MGM sues 1,000 victims of mass shooting in Las Vegas

THE owners of the Las Vegas resort where 58 people were shot dead in the United States’ worst-ever mass shooting have sued the victims in a bid to prevent them taking legal action against the company.

MGM Resorts International, which owns the Mandalay Bay hotel and the Route 91 music festival, where the killings took place on Oct 1, has filed lawsuits against more than 1,000 victims.

‘I’ve never seen a more outrageous thing, where they sue the victims in an effort to find a judge they like’

The suits, filed in federal courts in California and Nevada, argue that MGM cannot be held liable for deaths and injuries from the mass shooting under a 2002 law passed by Congress.

The law gives immunity to companies that use “anti-terrorism” technology or services that can “help prevent and respond to mass violence”. MGM argues that the security company it contracted used such technology.

Debra Deshong, a spokesman for MGM, said that the action was being taken in the best interests of victims.

“Years of drawn-out litigation and hearings are not in the best interest of victims, the community and those still healing,” she said.

Lawsuits have been filed against both MGM and concert promoter Live Nation, accusing the companies of not having adequate security or properly trained staff. The FBI has yet to call the massacre an act of terrorism because the motive of Stephen Paddock, the gunman, remains unclear.

Robert Eglet, the lawyer representing at least 900 of the victims, told The Telegraph that MGM’S actions were “reprehensible”. He said they were trying to claim that the 2002 act would give them immunity from suits. “So to suggest they are trying to prevent the victims from suing is simply not true.”

He said the 2002 act is irrelevant, because the security company employed by the concert promoters had nothing to do with the hotel and resort.

He also said it would not apply anyway, because Paddock’s attack has not been classed as terrorism.

“And it won’t be classed as terrorism,” he said. “All evidence points to a lone individual.”

He said it was distressing for those caught up in the attack to be “victimised twice”.

The complaint seeks to have the victims cases moved to a federal court, in which the 2002 federal law may provide greater legal protection for MGM.