WYNN SEEKS REPORT PRIVACY
Wants details of Mass. Gaming Commission’s investigation kept quiet
Former casino czar Steve Wynn is asking a Nevada judge to prevent the Massachusetts Gaming Commission from publicly releasing its investigation into Wynn and his former company, Wynn Resorts, claiming it has information that should be subject to attorney-client privilege. “Wynn Resorts has provided Mass Gaming with scores of documents reflecting communications protected by Mr. Wynn’s attorneyclient privilege and/or the common interest agreements he entered with Wynn Resorts,” the lawsuit, filed Wednesday afternoon, says. “Mr. Wynn has never authorized Wynn Resorts to share such materials with Mass Gaming or any other third party.” The information at the center of the argument revolves around a lawsuit between Steve Wynn and a former shareholder that also included Elaine Wynn, Wynn’s exwife and company co-founder. Wynn has asked the judge to prevent the commission from releasing anything containing information related to Wynn that he claims is subject to attorney-client privilege and other protected communications. In a statement, the Gaming Commission rejected Wynn’s claims, and said it will continue to move forward with the investiga- tive report. “The MGC is aware of Steve Wynn’s latest legal maneuver. This development is not surprising as it is consistent with his established litigious tendencies. The Commission has retained legal representation in Nevada to mount a vigorous defense against his effort to block the release of our months-long investigatory report and to defend against Mr. Wynn’s baseless claims for damages against the Commission and its Director of the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau,” Commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said in a statement. “It is our intention to bring this matter to a swift resolution. The IEB remains focused on its preparations to soon present the Commission with the full extent of its findings.” The commission has said it expects to release the report and hold hearings on the investigation into Steve Wynn and Wynn Resorts in December. If a judge orders an injunction, the release of the report could be delayed, but it is unclear if that will happen. Information about the Commission’s monthslong investigation has been scarce, but the lawsuit said investigators have sought information about Steve Wynn’s dispute with a co-founder of his namesake company, Kazuo Okada, and tried to schedule an interview with Donald Campbell, Steve Wynn’s personal attorney, according to an exhibit lawsuit, but were rebuffed by Campbell. Campbell did not respond to a request for comment. Representatives of Wynn Resorts, which is also named as a defendant in the suit for allegedly improperly giving the Commission protected information, said it would not comment on the matter.