Court Says That Joe Francis Still Has To Pay Steve Wynn $19 Million For DefamationFrancis Will Appeal Case To California Supreme Court |
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A court in Los Angeles upheld a $19 million judgement in a slander case between “Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis and Las Vegas casino owner Steve Wynn, the AP reported.
Years ago, and after racking up a $2 million gambling debt at one of Wynn’s casinos, Francis claimed that Wynn threatened to kill him and have him buried in the desert. Francis said that the threats were made over email. The then 70-year-old Wynn denied the claims, adding that he has never sent an email in his entire life.
In 2012, a court sided with Wynn and said Francis owed him $40 million. That judgement was eventually cut down to $19 million.
Francis originally made the allegations in a court proceeding over the gambling debt, and eventually repeated the claims in interviews with the mainstream media.
Francis said that he will appeal the verdict to the California Supreme Court.
Photo via ABC.