iDEA files suit against DOJ
Trade association says recent Wire Act opinion “ignores judicial precedent”
Ifrah Law has filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) on behalf of the trade association iDEA Growth.
The suit, filed in the US District Court for New Hampshire, challenges the DOJ’s recently revised opinion on the Wire Act.
According to the suit, the revised interpretation “ignores judicial precedent” at the appellate level and dicta by the US Supreme Court.
Jeff Ifrah, lead attorney in the suit brought by iDEA Growth, said: “We trust that the New Hampshire Court will give appropriate weight to judicial precedent over political factors in making its decision, a decision sure to have a major impact on a fast-growing industry poised to offer significant economic benefits to states across the country.”
This suit marks the third challenge to the DOJ Opinion filed in a matter of days.
NeoPollard Interactive, the provider of the New Hampshire state iLottery system, and the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, have also filed related challenges.
Sports law professor John Holden said this week that although the new Wire Act decision is wrong, it does not mean a court is going to overrule the Justice Department’s interpretation, in part because its still unclear whether the DOJ will actually try and enforce the opinion.
UNLV associate director Jenny Roberts also said she doubted whether a court would rule against the DOJ.
By the way, great article! I’m also not so confident that a court will rule against the DOJ position, even though it’s a bad opinion. I mean, not much casino gambling taking place across state lines through phones or telegraphs in 1961.
— Jennifer Roberts (@JRoVegas) February 24, 2019