Attorneys representing families and victims of the October 1, 2017, mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas have filed five negligence and wrongful death lawsuits against the hotels and concert promoter.
Texas attorneys Mo Aziz of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz and
Chad Pinkerton of The Pinkerton Law Firm, PLLC, filed lawsuits against MGM Resorts International, Mandalay Corp., MGM Resorts Festival Grounds LLC, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., Live Nation Group d/b/a ONENATIONGROUP LLC, Contemporary Services Corporation, and the Estate of shooter Stephen Paddock.
Aziz and Pinkerton represent over 450 victims of the shooting, including two wrongful death claimants. The five lawsuits are filed in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles, Central District. Each action alleges negligence, battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and, where applicable, wrongful death.
The acts of the solo gunman, who killed 58 people and wounded 489 others when he fired into the crowd of a country music festival last month from his Mandalay Bay hotel room, have already resulted in multiple lawsuits.
Prior to the shooting, Paddock used his VIP status to get exclusive access to a service elevator and Mandalay Bay, to stockpile weapons and ammunition in his suite without being noticed. He kept a "Do Not Disturb" sign on his room for days before the shooting, and installed security cameras on his hotel room door, in a service cart, and in the hallway.
The lawsuits charge that the hotel defendant failed to take notice or precautions against Paddock's delivery of guns and his installation of surveillance outside his room. The lawsuits charge that the promoters failed to provide adequate emergency exits, or have a plan in case of a foreseeable terrorist attack.
Aziz and Pinkerton filed four lawsuits, including two wrongful death lawsuits for Dixie Roybal (File Stamped Complaint) and Christopher Jaksha. Mrs. Roybal’s husband, Christopher Roybal, and Mr. Jaksha’s wife, Rocio Guillen-Jaksha, were among the 58 victims killed during the mass shooting. The legal team also represents the family of Kristina Staples (File Stamped Complaint), a wife and mother who was shot in the head. Mrs. Staples remained in a coma for several weeks after the shooting. The fourth lawsuit was filed for 450 victims who were injured during the mass shooting.
California attorney Allen Michel of Gipson Hoffman & Pancione is also part of the legal team.
Also filed on Monday was a fifth lawsuit for five victims represented by
Aziz and Michelle Tuegel of Hunt & Tuegel, PLLC. One of these victims was 21-year old Paige Gasper who was shot in her right underarm, resulting in a lacerated liver and shattered ribs. The Gasper case has been transferred from Nevada to California by her legal team.
Each lawsuit includes negligence claims against MGM Resorts International, Mandalay Corp., MGM Resorts Festival Grounds LLC, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., Live Nation Group d/b/a ONENATIONGROUP LLC, and Contemporary Services Corporation, and intentional tort claims against the Estate of Stephen Paddock.
