MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO Jim Murren apologized to the casino company’s employees for not doing a “better job of communicating” the recent litigation with survivors and families of victims from the 1 October shooting in Las Vegas.
In a letter sent Friday, Murren wrote that he wanted to “express my sincere regret that we did not spend more time explaining what we were trying to accomplish.”
The casino company received harsh public national criticism earlier this month after it used a little-known federal statute – created after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 to protect corporations – to try and gain immunity from some 2,500 lawsuits filed by survivors and victims of the shooting.
A lone gunman opened fire from a 32nd floor suite at the Mandalay Bay across the Strip on the Route 91 Harvest Festival, killing 58, wounding more than 500, and leaving countless others suffering from emotional trauma. MGM Resorts owns both Mandalay Bay and the festival grounds.
MGM is not seeking monetary damages, but it wants the federal court to protect the company from paying potentially millions of dollars to survivors and families.
“I know the way things have been portrayed has left many feeling confused, hurt and disappointed,” Murren wrote. “I am sorry for that and I am grateful to have this opportunity to clarify.”
The letter was first reported over the weekend by the VitalVegas.com website. An MGM spokeswoman confirmed its authenticity on Monday to CDC Gaming Reports.
Murren said the company “is not suing victims for damages or attempting to extract monetary payment from the victims in any way. The notion of such an act betrays everything we stand for at MGM Resorts.”
Murren went on to thank company employees for their efforts after the tragedy.
“Your bravery and compassion are continued sources of pride and inspiration to all of us,” he wrote.
In addressing the legal action, Murren said the claims filed against the company required a response.
“Unfortunately, resolving these cases currently requires a prolonged litigation process across multiple courts in multiple states lasting many, many years,” Murren wrote. “If these cases proceed in this manner, victims, which include MGM employees and families, first responders and witnesses, would face the need to testify over and over again, traveling throughout the various court rooms across the U.S. in trial after trial.”
He said MGM filed “an action” in federal court on July 13 that would allow “all cases to come together in one courtroom. We believe the action benefits all victims by providing an opportunity for closure in a swift and fair manner.”
He added that MGM “has a responsibility to protect our company for the benefit of our employees, patrons and communities across the U.S. that depend on us.”
