In a riveting courtroom showdown, two Massachusetts justices found themselves grappling with a $19 million handshake agreement tied to the land designated for Wynn Resort’s highly-anticipated Boston-area casino. The legal battle not only challenged state restrictions on side deals but also raised crucial questions about the integrity of the gambling industry.
Oral Arguments Intensify at Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
As the oral arguments unfolded, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court found itself immersed in a legal saga revolving around the Encore Boston Harbor Casino. The dispute, reignited by former owner entities, revolved around a state-ordered haircut of a staggering $40 million on the land, which they claimed constituted a regulatory taking.
At the heart of Wednesday’s proceedings lay a federal lawsuit initiated by Anthony Gattineri, a partial owner of FBT Everett Realty LLC. Gattineri alleged that a Wynn executive had offered him a guarantee of being “made whole” in the face of a $19 million price reduction, provided he signed the necessary paperwork for Wynn to pursue a state-issued casino license.
