Steve Lipscomb and his cronies at the WPT have yet another lawsuit and accompanying P.R. black eye to deal with, this time courtesy of former WPT hostess Shana Hiatt. Hiatt filed suit against the World Poker Tour on Friday in L.A. Superior Court after Lipscomb/WPT interfered with her negotiations for a TV hosting gig on 2 NBC poker shows, including the popular National Heads-Up Poker Championships and a new show in development called Poker After Dark.
According to Hiatt's complaint, Lipscomb contacted NBC and informed them that Hiatt "was precluded from working for NBC or for appearing in any poker-related television shows" and that WPT "owns Shana Hiatt in poker." Hiatt claims that WPT is relying on an illegal and unenforceable "non-compete" clause that appeared in a draft of Hiatt's release from her WPT contract. Hiatt and her lawyers maintain that not only did she not sign that particular draft of the release, but that the non-compete itself is unenforceable under California Law.
In layman's terms, the law states that any contract that prevents an individual from seeking lawful employment is void. WPT is trying to do just that-- prevent Hiatt from getting a new job at something she does well merely to protect their own product and financial bottom line. God help Steve Lipscomb if Hiatt should hold a microphone and interview Phil Hellmuth on another network and get on with her career-- he can't have his WPT video games or pinball machines or DVDs with Hiatt's likeness on them devalued but one penny. It's a greedy, disgusting move that makes the WPT only look even more soulless and corporate.
I had a feeling this was coming, after hearing all the rumors as the Main Event final table progressed. Chip leader and eventual WSOP champion Jamie Gold only had half of his own action, having verbally promised half of whatever he won to his friend and fellow poker player Crispin Leyser. Speculation has been rampant about the reasoning behind and the specifics of Leyser and Gold's deal in the twelve days that have passed since he captured the largest cash prize in sports history. And now, 
