OFF BEAT: Gambler sues casino to comp his injury

JACKSON, Miss. – A Mississippi casino is hoping that old axiom about the house always winning extends to legal matters as it seeks to have a Tennessee man’s injury liability lawsuit thrown out of federal court.

Hickman County, Tenn. resident Randy Perkins is suing the Las Vegas-based Tunica Roadhouse Corp. for injuries he allegedly sustained while gambling in the company’s casino in Tunica Resorts, Miss., in August 2010.

Filed in a U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi in July 2011, Mr. Perkins’ suit claims he injured his back and left arm after being struck with the unsecured access panel on the slot machine.

Attorneys for the casino this week asked a U.S. District Court judge to dismiss the lawsuit, based on new evidence suggesting Mr. Perkins lied under oath about injuries he had sustained long before the alleged incident in the casino.

According to court documents, Mr. Perkins filed at least six workers compensation claims between 1991 and 2007 for substantial injuries to his spine, back and left hand. However, the casino attorneys claim Mr. Perkins never mentioned any of those injuries in a sworn deposition during the discovery process of the case.

The casino also claims that Mr. Perkins wildly exaggerated the size and weight of the access panel that he claims caused his injuries.