Cover-Credits:
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In a saga that has gripped the esports world, the high-profile legal showdown between Dota 2 sensation Syed "SumaiL" Hassan and the renowned esports organization Evil Geniuses (EG) is set to enter the courtroom. Over the past several months, both legal teams have engaged in an intense process of gathering evidence, setting the stage for a jury trial slated to commence on November 6, 2023. The case will go to trial in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, located in San Francisco.
SumaiL vs Evil Geniuses Trial: Witness List Includes Cr1t, ppd, Arteezy, and More
As first reported by Richard Lewis, both parties have been eager to secure deposition testimony from a roster of influential witnesses. Notable names on the submitted witness list include former high-ranking members of the Evil Geniuses management, personnel, and players. Among these luminaries are former COO Philip Aram, former CEO Peter “ppd” Dager, and former Evil Geniuses players Saahil "Universe" Arora, Clinton "Fear" Loomis, Artor "Arteezy" Babaev, Andreas "Cr1t-" Nielsen, and Evil Geniuses former CEO Nicole Lapointe Jameson.
According to Lewis, EG's legal team has extended a series of "requests for admission" aimed at compelling Hassan to address various claims in accordance with their interpretation of the events in question. One such request sought Hassan's acknowledgment of being advised by former CEO Nicole Lapointe Jameson to consult an attorney before signing any agreements. However, this assertion was challenged, with Hassan's legal team contending that the terms "advise" and "consult" lacked clarity and were therefore overly broad. Several other requests for admission faced rejection due to their requirement for expert opinions and legal conclusions, along with concerns about vague and ambiguous language. The majority of the twenty-six requests for admission either met outright denial or were considered unfeasible to assess due to ongoing discovery.
In the coming months, both legal teams will intensify their efforts to gather testimonial evidence to bolster their respective arguments. As October draws to a close, a final statistical conference is scheduled to ensure that both parties are adequately prepared for the impending trial. Included in the vast pool of trial documents is a comprehensive ninety-page set of jury instructions, meticulously delineating the intricacies of the case and elucidating certain esports-specific nuances.
The esports community is keeping a careful eye on the case. The outcome of this case could have a significant impact on the future of the esports industry and aid in the protection of esports participants' rights.
