- Jun 23, 2001
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http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-chuck-e-cheese-lawsuit-san-diego,0,3075990.story
At least some of the parents surveyed seem to be intelligent people. The lawsuit is clearly BS, Mrs Keller needs to be smacked hard for wasting the court's time with this nonesense
SAN DIEGO -- A San Diego mother of two has filed a civil suit against Chuck E. Cheese saying the popular children's attraction features games that are "illegal gambling machines."
The parent company, CEC Enertainment LLC wants a judge to dismiss the suit entirely, according to the plaintiff's attorney Eric Benink.
"My client became concerned about some of the games her two children were playing at a local Chuck E. Cheese," said Benink, a partner at Krause, Kalfayan, Benink & Slavens, LLP. "Many of the games actually are no different than a roulette wheel."
In the lawsuit, the plaintiff, Denise Keller, alleged the games of chance found at Chuck E. Cheese are essentially slot machines that pay out tickets instead of money.
"Under California law, it doesn't matter if it pays out money," Benink said. "What matters is whether it pays out anything of any value. In this case it pays out tickets, which are redeemable for prizes."
Benink said if his client wins, it would force Chuck E. Cheese to remove all games of chance from their California businesses and to pay back all the money people put into those machines.
"The size of the damages is unknown at this time," Benink said. "Certainly it's millions of dollars."
The lawsuit only focuses on games of chance.
"A skeeball game or a Space Invaders game all have elements of skill," Benink said. "We don't challenge those."
Benink said CEC Entertainment is seeking to dismiss the civil suit and said a judge is expected to rule on that decision sometime in mid-June.
"CEC Entertainment believes the Keller suit has no merit and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves," said Brenda Holloway, a spokesperson for CEC Entertainment.
Regardless of how the court of law rules, in court of public opinion, many parents Fox 5 News spoke with characterized the lawsuit as "frivolous."
"The only reward they're giving out are little trinkets and a lawsuit in regards to that is just absurd," said Chris Thornton, a dad that took his two children to Chuck E. Cheese on Thursday.
"It's just for your kids to hit a button and get excited tickets are coming out," said Lauren Wynglarz, a mom of two.
At least some of the parents surveyed seem to be intelligent people. The lawsuit is clearly BS, Mrs Keller needs to be smacked hard for wasting the court's time with this nonesense