Phil Ivey divorce case settled by Nevada Supreme Court

A contentious court case has been going on for the past 18 months between Phil Ivey – a professional poker player – and his ex-wife, Luciaetta. The couple was originally divorced in 2009.

In late 2011, Luciaetta filed a petition claiming the original decision was tainted due to involvement between her former husband and the judge. According to the petition, Phil Ivey contributed $5,000 to the election campaign of the judge involved in the original divorce case just three months following the divorce decree.

Recently, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the original decision made by the judge is valid. The high court seemed to focus on the dollar amount of the campaign contribution, stating that it was not large enough to “raise a reasonable question” about the judge’s ability to remain unbiased.

Notably, the court stated in its decision, “Campaign contributions made within statutory limits cannot constitute grounds for disqualification of a judge under Nevada law.”

Luciaetta had also stated in her petition that Phil had not paid spousal support since April of 2011. Phil provided evidence that Luciaetta received $180,000 per month from payments he received from Full Tilt Poker, an online poker site. In total, Phil receives around $920,000 from the gaming site every month – leaving him with $740,000 after alimony payments have been made.

When a couple decides to divorce, it is critical for both spouses to ensure they are properly represented. Discussing the case with a qualified legal professional is one way to ensure their rights are protected throughout the divorce proceedings.

Source: Poker News, “Nevada Court Rules Against Phil Ivey’s Ex-Wife in Divorce Case Petition,” Brett Collson, March 29, 2013.