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The attorney for a man claiming he is owed close to $2 million by American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat has himself filed a $10 million libel suit against him. Gambling911.com first broke the story Monday afternoon and now the New York area media has been all over it.
Joseph Bainton filed the suit claiming that Zayat had lied about the motives behind a suit he filed on behalf of his client Howard Rubinsky. Mr. Rubinsky claims Zayat owes nearly $2 million in gambling debts to offshore betting shops he represented.
The suit further alleges that Zayat hints at an extortion plot. Bainton calls that irresponsible and dangerous, something that could have the attorney disbarred if he were found to be involved in such a plot.
On Wednesday, Zayat’s attorney was forced to respond to the allegations, telling the Newark Star Ledger
Joseph Vann said in a prepared statement: "We believe the lawsuit filed against our client today has no legal merit, we expect it will be thrown out by the Court, and our client intends to file a malicious prosecution action after we prevail if warranted.”
Bainton dismissed Zayat's suggestion that he and Rubinsky were behind the stories generated by the lawsuit, claiming instead that Zayat's attorneys had filed court papers earlier this year that mentioned the previously undisclosed gambling debts.
American Pharoah hopes to become the first Triple Crown winner in nearly 40 years at this Saturday’s Belmont Stakes race.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
