Man Sues Casino For The Money He Lost and Earns A Darwin Award

In recent years, tort reform has become a big issue. Some politicians say that it is too easy to file frivolous lawsuits. Well, for anyone who say that frivolous lawsuits do not happen, you have not met Mr. Mario Parise. Mario Parise’s story is so far fetched that we are awarding him a Today’s Darwin Award.

This Darwin Award winner is a 61 year old gambler from Detroit Michigan. He has spent the last 10 years gambling at the Motor City Casino. Over the last decade, this Darwin Award winner has gambled away $673,000 dollars. He has now decided that he wants the money back. MLive.com quoted this Darwin Award winner as saying, “I deserve that,” Parise told Fox 2. “It was my money” (Man sues Motor City Casino for losses, citing Michigan territorial law of 1827, 2009).

Seems pretty ridiculous to most people that this Darwin Award winner could sue for money that he willfully gambled away. I think a commentator on MLive.com put it best when he said, “I’m sure he has more to back it up, for example there must be witnesses to the casino employees tying him up and forcing him into the casino. Then I’m sure inside they have video of him being forced at gunpoint to bet his money and play the games, over and over again. The poor guy! If only they hadn’t made him do it!” (Man sues Motor City Casino for losses, citing Michigan territorial law of 1827, 2009).

Of course, this Darwin Award winner found a lawyer willing to tell him that he has a case. Infact, the lawyer even found an obscure law to argue. They are arguing a Territory of Michigan law from 1827 that states someone can get a judgement for gambling losses if he comes to court and signs an affidavit. Ofcourse, there are much newer laws. Mlive.com reported, “Of course, Parise seems to be ignoring more recent legislation, such as the Michigan Gaming Control Act of 1997, which trumps territorial law, according to Fox 2’s legal analyst Charlie Langton.”

This Darwin Award Winner is a classic example of why we need reforms in our legal system. I would dare anyone in this country to argue that he has the right to sue the Casino for actions he willfully committed. At least, this story makes  for some great entertainment and gives us an excuse to give out a Darwin Award.