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The Caribbean island of Antigua has fired attorney Mark Mendel, who for many years represented the tiny island in its dispute with the United States over online gambling.
It also made a new dramatic offer to the US Government for compensation awarded to it by the World Trade Organization.
From CalvinAyre.com:
“Late last month, Antigua’s trade representative told the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body that the Caribbean nation had made a “significant concession” in a bid to bring closure to the trade dispute, which has dragged on for over a decade. Antigua has since revealed that the country has reduced the amount of compensation it is seeking from the US by half.”
Antigua is now asking for $100 million in compensation. The island nation at one time was given permission to sell or give away U.S. copyrighted media downloads without compensation to the rights holders had the US Government not paid what is owed to Antigua.
From CalvinAyre.com:
Browne said “there was no way” that Antigua’s previous administration “would have gotten a settlement” from the US, which Browne said viewed the United Progressive Party’s proposals as “outlandish” and “outrageous.” Browne also criticized the UPP for striking a deal with some of Antigua’s online gambling companies that would have benefited these companies far more than the nation itself.
Browne said Antigua-based online gambling companies had incurred “between $10m and $15m” in legal fees via the WTO fight, which would “come off the top” of any settlement Antigua reached with the US. The companies would also claim 75% of whatever sum was remaining. Browne saw little value in continuing this arrangement, which led to Mendel being told that his services were no longer required and that Antigua will handle future negotiations “on a bilateral basis.”
Browne made it “abundantly clear” that Mendel had never officially represented the government and Mendel can go on representing the gaming companies in this dispute, “but not our government.” As far as Browne was concerned, whatever liabilities the previous administration had incurred in dealing with Mendel had been “capped” at their present level. If the gaming companies Mendel represents “choose to spend another $20m, that’s their problem.”
Mendel is said to have had ties to now defunct World Sports Exchange (also known as WSEX.com), an online sportsbook and poker site that set up shop on the island in 1996 and owes over a million dollars to customers. One of the co-founders committed suicide last year, resulting in the sportsbook/poker site’s abrupt closure. Another co-founder, ex-convict Jay Cohen, remains on the lam.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
