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Former Southwest Florida TV meteorologist Matt Devitt is asking a judge to keep his casino gambling records private as he fights a lawsuit brought by his former employer, WINK News’ parent company.
Fort Myers Broadcasting Co. sued Devitt on March 30, alleging he violated his employment agreement by operating a competing weather business, Weatherview Inc., while still employed at the station. According to the dispute described in court filings, WINK wants access to Devitt’s casino records as part of discovery, while Devitt’s attorneys argue the request reaches into private matters unrelated to the case.
Why WINK says the casino records matter
The broadcaster alleges Devitt built and monetized a separate weather business while working at WINK and that at least part of his social media activity belonged to the station. It also argues the gambling records could help support claims that he visited casinos during hours when he was supposed to be at work.
The court has not yet decided whether WINK will be allowed to obtain those records.
Devitt argues the request is intrusive
Devitt, who was fired on Jan. 8 after roughly a decade at WINK, is seeking to keep the records out of the public record. His attorneys have described the request for his gambling history as an attempt to obtain “embarrassing information unrelated to any claim or defense.”
The case has drawn public attention in Southwest Florida because Devitt had amassed more than 1 million Facebook followers during his time on air.
What Florida readers should watch next
For casino patrons, the immediate issue is not a gambling regulation change but a discovery fight over whether casino player records can be pulled into a civil lawsuit. The next major step is mediation, which the parties are scheduled to attend before the case heads to trial next year.
Until a judge rules, the records request remains unresolved.
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Source: As reported by casino.org.
