Zona de Azar USA – Closure Reached in Wynn’s Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
USA.- February 1 2024 www.zonadeazar.com The sexual harassment lawsuit against Wynn Resorts Ltd., filed in 2019 by nine anonymous women, has officially concluded with the approval of a settlement agreement by U.S. District Court Judge Gloria Navarro.
The settlement, initially announced in September, remains confidential regarding the settlement amount and other details.
The judge’s recent action marks the end of a series of events that have had a lasting impact on Wynn Resorts, leading to executive departures and a restructuring of the company’s board of directors. The scandal has incurred substantial financial penalties and resulted in the permanent departure of former chairman and CEO Steve Wynn.
The group of nine women, employed at Wynn and Encore Las Vegas’ salon, alleged enduring years of sexual harassment. They filed the lawsuit in 2019, a year after Steve Wynn left the company. The court documents, referencing the women as “Judy Does Nos. 1-9,” detailed explicit instances of harassment, including inappropriate questions, forced massages, and providing services in secluded areas.
Steve Wynn has consistently denied the allegations, stating that he has never harassed or assaulted anyone. Wynn Resorts representatives declined to comment on the recent court action.
The lawsuit, initially heard by U.S. District Judge James Mahan in March 2019, took various turns before reaching Navarro. In July 2020, Mahan deemed the pleadings too vague, leading to an appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which partially affirmed and partially reversed the District Court’s action.
Wynn Resorts faced significant financial penalties related to the case, including a $20 million payment to the Nevada Gaming Control Board in 2019 and a $35 million fine from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The company’s CEO successor, Matt Maddox, also received a $500,000 fine. The Nevada Gaming Commission later approved a $10 million settlement with Steve Wynn, restricting his involvement in gaming in the state.
The aftermath saw a restructuring of Wynn’s board of directors and the departure of several executives, including former Wynn Las Vegas President Maurice Wooden, who recently assumed the role of president at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com
