, Rojo is not the first Premier League player to break government rules. Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, and Moise Kean, along with several Arsenal and Tottenham players, have all been criticized for breaking lockdown regulations earlier.

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