Wynn Resorts and Nine Women Reach Settlement in Harassment Case
An undisclosed settlement has been reached by the attorneys for Wynn Resorts Ltd and Judy Does Nos.1-9 in the case that followed the 2019 lawsuit of nine anonymous women filed against the company, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal’s interpretation of US District Court’s documents. As reported, the settlement amount was not revealed and is expected to be sealed by the court.
The settlement notice was reportedly filed on September 5, 2023 testifying that the attorneys requested the dismissal of the action and that the settlement status check be determined within two months.
Case Filed in 2019:
The lawsuit was filed in 2019 by nine women working as manicurists or makeup artist for the Wynn Salon or Encore Salon. The anonymous women referred to as Judy Does Nos.1-9 have reportedly made specific allegations regarding sexual harassment allegedly committed by former Wynn CEO Steve Wynn in January 2018. According to the source, Wynn rejected the allegations in the hearings before the US District Judge James Mahan in March 2019, when the case was filed.
Specific Allegations:
But the court filings reportedly contained the women’s graphic descriptions of the alleged Steve Wynn’s misconduct of sexual nature. The women reportedly chose not to use their real names in the proceedings in order to avoid the allegedly expected retaliatory defamation suits by Steve Wynn, who repeatedly said that he has never harassed or sexually assaulted anyone, as the source reports.
Appellate Court Remanded The Case:
In February 2018, one month after the alleged misconduct, Steve Wynn reportedly resigned as chairman and CEO of the company, and agreed to a $10 million fine in a settlement with the Nevada Gaming Commission, as reported. The 2019 judicial action was followed by another one in July 2020, when judge Mahan forwarded the case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The appellate court reportedly remanded the case back to the District Court, where it was re-assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Gloria Navarro.
Settlement Reached In District Court:
Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said in its ruling that the Judy Does “repeatedly expressed a willingness to provide more information, so long as their privacy could be assured.” The court reportedly added that “while the Judy Does had no automatic right to file an amended complaint, the District Court still should have granted leave to amend when dismissing claims that could be cured with additional facts.”
The attorneys for Wynn Resorts Ltd and the nine anonymous women have reached the settlement after four years of litigation, with the status check settlement conference proposed to be scheduled within two months to definitely close the case.