[Gossip] Joe Francis Gets $21 Million Break Over Losing Lawsuit
Posted by Jeremy Thomas on 11.12.2012
Girls Gone Wild head won't have to pay Steve Wynn punitive damages...
Joe Francis has had a $40 million lawsuit loss to hotel magnate Steve Wynn cut in half. TMZ reports that a judge threw out the punitive damages award in the lawsuit, deciding that Wynn wasn't entitled to punitive damages because they need to be based off a defendant's net work and Wynn failed to prove how much Francis is worth.
The defamation lawsuit was over claims by Francis that Wynn had threatened to have him killed. Wynn claims that he can't find out how much Francis is worth because he is hiding his assets.
Francis released a statement saying the ruling was a "massive victory" and reiterating his intent to appeal the rest of the judgment. He noted, "Steve may have a winning record stealing the life savings away from working Americans in his safe haven of Las Vegas, but he will not be able to manipulate the California court system."
Wynn's rep said that he is still happy with the verdict and said, "The court upholding the $19 million in damages confirms that Joe Francis made horrible, false accusations against Steve Wynn."
