Merida Manipoun, also known as Anoma Sengvixay, of Clark County, Nevada, filed a lawsuit Nov. 16 in San Diego Superior Court against a local car dealership, Aston Martin of San Diego, and people who worked for Viejas Casino & Resort.
Manipoun won the car in a drawing at Viejas in May 2016, the lawsuit said.
According to the lawsuit, Manipoun played various slot machine games to earn chances to participate in the casino’s “Dream Machine” drawing to win the sports car. She was publicly congratulated at the casino and posed for promotional photos, the lawsuit said.
Shortly thereafter, one or more defendants (casino workers) urged Manipoun to forego the car and accept a comparatively small cash compensation instead, based on “the apparent theory” that doing so would provide her tax benefits, according to the lawsuit. Manipoun refused and demanded the car.
Manipoun did not receive the car, but she was issued a tax record (Form 1099-Misc) reporting $134,000 in income — the vehicle’s approximate market value, the lawsuit said. Manipoun’s understanding was that the casino reported the income to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with governing tax law, the lawsuit said.
When Manipoun went in person to the dealership to collect her Aston Martin, she was told that the dealership did not have paperwork entitling her to the car, and she would not be receiving it, according to the lawsuit.
Aston Martin of San Diego did not respond to a request for comment. Viejas Casino & Resort declined to comment because litigation was ongoing.
Manipoun’s lawsuit alleges fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, breach of unfair competition law and breach of unilateral contract. Manipoun seeks compensation including unspecified damages, attorney’s fees and court costs.
Other sources on the internet explain that the suite is against casino employees rather than Viejas because the tribe is a sovereign nation and can not be sued.
