On Sunday, October 1st, 2017, retiree Stephen C. Paddock brought a wide assortment of firearms into the luxury suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada without alerting the suspicions of the hotel’s security and staff. With these weapons, Paddock opened fire on the Route 91 country music festival being held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Using a host of semi-automatic weapons, Paddock killed at least 59 people and injured more than 500. Many of those who suffered the wrongful death of a loved one or severe injury may be unaware of their right to pursuing compensation for their damages. In fact, victims of this tragic incident have every right to pursue legal action against Mandalay Bay for allowing Paddock into his 32nd-floor suite with this massive amount of weaponry. Our attorneys at Normandie Law Firm are here to help. Our experienced wrongful death and personal injury attorneys can guide you through the often complicated process of building a case, filing a claim, and collecting compensation for the damages you and your loved ones have endured. If you have any questions after reading this article, please feel free to reach out to our law offices for a free consultation by one of our well-versed legal associates.
Can You Sue?
Victims of this incident have every right to sue for the damages that they and their loved ones have had to endure, even if they may not be aware to what extent they can pursue legal action. Some common questions regarding filing a lawsuit against Mandalay Bay for lack of proper security are listed below:
- Can family members of those who were killed in the Las Vegas mass shooting file a wrongful death claim against Mandalay Bay Resort?
- Can family members of the people that were killed in the Las Vegas Route 91 concert sue the concert promoters and organizers?
- Can family members of the victims of the Last Vegas Stephen Paddock shooting incident sue the Route 91 concert venue?
- Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit for victims of the Las Vegas Route 91 mass shooting?
- Can parents file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of victims of the Las Vegas Stephen Paddock mass shooting?
- Can siblings-brothers or sisters of the victims sue the Mandalay Bay casino or the concert promoters?
- Can other relatives of the victims like uncles, aunts, boyfriends, girlfriends sue the Mandalay Bay Resort for wrongful death?
- Can those who were injured in the Las Vegas Mass Shooting file a lawsuit against Mandalay Bay or the Route 91 festival concert promoters?
- Can those who suffered gunshot wounds sue the owners of MGM resorts for their injuries?
- Can the victims who were trampled in the Las Vegas Route 91 shooting file a negligence lawsuit against Mandalay Bay or the Route 91 concert venue?
All of these questions regarding, whether or not you can sue, and what parties can sue for compensation are incredibly valid. The process of pursuing legal action for situations like this can be challenging, and it is always best to consult experienced legal advice when moving forward. To put it simply, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino can be sued for allowing the gunman into the 32nd-floor suite with so much weaponry. Hotel Resorts like Mandalay Bay are expected to provide a reasonable level of security to not only protect its patrons but others as well. According to some reports, the gunman brought twenty-three guns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and other equipment into Mandalay Bay without being caught by security personnel.
In an NPR interview with John Choate, former executive director of security for Wynn and Encore casinos, Choate mentioned that casinos and resorts like Mandalay Bay are expected to have a certain degree of security that keeps incidents like the Las Vegas Route 91 Mass Shooting from happening. Casinos and resorts use a wide variety of security protocols including canine detection teams, dynamic camera systems, gunshot detection, and metal detectors. The fact that Paddock was able to bring all this weaponry into his hotel suite is a sign of negligence on the part of the Mandalay Bay security team, and as such they could be held liable for the damages victims of this incident had to endure.
The Route 91 concert venue could also be held liable for the damages as security at the venue were not adequately prepared for an incident of this nature. This is especially true for victims who suffered from trample injuries as a result of the panic and confusion that followed the initial gunfire. MGM Resorts International, owners of the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort could be found liable as well for not enacting proper security protocols to protect against an event of this tragic nature.
With this taken into account, anyone who suffered injury as a result of either the 91 concert venue’s poor security management or Mandalay Bay’s lack of proper security protocols, could file a lawsuit against them for negligence. With every lawsuit for personal injury, it is required that the victim can prove the negligence of the defending party. A successful claim of negligence requires that the plaintiff prove the following points:
- Duty: The plaintiff (injured or damaged party) must be able to show that the defendant (hotel owners, security, and staff) owed a legal duty to the plaintiff under the particular circumstances of the case.
- Breach: The plaintiff must be able to show that the defendant breached said legal duty through specific actions or failing to act appropriately
- Causation: The plaintiff must be able to show that the defendant’s actions or lack thereof caused the plaintiff’s injuries
- Damages: The plaintiff must be able to show that they endured some specific damages. This can usually be shown through the presentation of medical records, a loss of wages, or a loss of potential income.
If you are a loved one of someone who wrongfully lost their life as a result of the Las Vegas Route 91 Mass Shooting, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. Wrongful death lawsuits are a little more complicated than personal injury lawsuits however as they not only require that you prove the negligence of the defending party, but you must ensure that your case contains the following elements:
- The death of a human being
- The death was caused by the negligence of another; or with intent to cause harm
- The survival of family members who are suffering monetarily as a result of the death
- The appointment of a personal representative for the decedent’s estate.
There are also some state laws that dictate who can file a wrongful death lawsuit. In all states, surviving spouses, and children can file a wrongful death suit. However, not all states permit that extended family members, like grandparents and siblings, can file a wrongful death lawsuit. For example, in the state of Nevada, those who can file are immediate family members, legal dependents, and representatives of his or her estate. However, in the state of Nevada, fiancés, and fiancée, foster children, stepchildren, and unmarried partners cannot file a suit for wrongful death.
To better understand the rules which determine whether you can or can’t file a lawsuit for this tragic incident, it is highly recommended that you seek consultation with a skilled attorney. Proper legal assistance can guide you on a swifter path to recovery, and can better ensure that you and your loved ones receive compensation for the damages that you have had to endure.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
If you or a loved one was made a victim of this terrible incident, you might be eligible to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against Mandalay Bay for the damages you and your family have had to endure. Those that file a claim with our law firm could find some if not all of the following damages compensable to them:
- Past and Future Medical Bills
- Loss of Wages
- Loss of Potential Future Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress (depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc…)
- Punitive Damages
At Normandie Law Firm our lawyers have your best interest in mind and are committed to ensuring that you receive all the resources you need to file your case successfully. This was a truly devastating incident, and you should receive all the compensation you need to cover the damages that you and your loved ones have suffered.
Free Second Opinions
Some attorneys are lazy, and will sign you up to their firm but will disappear once your name is on the paper as they are busy signing up more cases. In these instances, their business is based more on volume and will attempt to sign up as many cases as possible. In turn, they will spend less time on cases resulting in severely reduced settlements. Our firm will not treat you like a number. We will be in communication with you throughout our lawsuit and will treat you like family. So if you already have an attorney don’t worry, we’ll give you a second review of your case 100% free of charge.
Zero Fee Guarantee-No Upfront Fees Ever
If you contact our law offices today, we can walk you through the complicated process of filing your claim completely free of charge. As a show this commitment to you and your case we offer our clients the benefits of a zero fee guarantee policy. Under our zero fee policy, all clients don’t pay for our services until their case is won. If you feel in need of a second opinion, second opinion case reviews are also free under this policy. Please, feel free to give us a call, and we can guide you down the path of receiving proper compensation for your damages.
