Wynn seeks to dismiss Suffolk Downs lawsuit

Attorneys for Las Vegas casino magnate Steve Wynn filed a motion Thursday to dismiss claims against him for his role in bringing the casino to Everett rather than to Suffolk Downs. As the Herald previously reported, the lawsuit was filed in September 2018 by former owners of Suffolk Downs, Sterling Suffolk Racecourse (SSR). The company accused Wynn Resorts of fraudulently obtaining a license for its Everett casino at its expense, filing a federal civil lawsuit seeking $1 billion. SSR’s complaint says that Wynn Resorts failed to disclose any criminal ties or wrongdoing among their partners and investors, as required by state law. “In short, not only was the site (Suffolk Downs) best suited for a casino, but, as the Gaming Act acknowledged and sought to encourage, a casino could enable the historic race track to survive,” SSR wrote in its suit. However, attorneys for Wynn filed a motion Thursday to quash the three state law claims against him in the suit, saying the claims “are premised on just six flimsy allegations.” Furthermore, Wynn’s attorneys characterized the lawsuit as “a jumble of allegations and insinuations that do not properly state claims against any Defendant, and in particular do not state any valid claims against Mr. Wynn,” according to court documents filed Thursday. “Plaintiff simply found it expedient to add Mr. Wynn to the list of defendants without specifying Mr. Wynn’s participation in Wynn Resorts’ alleged misrepresentations to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission,” Wynn’s lawyers continued. Representatives for Sterling Suffolk Racecourse and Steve Wynn did not immediately respond for comment.