On November 16, 2018, Judge Shipp found in favor of the major sports leagues in a claim for damages under an injunction bond.
Previously, the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NJTHA) had sought $3.4 million, plus interest and damages, from the NFL, NCAA, NBA, NHL, and MLB. NJTHA claimed that, as a result of Judge Shipp’s 2014 injunction halting NJTHA and Monmouth Park from accepting sports bets, NJTHA suffered damages in excess of $10 million. In response, lawyers for the leagues described the claim as “meritless, if not frivolous.”
Ultimately, Judge Shipp found that the NJTHA was not wrongfully enjoined and denied damages under the injunction bond. The fallout from an alternative finding would have been exponentially costly for the leagues – other bookmakers could have used the ruling to make additional claims for lost revenue during the lengthy stay that was put on sports betting nationwide, sans Nevada.
It remains to be seen whether NJTHA will seek an appeal.