Owners of MGM Resorts International have filed federal lawsuits against the victims of last year’s Las Vegas mass shooting, in a bid to protect against liability for the injuries and deaths that occurred during the attack.
In the face of over 2,500 claims made against MGM, the corporate leaders countersued more than 1,000 victims of the shooting.
The suit argues that security for the concert, provided by Contemporary Services Corp., was certified by the secretary of Homeland Security. It stated that the security had taken all actions needed “for protecting against and responding to acts of mass injury and destruction.”
“Plaintiffs have no liability of any kind to Defendants,” the complaint stated.
The company also made reference to legislation known as the SAFETY Act, which provides liability protection to any company that uses antiterrorist technology, which the suit states it used as part of security provided by Contemporary Services Corp.
“Paddock’s mass attack meets the requirements of the SAFETY Act as set forth in the statute and the Regulations promulgated by the Department of Homeland Security,” the suit states.
Robert Eglet, a Las Vegas attorney who represents some of the victims of the shooting, said the grounds of the lawsuit are “obscure.” He called MGM’s decision to file the claim in federal court a “blatant display of judge shopping.”