Two years after the largest mass shooting in the country killed 58 people at a music festival in Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International announced an $800 million settlement to resolve pending lawsuits. MGM is the owner of Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, where the killer used an upper-floor room to fire into the crowd of 22,000 people below.
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The total settlement announced on Oct. 3 is expected to be between $735 million and $800 million, depending on how many people seek payment, and the entire process is expected to be completed by late 2020. An estimated 700 people were injured in the attack and resulting rush to escape.
“Our goal has always been to resolve these matters, so our community and the victims and their families can move forward in the healing process,” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts.
“Today’s agreement marks a milestone in the recovery process for the victims of the horrifying events of 1 October,” said Robert Eglet, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.
New Security Efforts
MGM Resorts and many other hotel companies have updated security policies in the last two years, including procedures for guests who post Do Not Disturb signs. At check-in, guests are notified that staff will conduct health and welfare checks after two days if no interaction has been made. Many properties had similar policies in place before the mass killing. MGM reported that staff did have contact with the shooter, Stephen Paddock, in the days leading up to the incident and all seemed normal. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his hotel room after the attack.
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No motive for Paddock’s actions has ever been determined.
Although other mass shootings have occurred in the last two years, none has been at an event or convention. Still, some in the hospitality industry have recently created a petition calling for industry-endorsed measures to pass gun safety legislation, citing the effectiveness of economic pressure after some states passed anti-LGBTQ regulations. Howard Givner, CEO and founder of Event leadership Institute, is collecting signatures as part of the Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence at Events.
