To call Legends Poker Room in Houston “embattled” would be an understatement. This poker location, which is only popular because of all the freebies given away every day, week, and month (in our opinion) is constantly facing issues of its own making.
The latest is a lawsuit filed by Khalid Anwarzad, the sole plaintiff and a Texas citizen, who alleges that he was physically attacked following an encounter he had while visiting Legends Poker on Richmond Ave. in Houston.
The charges by Khalid Anwarzad allege that when he visited Legends just a couple months ago — Nov. 22, 2022 — he witnessed someone entering the poker room with a large duffle bag full of something. What it was, he didn’t know. But as he was watching this scene play out — and it was just happenstance that he was there at that particular time — as Legends security was examining the bag, Anwarzad noticed a knife on the side of the bag and pointed that out to security. Awarzad was aware of Legend’s “no weapons” policy, and apparently wanted to be sure that security knew about the knife.
The man trying to enter Legends with the duffle bag, referred to as “John Doe” in the lawsuit, became “irate,” as it says in the lawsuit, referred to Anwarzad as a “snitch,” and threatened that he would “kick [Anwarzad’s] ass.” The John Doe then left the poker room but remained outside in the parking lot area in front of Legends.
According to the lawsuit, “A few minutes later, Plaintiff [Anwarzad] left Legends and was then attacked and assaulted in the parking lot by John Doe.”
Anwarzad allegeds in his court filing that a security guard employed by Legends came out, saw the ongoing physical altercation, and did nothing to intervene in the assault; he apparently just stood there and watched, even though he was aware of what had just happened between Anwarzad and John Doe in Legends shortly before the alleged attack. This same security guard also allegedly refused to call the police regarding the incident.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that “The guard was aware of the threats to Plaintiff prior to the assault but did nothing to escort him safely to his vehicle or prevent the attack.”
And to add insult to injury, Legends has said that Anwarzad is now no longer welcome at the poker room and said they would not provide him or the police with surveillance footage of the incident. Police were called during the alleged attack, but interestingly, they declined to assist Anwarzad nor did they arrest this John Doe.
Anwarzad filed six causes of action against John Doe and Legends, including assault, mental anguish, gross negligence, and negligence.
Anwarzad also asked for damages and demanded a jury trial.
It goes without saying that we will be watching and following up as this case progresses through the legal system. Still to come: a second lawsuit involving ownership status and money — a lot of money.