MGM Sues Victims Of Las Vegas Shooting To Avoid Liability
MGM Resorts International has launched a preemptive strike against the victims of the deadliest mass shooting in US history – the events that occurred on October 1st, 2017.
MGM argues that it has “no liability of any kind” to the survivors or victims’ families under a federal law that was enacted after the attacks on the World Trade Centers on September 11th. The suits were filed in Nevada, California, New York, and a few other states this week, and targets victims who have sued MGM and dismissed their claims or those who have threatened to sue MGM.
MGM have said the 2002 law limits liabilities when a company uses services certified by the Department of Homeland Security and a mass attack occurs. Because MGM’s security services were provided by Contemporary Services Corp., and this company was federally certified when the attack occurred, that this law applies.
Stephen Paddock killed 58 people and injured hundreds more on Sunday, October 1st, after knocking out a window in his room at Mandalay Bay. According to MGM’s lawsuits;
“If defendants were injured by Paddock’s assault, as they allege, they were inevitably injured both because Paddock fired from his window and because they remained in the line of fire at the concert. Such claims inevitably implicate security at the concert — and may result in loss to CSC.”
MGM also wants a court to declare that the 2002 law “precludes any finding of liability” against MGM “for any claim for injuries arising out of or related to Paddock’s mass attack.”
Attorney Brian Claypool, who was at the music festival during the shooting, said “we collectively view this as a bullying tactic to intimidate the survivors who are rightfully seeking social change and redress through the litigation process.” Claypool also called the lawsuits filed by MGM a “hypocritical maneuver” which will turn into a “public relations nightmare for MGM.”
An attorney representing the victims, Robert Eglet, has said MGM’s move in filing lawsuits across the United States is in an effort to find a sympathetic judge.
