Judge Orders Mike Postle to Pay $27,000 in Anti-SLAPP Ruling

Alleged poker cheat Mike Postle will have to fork out almost $27,000 after a judge found him liable for Todd Witteles’ legal fees and court costs, the Poker Fraud Alert founder bringing an anti-SLAPP motion against the man at the centre of the now infamous Postlegate scandal...

Witteles was chasing Postle for $43,314.50 after the Sacramento player dropped his $330million defamation lawsuit, which saw him target Witteles, whistleblower Veronica Brill and many other famous names in the poker industry.

Brill’s anti-SLAPP costs claims will be heard soon, but today Presiding California Superior Court Judge Shama H. Mesiwala ruled in favour of Witteles, though his full claim for costs wasn’t met.

Judge Mesiwala accepted that Postle’s defamation claims “fall squarely within the definition of a SLAPP suit” – a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation designed to curb valid criticism by placing onerous legal costs on the defendant.

Postle’s voluntary withdrawal of the defamation action just before it was due in court “creates a presumption that the defendant is the prevailing party on the anti-SLAPP motion” according to Judge Mesiwala.

However, awarding Witteles $26,982 rather than the full $43,314.50 claimed, the long-serving judge called his attorney’s fees “excessive and unnecessary”.

Witteles’ attorney, Eric Bensamochan, had billed $695 per hour for his work and told CardsChats’ Haley Hintze:

“Mr. Witteles is pleased that the court has found him to be the prevailing party for purposes of awarding attorney fees. While we are disappointed that the court cut the fee request down, it is something that falls directly within the court’s purview and discretion, and [we] will accept the reduced fee award without additional argument. Mr. Witteles intends on vigorously pursuing the monies now owed to him by Mr. Postle.”

If you missed anything connected to the case over the past year, our extensive coverage of the Postlegate scandal can be viewed below:

• Sick Heater or Sick Cheater? StonesLive Player Under Suspicion
• Updates on Mike Postle Poker Cheating Scandal at StonesLive
• Mike Postle Denies Cheating Allegations On The Mouthpiece Podcast
• Is Mike Postle Really A Cheat?
• Mike Postle, Stones and Kuraitis Named in $10million Cheating Scandal Lawsuit
• Veronica Brill - The Real Hero Of The Stones Live Poker Cheating Scandal
• Has Matt Berkey Discovered The Postlegate Cheating Method?
• Is Jonathan Little Unfairly Cashing in on Postlegate Scandal?
• Top 5 Hands Mike Postle Allegedly Cheated On Stones Live Cash Game
• Postlegate Whistleblower Veronica Brill Reveals Inner Workings of Stones Cheating Scandal
• Mike Postle Will Not Go To Jail Over Cheating Scandal
• Mike Postle In Hiding As $10Million Lawsuit Heads To Court
• Mike Postle's Magazine Releases Anonymous Article Casting Doubt on Cheating Claims
• Anonymous Claims That Mike Postle Played At Other Casinos During Alleged Cheating Streak
• Alleged Poker Cheat Mike Postle Finally Acknowledges $10million Lawsuit
• Another Delay in Mike Postle Cheating Case
• Stones Gambling Hall Asks for Postlegate Cheating Case to be Dismissed
• Mike Postle Files Response in Poker-Cheating Case
• New Defense Briefs and Alleged Victims Lawsuits Filed as Postlegate Continues
• Second Lawsuit Filed Over Mike Postle Poker Cheating Allegations
• Mike Postle Amends Dismissal Motion in Poker Cheating Case
• Plaintiffs Seek Sanctions Against Alleged Poker Cheat Mike Postle
• Mike Postle Accused of Dodging Legal Service in Second Poker Cheating Case
• Mike Postle Cheating Lawsuit: Plaintiffs File Response to Stones’ Denial of Responsibility
• Stones Gambling Hall, Kings Casino File Amended Motions to Dismiss Postlegate Lawsuit
• Shock as Mike Postle Cheating Case Dismissed by Judge
• Mike Postle Fights to Dismiss Nevada Cheating Lawsuit by Marle Cordeiro
• Settlement Talks Disclosed Between Stones Gambling Hall, Alleged Cheating Victims
• Veronica Brill Shocked by Postlegate Netflix Documentary Claims
• Nevada-based Lawsuit Against Mike Postle Dismissed For Lack of Jurisdiction
• Whistleblower Veronica Brill Not Among 60 Players Who Accept Settlement in Postlegate Scandal
• Mike Postle and Justin Kuraitis Speak Out as Mac Verstandig Admits No Forensic Evidence of Cheating
• Poker Pros Trash Justin Kuraitis Pro-Postle Statement
• Postlegate $40,000 Payoff More Than Lawsuit ‘Rake’ Damages
• Bart Hanson Dissects New Postlegate Hands as Justin Kuraitis Sets Twitter Alight
• Mike Postle Movie Producer Promises It's Not Just An Innocence Film
• Justin Kuraitis Goes Quiet On Twitter Following Postlegate Backlash
• Mike Postle Launches $330million Defamation Lawsuit Against Brill, Negreanu, Ingram and Others
• Veronica Brill Launches GoFundMe Campaign for Mike Postle Libel Lawsuit Legal Fees
• Inside Mike Postle’s $330million Defamation Conspiracy Lawsuit: Who He Is Suing And Why
• Todd Witteles Hires Beverly Hills Lawyer to Defend Against Mike Postle Accusations
• Mike Postle’s Attorney Files Motion to Exit Case, Citing Compliance and Communication Failures
• Todd Witteles to File Frivolous-Lawsuit Claim in Mike Postle Libel Case
• February Hearings Approach for Anti-SLAPP Motions in Mike Postle Libel Lawsut
• Mike Postle’s Internet Trolls Disappear Along with Alleged Cheat
• Mike Postle Files For Second Continuation, Todd Witteles Files Opposing Motion
• Mike Postle Granted Second Continuance in $330 Million Libel Case
• Mike Postle Case Update: HONR Network Clarifies Involvement
• Mike Postle Case Update: Veronica Brill Defense Attorney Marc Randazza Provides Statement on HONR Network Involvement
• Mike Postle Drops $330million Defamation Lawsuit Against Whistleblower Veronica Brill
• Todd Witteles Chases Mike Postle for $43,000 in Legal Fees
• Veronica Brill Chasing Mike Postle for Legal Fees