US Supreme Court declines former casino mogul Steve Wynn's defamation appeal
The US Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal from former casino mogul Steve Wynn on Monday, who sought to challenge a key legal standard protecting media organisations from defamation claims, according to Reuters. The decision leaves in place the 1964 ruling in New York Times v. Sullivan, which requires public figures to prove that defamatory statements were made with “actual malice,” either knowing the information was false or acting with reckless disregard for the truth.
The court’s refusal to review the case, issued without comment, reinforces previous decisions that have upheld press protections against libel suits from high-profile individuals.
The defamation case against The Associated Press
In 2018, Wynn filed a defamation lawsuit against The Associated Press (AP) and one of its journalists over an article citing police reports on allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1970s. He argued that the AP’s reporting misrepresented the claims and failed to include details that could have cast doubt on the accusations.
A Nevada court dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the AP had acted in good faith to inform the public on a matter of legitimate interest. The Nevada Supreme Court upheld this decision, concluding that Wynn had not provided convincing evidence that the article was published with actual malice.
Wynn, a former Republican National Committee finance chair, has denied the allegations and contended that the Sullivan ruling allows media outlets to publish false information without accountability. His lawyers expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the appeal, arguing that the existing legal framework unfairly shields the press from responsibility.
According to Forbes, Steve Wynn entered the Las Vegas casino industry in 1967 and went on to develop iconic resorts such as The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, and Wynn Las Vegas. He co-founded Wynn Resorts with his then-wife, Elaine Wynn, in 2002, though their later divorce led to a lengthy legal battle, with Elaine now the company’s largest individual shareholder. Wynn also clashed with former partner Kazuo Okada over bribery allegations, which Okada denied. In 2018, he resigned as chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts following multiple accusations of sexual misconduct. In 2022, the US Department of Justice sued him for allegedly lobbying President Donald Trump on behalf of China without registering as a foreign agent, but the case was later dismissed.
Wynn Resorts reaches $70 million settlement over lawsuit
Last year, Wynn Resorts agreed to a $70 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit filed by shareholders who accused the company of failing to disclose sexual misconduct allegations against Steve Wynn. Shareholders claimed the company misled investors between 2016 and 2018, causing stock value losses when the allegations became public. Regulatory investigations led to substantial fines, and the company previously settled a lawsuit filed by nine women alleging workplace harassment.
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