Law Firms Gear Up to Fight for Victims and Families of Las Vegas Massacre: Dozens of Lawsuits to be Filed
– Lawsuits Allege Gross Negligence, Which Led to Loss of Lives, Traumatic Injuries and Emotional Distress –
LOS ANGELES, CA – Becker Law Group and Los Angeles-based trial law firm McNicholas and McNicholas and Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian, have filed numerous lawsuits against MGM Resorts, Mandalay Bay, Live Nation, the Estate of Stephen Paddock, Slide Fire Solutions and more on behalf of the survivors and victims’ families of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. The lawsuits allege wrongful death, negligence, assault and battery, emotional distress, product liability and manufacturing defects.
“It is outrageous that the shooter was able to transport an arsenal of weapons into his room, set up surveillance cameras to monitor the exterior of his hotel room and break open his hotel room windows without anyone at the resort taking notice,” said Patrick McNicholas, Partner at McNicholas & McNicholas LLP. “The negligence displayed by the hotel alone is staggering.”
Lawsuits
To date, there have been numerous lawsuits filed and dozens more will follow in the coming weeks. Currently, the lawsuits filed include:
- A wrongful death claim filed by Gus Castilla on behalf of 28-year-old Andrea Castilla, who was shot and killed while attending the festival;
- Two negligence and product liability claims filed by Andrea’s sister and her boyfriend, who attended the festival with Andrea; and
- Two assault and battery, negligence and product liability claims filed on behalf of Lisa Dancel and Bryce Heathcoat after Bryce was shot while the two tried to flee the festival.
Defendants and Allegations MGM and Mandalay Bay
The team of lawyers allege that MGM and Mandalay Bay failed to properly surveil people coming and going from the hotel, to monitor the hotel premises and to respond in a timely manner after Paddock shot a security guard.
In 2016 the Nevada Gaming Commission, along with security firms, informed the casino hotels that they were soft targets for terrorist attacks. It was recommended that the casinos implement increased security measures and metal detectors. The Wynn Hotels implemented these recommendations; however, Mandalay Bay rejected them.
MGM, Live Nation and Contemporary Services Corporation
It is alleged that MGM, Live Nation and Contemporary Services Corporation, who hosted, promoted and provided private security for the music festival, respectively, failed to provide sufficient and accessible exit routes from the festival and failed to properly train their employees on a course of action in the event of an emergency.
While victims ran for their lives, additional lights were turned on in the venue, illuminating the crowd, which provided the shooter a clearer view of his targets. With improperly trained security and staff on how to handle an emergency, chaos ensued. Unable to find exits, many concertgoers were forced to find other means to escape, and many attempted to climb over fences, leading to people being trampled to death or severely injured.
Slide Fire Solutions
The “bump stock” devices used by Paddock to fire bullets rapidly, mimicking an illegal firearm, were designed, manufactured and distributed by Slide Fire Solutions. According to the lawsuits, Slide Fire Solutions failed to properly design, manufacture and market the relevant bump stock devices, failed to give proper warnings and instructions regarding the dangers of the device, as well as negligently advertised the bump stock devices as an inexpensive device used to circumvent federal laws barring civilians from access to fully automatic weapons.
The Estate of Stephen Paddock
With malicious and evil intent, Stephen Paddock indiscriminately shot into a crowd of thousands of concertgoers, killing 58 people and injuring over 500. The lawsuit alleges assault, battery, wrongful death and the intentional infliction of emotional distress against the Estate of Stephen Paddock.
Background Information
On October 1, 2017, while thousands of people attended the Route 91 Harvest Festival at Las Vegas Village, Stephen Paddock broke open windows in his 32nd floor hotel room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, set up a security perimeter and prepared several high-powered rifles, equipped with bump stocks.
Paddock is believed to have then shot and wounded Mandalay Bay Security Guard Jesus Campos, as the guard approached his room. More than six minutes later, without having triggered a response from hotel staff or security, Paddock unleashed a stream of bullets upon concertgoers below.
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Becker Law Group, a preeminent Long Beach firm, specializes in representing individuals and businesses in cases involving wrongful death, personal injury, professional malpractice, sexual abuse, civil rights and premises liability, as well as high stakes contract disputes. The international team at Becker Law Group also assists our Chinese clients with matters ranging from immigration to business and litigation.
Becker Law Group
3750 E. Anaheim Street
Long Beach, CA 90804
Phone: 562-708-1111 Direct to Todd Becker
www.beckerlawgroup.com
McNicholas & McNicholas, a Los Angeles-based plaintiff’s trial law firm, represents clients in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, employment law, class actions, sexual abuse and other consumer-oriented matters such as civil rights, aviation disasters and product liability. Founded by a family of attorneys spanning three generations, McNicholas & McNicholas has been trying cases to jury verdict on behalf of their clients for more than five decades.
McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP
10866 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 1400
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian is a Los Angeles-based trial law firm, specializing in business, insurance, employment, trust and estate, real estate, personal injury, wrongful death and construction defect.
Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian
26 Corporate Plaza
Suite 250
Newport Beach, CA 92660