Court rules against man in casino winnings case

David Eggert

Thursday, July 14, 2005 | 10:01 a.m.

LANSING, Mich. -- A man who claims he won a $13.7 million jackpot from a slot machine only to have a Detroit casino refuse to pay the winnings lost an appeal Wednesday before the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Mark Cowsert sued Greektown Casino after it didn't pay him the winnings. The casino said the machine had malfunctioned.

The court, in a 3-0 decision, upheld a Wayne County judge's ruling that Cowsert must first exhaust his remedies with the Michigan Gaming Control Board, which regulates the three Detroit casinos.

Greektown turned over the slot machine to the board. While the matter was pending before the board, Cowsert sued in Wayne County Circuit Court.

The court said the board's administrative rules allow it to award jackpot proceeds to casino patrons if they have a legitimate claim to a jackpot and the casino wrongfully tampered with the machine.

A Greektown spokesman withheld comment until he could review the ruling.

David Katzman, whose law firm represents Cowsert, said attorneys were considering whether to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court.

"We want to advance the rights of a consumer to make sure his case is not lost in administrative procedures," Katzman said.