Lawsuit claims illegal kickback schemes defraud millions from tourists

A Southern California man is going after dozens of Las Vegas strip clubs, taxi companies and limousine providers in court, claiming illegal kickback schemes are an ongoing scam that collectively defraud tens of millions of dollars from tourists.

Theodore Trapp says on Jan. 17 he boarded a cab at Caesars Palace for a trip to a club called Play it Again Sam on Spring Mountain Road.

He claims the driver disparaged the club and suggested Trapp allow him to take him to a better club.

Trapp says he went for the suggestion and was taken to a strip club.

Later, Trapp says he learned the strip club paid the driver as much as $100 in kickbacks for delivering him.

It's a practice that's long been popular, and illegal, in Las Vegas.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Nevada claims it has scammed tourists out of as much as $40 million over the years and seeks to recoup damages as a class action.

Jay Edelson and Rafey Balabanian of KamberEdelson LLC in Chicago and James Smyth II of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw & Ferrario are the plaintiffs' attorneys listed on the suit.