Tobey Maguire 'claims he shouldn't have to return poker winnings'

Tobey Maguire has answered the lawsuit that named him as part of an illegal gambling ring with criminal Bradley Ruderman.

Ruderman is in prison for running a ponzi scheme that lost his clients approximately $25 million (£15.5 million). Maguire is being sued by trustees for his winnings in the unlicensed poker games with Ruderman in an attempt to recoup the losses encountered by the criminal's clients.

The Spider-Man star previously confessed to having earned $187,000 (£116,600) in winnings from the gambling ring, but denied any intentional wrongdoing.

Maguire has now filed documents revealing that he suffered losses at the hands of Ruderman, citing these losses as a reason why he should not have to return his winnings, TMZ reports.

The documents are said to have included three of Maguire's checks, which show that the actor paid Ruderman a total of $168,500 (£105,900) between July 2007 and January 2009.

Maguire will soon produce an adaptation of The Little Mermaid that focuses on a princess's battle to save her kingdom and win the heart of her prince.