Sep 24th 2008 By Tom Radler

What Happens in Vegas Is Still Your Fault

Every once in a while you hear a story of litigation that makes you think that personal responsibility may be on the way out. But just like the obese people who sued McDonald's for making them fat, a former New York attorney won't get a cent for claiming that other people forced her to behave recklessly.

Arelia Margarita Taveras sued seven casinos for aiding and abetting her gambling addiction, asking for $20 million in damages. She claims that the casinos knew of her addiction and they did nothing to stop her from throwing away nearly $1 million in less than two years.

The judge rejected her argument by explaining that, "Playing blackjack, roulette or the slots bears no likeness to dumping toxic waste. She spent money on the bona fide chance that she might win more money. In short, she gambled."

Taveras is planning an appeal, and responded to the verdict by maintaining that casinos "have a duty of care to gamblers, and people are dying because of it."

Upon hearing of these thrilling killer casinos, we immediately booked a travel package.

Since she gambled on Vegas and lost, perhaps our plaintiff's payday could come as a CEO's wife.

The 15 Hottest CEO Wives

15. Stephanie Seymour After a tumultuous relationship with tortured rocker Axl Rose, this Victoria's Secret model went in a completely different direction and married White Birch Paper CEO Peter Brant.

Evan Agostini, Getty Images

12. Kathy Freston The self-help guru and former Ford model still knows how to strike a pose. Not pictured is her television executive hubby Tom Freston, who was Viacom's CEO between 2005 and 2006.

Ann Sussman, Getty Images

9. Veronica Lario The wife of business tycoon (and Italian Prime Minister) Silvio Berlusconi, is still turning heads at 52.

Vincenzo Pinto, AFP / Getty Images

8. Gail Golden Before marrying corporate raider Carl Icahn, Golden was his longtime executive assistant, proving the way to a businessman's heart is through his office.

Mat Szwajkos, Getty Images

7. Kristy Roper This former Miss U.K. shows a little bit of what makes hubby Ernesto Bertarelli, CEO of a Swiss biotech company, such a lucky guy.

Daily Mail

6. Ellen Barkin The actress and Revlon boss Ron Perlman were the toast of high society between 2000 and 2006. Their mix of beauty and business acumen proved combustible, and they are still suing each other two years after the divorce.

Vince Bucci, AFP / Getty Images

5. Suzy Wetlaufer She was forced to resign from the Harvard Business Review after admitting an affair with former GE CEO Jack Welch. The legendary executive made it all worth her while by proposing marriage soon after.

Brad Barket, Getty Images

4. Malanie Craft Oracle CEO Larry Ellison was considered Silicon Valley's most eligible bachelor before he sailed away with romance novelist Melanie Craft.

Dean Trenl, AFP / Getty Images

2. Wendi Deng Chinese-born beauty Wendi Deng is the jewel of News Corp Boss Rupert Murdoch's expansion into the Asian markets.

Evan Agostini, Getty Images

1. Georgina Chapman Miramax chairman Harvey Weinstein is a scary guy, so we'll just let this picture of his lovely wife Georgina Chapman speak for itself.

Peter Kramer, Getty Images

Tags: gambling - lawsuit - new jersey - NewJersey

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Thursday 25 September

By Louise

Neutral

Why is it, that no matter what is in the news, some dipstick who is clueless, has to throw Bush into the mix. Getting back to the topic, if some "lawyer" lost a total of $1 million dollars over a two year span by gambling, then wants to sue, someone please check to see if she is even liget to practice law. What an airhead!! And people like this are passing the bar????!!!!!.. This is for Dr K... Get the facts, before you make comments that are so friggen false, The bailout is due to Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and Obama, who has gotten hugh bucks from the very ones who got bailed out of this mess.. Bush is trying to help by not going along with this,because Thank you Lord, someone in Washingtom does have a head on his shoulders. He sees what this is going to do to the country, but listen to the likes of Barney Frank who was on Charlie Rose show saying how they (congress=Dems) will be the "landlords" on the mortgages. Don't know about you, but thats a scary thought

Thursday 25 September

By Chloe

Neutral

Thank Goodness some sense on this topic!
People aren't looking at the big picture. Yes..fat cats are walking away from these companies with huge profits..but the average investor is losing. This is who Bush is trying to protect..the average hard working investor. He's trying to PREVENT crisis. And by the way, the "bail out" is a LOAN..not a give away. If put together properly, the government may ultimately make money to put back into the system. Punitive measures don't fit here because although I find what happened to be unethical, it wasn't illegal.. but that's another discussion!
Start thinking about running our government as smart business and we'll be in much better hands. I am terrified of the thought of Obama getting into office. We will be paying 70% taxes for nothing. The democratic ideology sounds wonderful, but historically does not work!

Thursday 25 September

By Mike

Neutral

Say what you will of her efforts to get some money back from her losses, but, this is absolutly NO different than the LOSERS on Wall Street who take your money, lose it on bad investments and then get reimbursed by this one sided government we live in.If you believe Wall Street and the market is not some white collar "gamble" your an idiot. It's just when a group of "mommies boys" lose, they are given it right back to try again. This is the biggest "racism" ever, against ALL colors, and people are just sitting back and taking it. What a country, protect the "wittle boys" with there fancy degrees on the walls, and just shit on the common person out there. What a crok of BS this really all is. You LOSE, take it like a MAN, which apperantly Wall Street has none down there on the floor, this is a CRIME to the American people as a whole.

Thursday 25 September

By Angiebaby

Neutral

I flipped through the pictures, and no doubt these women are lovely. But Stephanie Seymour's body language speaks volumes. But it does NOT reflect a loving, intimate relationship with her partner, but almost the exact opposite. Ditto Willow Bay, and Suzy Wetlaufer. Salma Hayek, Erica Baxter, Kristy Roper, and Ellen Barkin are all beauties, but their poses are rigid, not indicating a close, loving relationship... from their halves of the stories, anyway. Veronica Lario and Wendi Deng just look plain unhappy. Only a few of the gorgeous women looked relaxed and genuinely happy being with their husbands. I find that sad even though they have 000,000,000 as the last numbers on their bank statements.

Thursday 25 September

By cujodinker

Neutral

Bail out? Bah Let them sink.I can't afford to live now,We all be leaving under the brige soon anyway.Save your box's. TRhe lawyer is a door knob.No better news to write about?