MGM $800 million settlement for shooting victims to be disbursed early next year

Las Vegas casino operator, MGM Resorts International, and its insurers have decided to settle out of court, paying out over £625.24/$800 million towards the victims of the USA’s deadliest mass shooting incident.   The casino operator and the victims settled last October 2019 and announced the subsequent payout earlier this month, Thursday, September 10. 2020. 

On September 10 2020, Thursday, Robert Eglet, submitted documents in a Nevada court, requesting a judge to approve the operator’s negotiations with its plaintiffs.  These negotiations took place in the past year and its plaintiffs come from almost every state in the USA, some provinces in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iran. 

The incident happened last October 1, 2017. A lone gunman opened fire into a crowd of concert attendees of the Route 91 Harvest music festival.  The gunman, who was later identified as Stephen Paddock, a retired accountant, opened fire from his suite on the 32nd floor of MGM-owned Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  He killed over 50 people while over 800 people were wounded or injured while attempting to escape.  He shot himself before police could reach his suite and arrest him.  Local police and FBI Investigations into the incident never found any clear motives for his actions. 

A 225-page civil complaint was filed against MGM accusing the operator of negligence, wrongful death, and liability in the shooting. Plaintiffs also sought compensation for damages and loss of life.  On the days leading to the mass shooting, Paddock had amassed nearly two dozen high calibre assault rifles and because of this, plaintiffs highlighted MGM’s failure to spot and prevent one of its Mandalay Bay’s guests from amassing high calibre guns and ammunition in his suite.   Plaintiffs also accused the casino operator of failure to set up the music festival’s security measures ultimately endangering its 22,000 attendees.  

MGM does not claim liability for this event but has agreed to a settlement to let the victims and their families move forward while also avoiding a lawsuit that could span several years.  The casino operator has agreed to pay out £625.24/$800 million to the plaintiffs.  

A document representing both parties declares the case settled.  The document also asks a date for final objections to be set by Clark County District Judge, Linda Marie Bell. The final objections hearing is expected to be set on October 1, 2020, the shooting’s third anniversary. 

Mr. Eglet revealed the settlement’s compensation numbers.  He detailed that millions of dollars could be paid out to those who were severely and permanently injured during the incident but this would depend on many factors such as age, number of dependents, and types of injuries. He also detailed that a minimum of £3900/$5,000 will be paid out to each claimant who’ve filed for unseen injuries and does not seek clinical treatment.

Mr. Eglet also stated that the settlement funds are expected to be released by the end of the year but the schedule would depend on appeals on how quickly administrators can work.