Court Dismisses Defamation Suit Against Zayat
Image:
Description:
Owner Ahmed Zayat and his legal representatives had characterized a lawsuit brought against him seeking to collect alleged gambling debts—and a suit that sprung from that case alleging defamation—as frivolous. Based on court decisions to date, those assessments appear accurate.
Joseph Bainton, an attorney who in litigation filed against Zayat had sought at least $10 million, saw that defamation lawsuit dismissed Aug. 5 in U.S. District Court in New Jersey.
Bainton was the attorney for Florida resident Howard Rubinsky, who sought $1.65 million from Zayat, claiming he was owed the money after covering Zayat's bets at offshore casinos. Two days before Zayat's American Pharoah won the Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (gr. I) to complete the Triple Crown, a federal judge tossed that case, because a six-year statute of limitations had expired.
Bainton accused Zayat of defamation when the Thoroughbred owner characterized the Rubinsky suit as extortion. Zayat's attorney, Joseph Vann, said the Bainton suit also was without merit and correctly predicted it would be dismissed.