FanDuel is requesting a U.S. District Court stay a lawsuit filed by Amit Patel and place the matter into arbitration.
After pleading guilty to charges stemming from stealing roughly $20 million from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Patel filed a $250-million lawsuit against FanDuel. The lawsuit, filed in October, alleges that FanDuel “actively and intentionally targeted” Patel, enabling his problem gambling.
In a memorandum filed last Friday with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, FanDuel is requesting the court stay the action in Patel’s current lawsuit and, instead, compel the complaint to binding arbitration.
FanDuel’s memorandum states that, “With nothing but time in federal prison to dream up unsupported conspiracy theories, Patel has now filed an amended complaint premised largely on the wild and unsubstantiated assertion that FanDuel knew that Patel was stealing from his employer.”
FanDuel argues that even if Patel’s claims were true, he “is nevertheless not entitled to sue FanDuel in this court at all.” FanDuel cites several instances throughout his use of the company’s websites when Patel explicitly agreed to FanDuel’s terms and conditions – which require disputes be handled through arbitration. FanDuel argues that Patel’s lawsuit is in violation of those legal agreements.
FanDuel is requesting the court force the matter into arbitration rather than hear the case.
Legal background
Patel worked in a financial role for the Jaguars organization from 2018 to 2023. In December 2023, Patel was charged with wire fraud and an illegal monetary transaction after embezzling more than $20 million from the NFL franchise.
Patel misappropriated funds through the team’s virtual credit card program over a period of four years. According to court documents, he then used the money to fund sportsbook accounts and to buy personal items, including a Tesla and a country club membership.
Patel pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of illegal monetary transaction in federal court on Dec. 14, 2023. In March 2024, Patel was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison.
