The lengthy sexual harassment case against Wynn Resorts, which began in 2019, has reached its conclusion after a judicial ruling. The company substantiated in September that it had reached a settlement concerning the charges of sexual misconduct brought forth by nine unnamed salon workers.
The conclusion to this legal ordeal arrived on Friday as a judge finalized the settlement agreement. Federal Judge Gloria Navarro, of the US District Court, affirmed on Friday that the case was given a stipulation for dismissal with prejudice. This ruling effectively signifies the termination of the lawsuit, ensuring it cannot be reintroduced in court or be subject to further appeals.
The settlement agreement announced in September didn’t provide public details about specific conditions or the settlement figure. Instead, the agreement which was submitted to the US District Court remained confidential.
Despite the resolution through a settlement and recent court ruling, the sexual harassment case had a profound impact on Wynn Resorts. As a result of this legal situation, the organization faced penalties, and several executives had to leave the company. Steve Wynn, the former CEO, and chairman exited the company in 2018. The aforementioned lawsuit was filed the subsequent year.
As a consequence of the legal situation, a fine of $20 million was levied on the company by the gambling regulator in Nevada, the Nevada Gaming Control Board, for neglecting to investigate claims of sexual misconduct. Similarly, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the gambling regulator in its respective state, imposed a $35 million fine against Wynn. At that time, the Commission confirmed that the company did not divulge the existence of sexual misconduct allegations leveled by its employees when it applied for a Massachusetts gaming license.
Workers Charged Sexual Misconduct, Inappropriate Conduct
In their 2019 lawsuit, the nine women, who were titled as “Judy Does Nos. 1-9,” in legal documents to protect their identities, charged Steve Wynn with repeated acts of sexual misconduct and harassment. They were granted anonymity to protect themselves from defamation suits and to avoid any potential harm to their personal lives.
The charges against Wynn incorporated intimate personal inquiries of a sexual kind and recurrent inappropriate conduct. Further, the salon workers charged that the former executive solicited massages in his personal area. Wynn has also been accused of demanding services in private spaces, such as his office, among other places.
The former CEO and chairman has persistently denied all charges, asserting he has not partaken in any sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior. Post his departure from the company in 2018, he relinquished his stakes in the business.
