Casino customer withdraws from a winning court case

Ly Sam, the Vietnamese-American gambler who won a lawsuit against a casino in HCM City, which might have awarded him USD55 million, suddenly withdrew his complaint.

 

 The court awarded Sam a settlement the case early last year

On October 25, 2009, Ly Sam visited the Palazzo Club and played a game called “the Landlord”. He won USD55.5 million. He took photos of the screen and reported his winnings to the managers, asking them for written proof with signatures. But, the club manager refused to sign any document making a verbal agreement to pay within three days.

When he failed to receive the reward, he sent a request for payment to the general director of the Dai Duong Joint Venture Company, which owns the Palazzo Club in the Sheraton Saigon Hotel, where the event occurred. Sam was shocked to be informed that his winnings were a result of a machine malfunction.

 

 Originally Dai Duong's lawyer only admitted a VND2,000 liability

After the case was brought to court, the People's Court of District 1 in HCM Cityruled that the Dai Duong Company had to pay the USD55 million in January 2013. The company was also ordered to pay VND1.2 billion court fee and the court would pay back VND550 million of court fee to Sam. The court even added to its verdict that Sam might be able to sue the Dai Duong Company again to recoup the interest owed between 2009 and 2012.

On the other hand, the court refused to order a halt on the company's operations from three months, which was the plaintiff's request, because of jurisdictional issues.

Both Sam and the Dai Duong Company have lodged appeals.

However on January 2, during the appeal hearing, lawyers and representatives of both Sam and Dai Duong Company were absent. The court announced that Sam had withdrawn his complaint in December, admitting that the machine had in fact malfunctioned. After which Dai Duong Company also withdrew their appeal. Both Sam and the Dai Duong Company requested not to have to be present in court. The previous ruling was nullified.

However, Dai Duong Company and Sam must pay VND100,000 for court fees. In addition, the Dai Duong Company is still obliged to pay VND1.2 billion in civil court fees. Reporters were unable to contact Sam or lawyers representing Dai Duong before proceedings.

By Cong Quang | dtinews.vn