The renowned Wynn Resorts Ltd. has arrived at a resolution agreement with nine unidentified women who had lodged a sexual abuse lawsuit against the company in 2019, as reported by The Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Allegations of Sexual Harassment Rattled Wynn Resorts
The lawsuit, originally instituted in 2019, involved nine women who were employed in the salon services of Wynn Resorts alleging sexual misconduct against the corporation. These women, choosing to be identified legally as “Judy Does Nos. 1-9”, raised worries that disclosure of their real identities might evoke defamatory lawsuits, exclusion from the workplace, or even turmoil in their personal lives.
The plaintiffs blamed Steve Wynn, the former CEO and initiator of Wynn Resorts, of consistently indulging in sexual misconduct and harassment during their tenure of employment at Wynn Salon or Encore Salon. The accusations elaborated Steve Wynn’s inappropriate conduct, such as probing personal questions of a sexual nature, requesting massages close to his private parts, and demanding services in isolated places, including his office.
Despite Steve Wynn persistently refuting these allegations, they attracted substantial scrutiny towards the organization, culminating in his stepping down as CEO and chairman in February 2018 and the subsequent divestiture of his business stakes. In July 2020, the case was hindered when US District Judge James Mahan labeled the women’s claims as too ambiguous, leading to an appeal to the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The judgment issued by the appellate court in October 2021, partly consented with the District Court’s decision, yet also encouraged a reassessment of certain claims. Following this, the case was re-routed to the District Court, under the authority of US District Court Judge Gloria Navarro now.
Confidential Settlement of Wynn Resorts and Continuous Legal Struggles of Steve Wynn
Following prolonged legal battles and discussions, the agreement to settle was recorded in the US District Court this week. The specifics of this settlement are yet to be revealed, thus leaving the exact sum and details confidential.
In a concurrent event, former principal Steve Wynn has embarked on legal proceedings of his own. He instituted a libel lawsuit in 2018 against Jorgen Nielsen, a preceding artistic director of salons at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas, who had affirmed sexual misconduct in a news article. Steve Wynn’s legal team asserted in the Nevada Court of Appeals that he was unreasonably denied a jury trial in this defamation case.
This resolution unveils following Steve Wynn’s agreement to pay a fine of $10 million in July this year to settle allegations of sexual improprieties in the workplace put forth by gambling regulators in Nevada. It is crucial to remember that Steve Wynn did not accept any misconduct as part of this settlement.
