MGM Resorts International has filed a lawsuit against victims of the 2017 Las Vegas massacre that left 58 dead and more than 500 injured, NBC noted. According to USA Today, MGM claims they are not liable for the actions of mass shooter Stephen Paddock during the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. The massacre occurred on October 1 last year and is considered the worse mass shooting in US history. ABA journal noted that the filing is under "an obscure law."
Victims of the mass shooting began filing lawsuits against MGM Resorts as they did not do enough to protect the people from the shooting.
The victims claim negligence by MGM. The lawsuits claim that there was not enough surveillance, trained employees or security on the premises. USA Today quoted the Ladah Law Firm's website as writing, " A gunman bringing more than two dozen firearms into a hotel room, including military-style assault weapons, is almost unthinkable." They added, "There are serious questions about the security procedures at the Mandalay Bay."
According to The article by USA Today, MGM hired the Contemporary Services Corporation to provide security during the concert. But it was noted that the company had certification from U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Attorneys for MGM have claimed that the resort is not responsible and that CSC is protected under the 2002 federal anti-terrorism law and has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuits filed by the victims.
MGM Resorts sues victims of Las Vegas mass shooting https://t.co/z2m7nebXwW
— UPI.com (@UPI) July 17, 2018
Stephen Paddock
Stephen Paddock, 64 years old, checked into the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas six days before the shooting. He had a room on the 32nd floor of the hotel and during his stay, he brought in hidden weapons, ammunition and computers unnoticed by hotel staff and security.
According to KTNV-TV that the weapons Paddock had with him were 14 .223-caliber AR-15-type rifles, seven .308-caliber AR-10-type rifles, one .38-caliber Smith & Wesson Model 342 revolver and had hundreds of cartridges for each gun. He had meticulously planned his attack against the concert and opened fire into the crowd of people using more than 1,100 rounds.
Paddock also planned to escape after the shooting. His plan changed as law enforcement approached his room. When SWAT teams surrounded the floor and stairwell where Paddock was he committed suicide before police reached him. Paddock left no information on his computers or note as to why he committed the crime.
Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino
The Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas opened in 1999. It has a casino along with 3,209 hotel rooms, a convention center, and 24 elevators. There also 24 restaurants at the resort. MGM purchased the hotel in 2005 which allowed them to gain control of most of the hotel rooms available in Las Vegas. MGM has also been recognized as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity in 2012, one of the top 100 Companies for MBA Students in 2014, and was named one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune.