Survivors of the deadliest mass shooting in US history are expressing their outrage with MGM Resorts International after the company sued the surviving victims of the shooting, claiming it has “no liability of any kind” in the Oct. 1 massacre, USA Today reports. An MGM spokeswoman said the company has been “focused on the recovery of those impacted by the shooting” while also claiming that the attack was “unforeseeable.”
“The unforeseeable events of October 1st affected thousands of people in Las Vegas and throughout North America,” MGM Resorts spokeswoman Debra DeShong said in a statement. “From the day of this tragedy, we have focused on the recovery of those impacted by the despicable act of one evil individual.”
Attorneys representing the victims said the lawsuit was “a stunt” that probably won’t survive a challenge in court and accused the company of “blaming the victims.” One lawyer said MGM’s challenge was the most “reprehensible” action taken by a corporation to avoid paying damages that he’s seen in his multi-decade career.
Brian Claypool, a survivor of the rampage who represents 75 survivors and victims’ family members, called MGM’s lawsuit “a stunt” that won’t survive a court challenge.
“I am still in therapy once a week, and this is their way of trying to solve the problem,” he said. “It’s shifting responsibility and minimizing their blatant negligence.”
Robert Eglet, whose firm represents hundreds of people in the case, dismissed MGM’s claim as “outrageous” and accused the company of trying to intimidate victims. Very few of his clients have filed suit and some never will, he said.
“In my 30 years of practice, this is the most reprehensible behavior I have ever seen a defendant engage in,” Eglet said. “They are trying to victimize these people twice.”
MGM is arguing that the security company it contracted with for the Harvest festival (MGM owns the lot across the street from the Mandalay Bay hotel and resort) took all the precautions required by the Department of Homeland Security. It has also argued that security staff in the hotel responded promptly and in accordance with post-9/11 protocols for mass casualty events.
MGM’s lawsuit claims the case must be dealt with in federal court under terms of the post-9/11 Safety Act, which provides incentives for development and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies. The company says the security firm it contracted for the concert, CSC, was approved by the Department of Homeland Security, thus released from liability under the act.
But the victims’ attorneys said these guidelines are irrelevant when it comes to the lawsuit.
“The Safety Act doesn’t apply to them, it applies to CSC,” Eglet said. “MGM has nothing to do with CSC.”
Eglet said there was no reason to file the suit since the issue of jurisdiction is already being argued in court. He said MGM is “judge shopping.”
“They are trying to find a judge they like,” he said. “All they have done is cause a tremendous amount of stress, pouring gasoline on the fire.”
Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law in Virginia, said the company may be able to convince a federal judge with its arguments, but that would come at a price.
Some expressed outrage at MGM on twitter. Others questioned whether security at Mandalay Bay, the hotel where the shooter carried out his deadly massacre, had been tightened after the incident.
Like some people said. It’s not a suit for money from the victims but one so that none of the victims can hold MGM responsible for it. It’s unprecedented and if it works I personally find it outrageous.
— John Preston (@JohnPreston27) July 18, 2018
For those not aware, this is worth the read…
Not surprising given litigious social norms, but morally outrageous, and a remarkable corporate gaffe.
Lawsuits claim MGM has no liability to Las Vegas shooting victims https://t.co/SA92Tn0cvq via @reviewjournal— C.Hayes (@crhayes21) July 18, 2018
Some even questioned whether it’s time for an MGM boycott:
This is OUTRAGEOUS!, perhaps it is time for an MGM Boycott!.—MGM sues Vegas shooting victims in push to avoid liability https://t.co/jROTuCPhmF
— Corporal Clegg (@CorporalClegg2) July 18, 2018
MGM Resorts International, revenues $9.810 Billion. Here’s a list of brands you can boycott:
MGM
MGM Grand
MGM National Harbor
MGM Macau
Park MGM
The Mansion
The Signature
Skylofts
Bellagio
The Mirage
Mandalay BayFuck them.
— Yummy_Corn (@Laaa_de_Daaa) July 17, 2018
Standup America, let’s boycott and divest in the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. So many hotels and casino to pick from so why should you patronize the evil self-serving MGM Mandalay Bay- suing the victims, outrageous. https://t.co/reB3Z6TEam
— Ralph Nakamoto (@Ralphtoo) July 18, 2018
One lawyer said MGM should be spending money on beefing up security, not beefing up its legal team. But so far, at least, the boycott MGM movement hasn’t found much traction and MGM appears to be weathering the controversy without too much backlash. But with the FBI’s final investigative report expected by the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 1 attack, new information could still be released that could implicate the hotel, or vindicate it.
The deadly mass shooting was carried out by Stephen Paddock, a Vegas high roller who had recently lost millions of dollars gambling. After transporting an arsenal of weapons to his hotel suite and smashing open a window, he killed 58 people attending a country music festival across the street before shooting himself. To be sure, many mysteries remain about the hotel staff’s initial response – but hopefully for the victims, the final report will provide some badly needed clarity.
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