‘Casino’ figure suing LV attorney

Rachael Levy

Tuesday, June 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Frank Rosenthal, a former casino executive whose life was the basis for the 1995 motion picture "Casino," is suing a Las Vegas lawyer over an unpaid loan.

Rosenthal gave a $150,000 loan to his barber, Jose Trujillo, in 1989. Trujillo said he gave the money to attorney Chris Beecroft Jr.

Trujillo borrowed the money to invest in the purchase of a Las Vegas budget motel. In return, he promised Rosenthal that Rosenthal's nephew would have the opportunity to run a casino at another budget motel.

But Beecroft contends that he never acted as Trujillo's attorney. Beecroft said the money was given to him by his client, businessman Robert Algee.

The dispute arose after the motel purchase fell through and, when Trujillo asked for the money back, Beecroft refused.

The federal trial, which began Monday, is expected to last three days.

Rosenthal's attorney, Marty Keach, argued that Beecroft repeatedly denied having any knowledge of Trujillo's involvement in the loan. Beecroft's attorney, Jim Olsen, said his client could not touch the money entrusted to him by Algee.

Since learning of the dispute, Beecroft froze the money until the issue could be resolved, Olsen said.

Rosenthal, a club owner in Boca Raton, Fla., chose to sue Beecroft rather than Trujillo after the barber signed a court judgment promising to repay the loan if Beecroft does not return the money.

Rosenthal was barred from Nevada casinos in the late 1980s after authorities found evidence that he associated with organized crime, including reputed mobster Anthony Spilotro. Rosenthal has chosen not to attend the trial, his lawyer said.