13 Year Bingo Court Case Finally Over?

As far as court cases go, one settled in the Florida courts recently must rank up there as being one of the most drawn out and protracted of all but sadly one of the two businessmen that finally won on appeal won't be able to take solace that after 13 years in court his case has been won because he died last year, one year short of being 70.

Gordon Paget and Philip Furtney had established a network of bingo halls across Florida only to have them closed down by the government amid claims that they had broken laws that governed bingo halls. Even the partners were eventually acquitted of these crimes, the attorney general's office attempting to force the men to pay damages.

After countless trials, decisions, and appeals, the case has now finally been found in favour of the partners. The court also found that the bingo halls were closed unlawfully and both Paget and Furtney have been awarded over $5m in damages. Who knows whether there's any more rights of appeal and whether the attorney general will take that option if it is available.