18 Oct 11
Bernard Tapie Group Hires Experienced Attourney
New reports claim that Groupe Bernard Tapie's new lawyer boasts extensive experience reaching deals with the US Justice Department.
Gaming Intelligence is reporting that Groupe Bernard Tapie has engaged a lawyer experienced in dealing with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to handle his corporation's dealings with the agency. That same lawyer once led PartyPoker and Neteller's negotiations with the DOJ.
Several weeks ago Full Tilt Poker and Groupe Bernard Tapie entered into an acquisition agreement that is linked to several conditions. The most important of these stipulates that Groupe Bernard Tapie must successfully reach a deal with the DOJ before the contract takes effect.
As already reported here, negotiations started several weeks ago. Very little information has seeped to the outside, although it is now known that Groupe Bernard Tapie has engaged the same lawyer who was previously involved with settlements reached by PartyPoker and Neteller.
In April 2009 PartyPoker reached agreement with the DOJ on $105 million in fines. The DOJ also allowed the penalty to be paid over time.
In July 2007 Neteller came to terms on a fine of $136 million to settle its dispute with the DOJ. The US government retained $60 million in previously seized capital. The remaining $76 million was then transferred by Neteller.
More news about Full Tilt Poker
• Daily Rewind: Swiss Funds Frozen (Oct. 13)
• Tony G to take legal action against AGCC (Oct. 12)
• Jeff Ifrah: DOJ Negotiations with Tapie on Full Tilt deal continue (Oct. 11)
• Daily Rewind: New Full Tilt Protection Clause (Oct. 9)
• The PokerStrategy.com view on the Full Tilt Poker Situation (Oct. 4)
• Full Tilt Poker May Offer Equity Stakes to Players Owed Money (Oct. 4)
#1
MrRoyalMark, 18 Oct 11 17:41
July 2007 The US government retained $60 million in previously seized capitalIn April 2009 PartyPoker reached agreement with the DOJ on $105 million in fines.
June 2011 300 millions from FTP
DOJ's way to high stakes))
#2
AaronLambert, 18 Oct 11 18:49
@1 the lesson here is that the DOJ has a 100% roi and never loses #superuser#3
boboistina, 18 Oct 11 18:53
actually it's way higher than 100%, their buyin is 0$.#4
gadget51, 18 Oct 11 19:02
...boasts expensive experience'...lol no doubt he does, no doubt he does.#5
Jackalof, 18 Oct 11 19:47
"expensive experience reaching deals with the US Justice Department."Haha, epic fail is epic.
#6
boboistina, 18 Oct 11 21:12
Mr.Tapie is also full of BS, he'll only buy it if DOJ returns 300M seized, so he wants to get FTP for free, hell i could have bought it like that.#7
Irish78, 18 Oct 11 23:49
a Department of Justice that lets everything go if their paid enough $$$.... justice sure...#8
Heffron89, 19 Oct 11 01:24
#6 ye he wants doj to payout all us players and pay the fine to doj with future revenues, hes trying to freeroll his way to this comoany#9
mariobros00, 19 Oct 11 02:02
@6 it's the DOJ that is full of BS, if they seized 300M in players funds why should any buyer repay the players unless he's an idiot with 300M to give away? the DOJ is clearly acting like a corporation, if they are not discussing stacks idk what could they possibly be confidentially negotiating with Tapie, and what about the none US players fund, does the DOJ have to seize that and negotiate on it too? looks like the DOJ was playing a long term strategy since 2007, now it's time to get payed off :)#10
Petry05, 19 Oct 11 03:07
Quite a good strategy for the DOJ: Drop the hammer; just wait until the pot it's big enough then you make your move ;)#11
narucy, 19 Oct 11 05:52
Mr. DoJ, please don't destroy world poker society, please protect world poker consumers.Please don't punish to Tapie Group.
Lederer and Ferguson they are horrible... but US power is more danger. DoJ spoil world money and game economy.
#12
Phoenix2104, 19 Oct 11 08:31
Excuse me, but I still don't understand what authority does the US DoJ have with MY money. Online poker isn't illegal (yet) where I'm playing from, so what the hell does the US DoJ have to do with MY money?#13
tammyccc, 19 Oct 11 11:04
correct phoenex2104 there was know law broke if ur playin outside the US so wheres are money the fat cats has it. JOKERS#14
stinkie24, 19 Oct 11 13:41
fuck the D.O.J ime whiv 12 how can they freez non us players funds lets just hope they can workout a deal!! so i can get my fucking Br back fuck em