1. World Poker Tour Shana Hiatt
2. World Poker Tour Announcers
3. World Poker Tour Girl Host
4. Poker After Dark Shana Hiatt
5. Texas Holdem Tournament Structure Calcul…
6. World Poker Tour Hostess

Shana Hiatt, the woman who served as hostess for seasons one through three of the World Poker Tour broadcasts filed a lawsuit against her former employer in Los Angeles on Friday. The suit seeks injunctive relief, as well as punitive damages for what the suit claims is 'intentional interference with economic advantage'. The suit names World Poker Tour Enterprises, Steve Lipscomb personally, and several unnamed 'John Does' affiliated with the WPT.

According to the complaint, the problems started earlier this summer, when Hiatt's representatives were contacted by NBC about the possibility of her working on a couple poker programs for the Network. One show they were interested in Hiatt for was the highly successful NBC National Heads Up Championship show, the other was a proposed show called Poker After Dark. The story first surfaced after a rumor about the trouble was posted on Wicked Chops Poker a little over two weeks ago. Both parties have been silent about the issue until this filing.

The complaint goes on to assert that upon finding out about NBC's advances, WPTE CEO Steve Lipscomb contacted NBC executives, and informed them that even though Hiatt was no longer shooting episodes of the World Poker Tour, she was still under contract to the WPT as part of a non-compete clause in her contract. The complaint alleges the non-compete was part of Shana's release from the WPT, a document the lawsuit claims Hiatt never signed. The complaint also asserts WPT options on Hiatt's services expired on September 11, 2006, and she should be free to seek work wherever she likes.

The suit seeks immediate injunctive relief, allowing Shana to seek employment as a TV hostess for NBC (or anyone for that matter). The initial hearing for the matter is scheduled for October 17th.

Interestingly enough, the suit also claims that Hiatt left the show because the WPT created a 'hostile working environment' in the Spring of 2005 by several people around the WPT (probably the unnamed 'Does' named in the suit) spreading rumors about Hiatt, and her husband.

This suit is the latest in a series of lawsuits filed against the World Poker Tour. Earlier this summer, seven players filed suit against the World Poker Tour, asserting unfair business practices mostly in connection with the release players are required to sign to play in WPT events.

World Poker Tour Shana Hiatt

World Poker Tour representatives did not immediately return requests for comment.

World Poker Tour Announcers

Ed note: Vince Van Patten of the World Poker Tour plays at Hollywood Poker

Shana Hiatt (born 17 December 1975) is an American model and presenter who has appeared in several magazines.

Background[edit]

A former Army brat raised primarily in Tabernacle Township, New Jersey,^[1] Hiatt is best known for hosting the first three seasons of World Poker Tour on The Travel Channel.

Poker[edit]

While Hiatt was a non-player prior to her job with the World Poker Tour, she is now an avid online poker player who occasionally plays in casinos.^[2] She was the host of Poker After Dark and the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, both on NBC. Hiatt left the shows in 2008 due to pregnancy. She was replaced by Marianela Pereyra in Poker After Dark and by Leeann Tweeden in the National Heads-Up Poker Championship.^[3]

Shana Hiatt High Quality Photo Gallery. Find us on: Toggle menu Toggle search. HOME; NEWS; CELEB PICS; VIDEOS; FORUMS; MORE. Shana Hiatt - World Poker Tour Celebrity Game LA 02-23-05. Hotrod - 03/08/11 - 2983 views, 3 replies. Shana Hiatt - Unknown Photoshoot -=ARCHIVE=. Model, actress, and television spokesperson Shana Hiatt is best known for hosting the first three seasons of the Travel Channel’s World Poker Tour from 2002 to 2005. Her fun and insightful commentary introduced many viewers to the exciting world of high stakes poker, the exotic locations, poker personalities, and interesting tidbits about the game. In a thrilling hand during Binion's World Poker Open, game eight of the season, Greenstein goes head to head with two players, James Tippin and Chip Reese, in a hand that, should he win, will boot.

After leaving the World Poker Tour in 2005, Hiatt sued the producers in order to get a restraining order to prevent them from keeping her from working on a rival poker show on NBC, Poker After Dark. The WPT argued a non-compete clause was part of her contract, but Hiatt countered that she never signed it. The suit additionally revealed Hiatt left the WPT over a 'hostile working environment' involving her husband, movie producerTodd Garner, whom she married in October 2005.^[4] Hiatt was formerly married to James Van Patten, brother of World Poker Tour co-host Vince Van Patten.

Modeling[edit]

World Poker Tour Girl Host

Hiatt was Miss Hawaiian Tropic USA in 1995 and had represented Beach Haven, New Jersey, after winning the local Hawaiian Tropic pageant at Touché nightclub in 1994. After becoming Miss Hawaiian Tropic USA, Hiatt was the cover model and posed nude inside the pages of Playboy in their April 1995 The Girls of Hawaiian Tropic issue. She also was on the cover for the video of that photo shoot Playboy: The Girls of Hawaiian Tropic, Naked in Paradise .

Hiatt was a guest host of Wild On! featured on the E! network. She has also appeared in television shows and movies including Must Love Dogs and Grandma's Boy .

Poker After Dark Shana Hiatt

Notes[edit]

1. ^Bodnar, Jason. 'Shawnee grad bets on childhood dream through poker series', Burlington County Times, November 18, 2004
2. ^NBC.com: The Goddess of PokerArchived 2007-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
3. ^'Leeann Tweeden bio'. NBCsports.MSNBC.com. NBC Universal. 2008-04-19. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
4. ^CardPlayer.com: Injunction Granted on Hiatt's Behalf

External links[edit]

Texas Holdem Tournament Structure Calcul…

• Shana Hiatt on IMDb

World Poker Tour Hostess