Money disappears fast in Las Vegas

A man who won an $8 million jury verdict against a Las Vegas casino saw that money evaporate last week as a federal judge threw out the verdict and granted judgment to the casino.

California businessman Stephen Mattes lost several million dollars at the tables while playing at the Grand Opening of the Paris Las Vegas resort. He subsequently claimed that the casino had breached its promise to extend him a $2 million line of credit.

U.S. District Judge James Mahan originally ordered a new trial, finding that the jury’s verdict was contradictory and not supported by the evidence, but subsequently gave judgment for the casino.