Las Vegas Sun

December 2, 2009

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Court denies request of man held at Imperial Palace

By Cy Ryan (contact)

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 | 2:53 p.m.

Sun Coverage

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court has denied a petition for a re-hearing in a case in which a professional gambler is suing the Imperial Palace for detaining him without evidence of criminal activity.

The court in July upheld a $99,000 district court judgment against the casino but it ordered a new trial on whether James Grosjean was entitled to punitive damages.

A district court jury awarded Grosjean $500,000 in punitive damages, then District Judge Lee Gates reduced it to $150,000. The Supreme Court overturned the $150,000 judgment on grounds that Grosjean’s lawyer, Robert Nersesian, made inappropriate and personal comments during the trial.

In asking for the re-hearing, Nersesian said the ruling would restrain him and attorneys in future cases from making appropriate comments involving punitive damages.

The Supreme Court, in its original decision, said Nersesian wrongly expressed personal opinions regarding the justness of a cause. For instance, it said it was wrong for Nersesian to call hotel security official Donnie Espensen a liar.

In its original decision, the Supreme Court permitted Grosjean to add to the suit the names of state gaming agents Anthony Vincent and Phillip Pedote, who stopped Grosjean for questioning at the casino.

Grosjean was handcuffed, searched and detained by state gaming agents because he matched the description of someone else a third gaming agent was interested in.

Grosjean’s suit says he was still held for additional time after it was determined he was not the person being sought.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

  1. By MysterMr
    10/22/09 at 3:37 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    He should have got the $500,000. This is typical Nevada "justice".

  2. By wizardofOz
    10/22/09 at 3:38 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Just. Don't. Win. When. You. Gamble. In. Nevada.

    Stay. Too. Stupid. To. Win.
    And. Too. Addicted. To. Stop.

    And. You. Will. Be. Just. Fine.

  3. By goingbust
    10/22/09 at 4 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    He gets another crack at them. I don't know what he is worried about. The next jury may return with an even larger award.

  4. By mikegino
    10/22/09 at 5:35 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    I hope he ends up owning that dump. What did I just say...?

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