The case has been ongoing for over a year – after POM discovered that Eckert had been representing Parx and POM simultaneously – and in November 2021 US Magistrate Judge Joseph Saporito, Jr. found that Eckert acted in “bad faith” by seeking to withhold emails that demonstrated Eckert was representing both sides.
Earlier this year, POM filed a lawsuit against Eckert for actively participating and covertly manipulating litigation in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, and taking up arms against POM on behalf of Parx Casino.
POM claims that Parx is trying to ‘destroy POM’s business by attempting to convince elected and appointed public officials that POM’s games are gambling devices that should be seized and outlawed.’
However, Parx and Greenwood Gaming bit back by filing a lawsuit against POM, which POM claims is evidence that Parx Casino is ‘attempting to shield its efforts, through various consultants, and use the levers of government to harm legal skill games, and in particular POM’s Pennsylvania Skill games.’
In its response to the counterclaims, POM issued a lengthy statement, stating: “Unfortunately, yet not surprisingly, many of the arguments made in this complaint are verbatim to attacks and opinions drafted by the law firm Eckert, which has worked for Parx Casino.
"This is puzzling because a federal judge has ruled that Eckert 'acted in bad faith' in shielding and misrepresenting their relationship with POM and Parx Casino.”
“Eckert had been hired by POM but then deceived POM by taking millions of dollars in legal fees to represent the skill gaming company, while at the same time, representing Parx Casino which opposes POM’s operations in the Commonwealth.”
