Appeals court: No damages for man accused of stealing chips

Thursday, June 9, 2005 | 9:16 a.m.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A man wrongly accused of stealing chips from another person at a Kansas City area casino has lost his bid for damages for false arrest.

A Clay County Circuit Court jury had awarded Kansas City resident Tracey Blue $250,000 from Harrah's North Kansas City Casino & Hotel for the incident in April 2003. In an unusual verdict, the jury granted only a punitive award, deciding there should be nothing for actual damages.

However, the trial judge ruled that since no actual damages were awarded, the punitive damages were void, and that decision was upheld Tuesday by the Missouri Court of Appeals.

Blue had gone to the casino with a friend, and according to testimony at the trial they played craps and slot machines. While they were in the building a woman playing roulette reported that chips worth $85 to $90 were stolen when she left the table temporarily.

A video recording reviewed by casino employees showed someone whose face could not be seen taking the chips. A Missouri Gaming Control officer decided that Blue, who was then about to leave with his friend, looked enough like the person that he should be interviewed.

Blue, stopped at the turnstile exit, was told by officer B. L. Sweiger of the Missouri State Highway Patrol that he'd been seen taking chips. Blue denied it.