Online gamers added to Kentucky web seizure list 17/12/2009

LAWYERS REPRESENTING the US state of Kentucky have asked the state’s Franklin County Circuit court to add names of US citizens and companies to a lawsuit that seeks the forfeiture of 141 Internet domain names. 

Kentucky’s effort to seize those site names, all related to egaming, had been blocked by a January 2009 decision from the Kentucky Court of Appeals in favour of the Internative Media and Entertainment and Gaming Assocation (iMEGA) and other groups including the Interactive Gaming Council and Sportsbook.com, representing the domain owners. 

A decision from the Kentucky Supreme Court is pending, after the state’s lawyers challenged the Appeals Court verdict in October. 

The new motion reads: “In the course of the litigation and the Commonwealth [of Kentucky]’s continuing investigation, the Commonwealth has learned the identity of certain entities and individuals involved in internet gambling operations, some of whom are US citizens. The Commonwealth asks for leave to amend its Complaint to add causes of action against these individuals and entities in personam.” 

The names of the individuals and companies have not been revealed. iMEGA chairman Joe Brennan argued that the move represents a “Hail Mary pass.” 

Brennad said: “It’s odd that Kentucky’s lawyers would try something like this at such a late date, since we’re expecting a decision on this matter from the State Supreme Court any day now. We’re unaware of any ‘investigations’ by the state attorney-general or law enforcement in Kentucky. The Attorney-General himself asked to be dismissed from this suit last year. And there are no indictments or convictions that would enable Kentucky’s lawyers to add the names of individual US citizens to their seizure action.” 

The motion calls for a hearing on 20 January next year in Franklin Circuit Court before Judge Thomas Wingate, the judge who gave the state permission to seize the domain names in September last year.  

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Posted: 17/12/2009