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A Queens native who once made $500,000 as a New York City lawyer is now suing a number of Atlantic City casinos for $20 million, claiming they didn't notice her gambling addiction. Arelia Margarita Taveras owes $1 million from her gambling losses, but thinks the casinos enabled her.
Taveras, who represented victims' families in the World Trade Center attacks and Flight 587 crash, grew up in Corona, went to Cardozo Law School, and was, at the height of her success, making $500,000/year at her practice of 400 clients. She also appeared as a TV commentator and was named one of the "21 New Yorkers to Watch in the 21st Century" by the Daily News in 2000. But Taveras says her troubles began when she went to Atlantic City to relax.
"They knew I was going for days without eating or sleeping. I would pass out at the tables. They had a duty of care to me. Nobody in their right mind would gamble for four or five straight days without sleeping," Taveras told the AP. She says the casinos welcomed her with "high roller" perks, like allowing her bring her dog to blackjack tables and a limo to take her between casinos.
A lawyer specializing in Atlantic City gambling issues, Paul O'Gara, said Taveras' case is hard to prove, "How are you supposed to know whether this was a woman who was just having a good time, or had money and was just lonely, as opposed to someone who couldn't control themselves?"
Taveras, who used $100,000 of clients' escrow money to cover her losses and was charged with grand larceny and forgery by the Queens DA's office, was disbarred, lost her apartment and parents' home, and now works at a call center in Minnesota. She told the AP, "It's like crack, only gambling is worse than crack because it's mental. It creeps up on you, the impulse. It's a sickness."
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what a moron!
Its obviously the Casino's fault. Yes, its the Casino who made her rip off her clients and plunge her into massive debt.
Yet another individual who refuses to take responsibility for her own actions.
desperate!
It is a pretty wild lawsuit. I feel like this will also open up the doors to more lawsuits.
I hope whatever judge gets this one, throws it out immediately, and revokes her lisence on the basis that she's nuts.
Umm... yeah. I'm betting she loses that case.
That's so wild! It's beyond sad too...
Talk about jumping the shark.
go pick my strawberries bitch.
What if she had won $500K? Would that still be called an addiction to gambling? Pretty steep, but well-deserved fall. From a high-rolling lawyer to a phone operator.
At least she landed at a job with more respectability than lawyer.
A real shame - this fall from grace, but then again she WAS a lawyer...
Harsh. If she was passing out at tables and such then in a proper world she should have a case. It is clear from this thread that most people have the attitude that if you're weak enough to fall prey to these sorts of things, it is your own damn fault but casinos shouldn't be solely predatory machines. If it is clear that someone is in no state to be gambling or perhaps is having a severe problem then they should remove that person or offer them some sort of aid. In the end this sort of behavior shouldn't be good for anyone, even if she is putting money in the hands of the casino.
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Sorry she's in such dire straits, but this mess was entirely her doing...
'If it is clear that someone is in no state to be gambling or perhaps is having a severe problem then they should remove that person or offer them some sort of aid.'
We still sell cigarettes, and I see gambling as no different really. It's a personal choice that has negative repercussions like cigarettes, drugs, booze, red meat, sleeping around etc. Life is about striking your personal balance of addictions. If my corporate job works me death, can my estate sue them because I'm a workaholic and should have been prevented from working? I've fallen at sleep at my desk before. At some point you are responsible for your own actions.
Hey daniel143: take your spam elsewhere!
Wasting more time in the courts with nonsense.
This is a grown woman who needs to take responsible for her actions.
#13 Chris why don't you go get yourself a gambling problem and cry and whine for your money back. See how much sympathy people will give you. Boohoo, McDonald made me fat and the Borgata made me broke and forced me to cheat and steal from my clients!
And Jen Chung, if you are not gonna to take a side on this issue, please don't bother to make a useless comment here. Thank you.
"Dude69", Get a clue. Shocking that as an editor, Jen can comment on her own blog post...
Geez...
S.D., if you have read my post carefully, I am not saying Jen cannot comment on her own blog. I am just pointing out how her comment overall doesn't state her position nor opinion in this issue whatsoever, and it's just some lame and very obvious observation that doesn't contribute to the discussion. Just state whether you're for or against her, it's not so hard, Jenny.
"They knew I was going for days without eating or sleeping. I would pass out at the tables. They had a duty of care to me. Nobody in their right mind would gamble for four or five straight days without sleeping,"
That sounds like she was addicted to something aaaallll together different.
Can you sue your coke dealer?