Federal judge sides with White Marlin Open

After a two week trial in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, a judge has ruled in favor of the White Marlin Open.

The Honorable Richard Bennett ruled that the White Marlin Open properly applied the rules of the tournament to the 2016 White Marlin Open, Phillip Heasley, one of the anglers in the 2016 tournament, and his crew members aboard the Kallianassa, had not passed polygraph examinations which were required under tournament rules.

The court also found that Heasley and the crew violated tournament rules by deploying fishing lines before 8: 30 a.m., on Tuesday, August 9, 2016, the day they caught the 76.5 white marlin.

As a result of the polygraph examination results, White Marlin Open did not pay the prize money of $2,818,000 to Heasley.

Instead, to protect the integrity of the tournament and to act in fairness to all participants, White Marlin Open reportedly filed an inter pleader action in court and asked the court to find out whether the White Marlin Open directors had acted appropriately in withholding the money from Heasley.

In a two week trial, officials say, White Marlin Open put on evidence of the appropriateness of the polygraph examinations, and the reasonableness of its actions in withholding the prize money under tournament rules.

The court verified that White Marlin Open Inc. had applied its rules in a fair manner, and that it had the power to ask for the polygraph upon its participants as a way to verify that rules of the tournament were not violated by the winning anglers.

Throughout the case, the White Marlin Open says their intention was to protect the integrity of the tournament and to make sure that rules are fair for all participants. The White Marlin Open, like many tournaments, has reportedly found that the use of polygraphs is a helpful method of ensuring that people follow the rules.

The White Marlin Open says that they are pleased that their reputation for integrity, built over its 43-year history, has been upheld.

As the 2017 tournament approaches, officials say that directors are determined to continue the fair and impartial application of the tournament rules so that all participants have confidence in results.

The tournament directors say they are committed to keeping the tournament as an open and enjoyable experience for all anglers, whether professional or amateur, who participate in the globally recognized event.