The defections continue for Japanese gaming titan Kazuo Okada, accused of misappropriating millions in corporate funds from his own group of companies.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, last week lawyer David Krakoff of the firm Buckley Sandler asked to drop Okada as a client in his ongoing legal battle with Wynn Resorts, yet continue to represent Okada’s company, Universal Entertainment Corp.
Clark County District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez granted the request, which Krakoff acknowledged was prompted by Universal’s claims that Okada misused $20 million of company money during his time as chairman.
The battle in question is between Okada and Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn. The onetime partners and close friends fell out in 2012, when Wynn Resorts dismissed Okada from its board and forced him to sell his shares. Wynn claimed in a lawsuit that Okada had attempted to bribe Philippine gaming officials to get his foot in the door there and win tax and ownership concessions. The Review-Journal reported that Okada and his companies are being investigated by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation over a $40 million payment to a Manila consultant in 2010.
Universal and Okada have denied the allegations.
