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Steve Wynn loses court fight with Joe Francis

/ Source: Reuters

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Not since Frank Sinatra was featured in a commercial sending the casino owner off to fetch him some towels has Las Vegas hotelier Steve Wynn suffered such a public embarrassment.

On Wednesday, a federal judge threw out Wynn's lawsuit against Joe Francis in which he claimed the oft-sued "Girls Gone Wild" creator owed him money for gambling losses incurred at Wynn's resort back in 2007.

According to TMZ, Wynn's claim was worth $2.5 million.

District Court Judge Linda Marie Bell tossed the case out of court after finding absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing on Francis's part.

"I have maintained my innocence in this matter from the start," Francis said in a statement, sounding every inch the aggrieved straight arrow.

And apparently, Francis -- who calls the courtroom his second home -- isn't done with this fight.

"I think it was disgusting that Steve Wynn attempted to manipulate banking records to try to make this a criminal case," he added. "Believe me; I will do everything legally possible to make sure justice is served in this matter and that I am compensated for the damage that these false charges have caused to my reputation."

Francis was represented by world-renowned attorney David R. Houston.

Said Houston, in his own statement: "What the judge's order tells us is that this case never should have been filed, and in my opinion, the Wynn Group's heavy-handed approach to collect money from Mr. Francis has failed utterly and completely."