Litigator of the Week Runners-Up and Shout-Outs
Accolades | October 30, 2026
The AmLaw Litigation Daily
Shout-out to the defense teams representing major players in the horse-racing industry in a putative class action accusing racetracks, wagering platforms and related companies of conspiring to “rig” betting pools in favor of computer-assisted bettors. Last week, U.S. Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks of the Eastern District of New York recommended dismissal with prejudice of the plaintiffs’ RICO and state-law claims, finding, among other things, that the bettors failed to plausibly allege a concrete injury, failed to trace their purported losses to defendants’ conduct and failed to identify actionable misrepresentations.
A Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher team led by Tom Dupree, Jordan Estes and Justine Goeke, and including John Tienken, represented Churchill Downs and United Tote Company. Dupree argued for the defendant group. Co-defendant counsel included Morris Fodeman and Sheryl Shapiro Bassin of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and David Kirman, Vision Winter, David N. Kelley and Hannah Chanoine of O’Melveny & Myers for The Stronach Group, AmTote International and Elite Turf Club; Cynthia Neidl and Henry Greenberg of Greenberg Traurig and Christina Hernsdorf of Foley Hoag for The New York Racing Association; and Amanda Griner, Evan Krinick and Kristen Wenger of Rivkin Radler and John Marino of Smith, Gambrell & Russell for Racing and Gaming Services.
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