In the deadliest shooting in U.S. history, Stephen Paddock on Oct. 1, 2017, killed 58 people and wounded hundreds from his perch within the Mandalay Bay hotel, owned by MGM Resorts International. Following the tragedy, MGM faced lawsuits from hundreds of victims. In an aggressive move, MGM sued the victims and their families, seeking a declaratory judgment that the victims’ potential claims against the casino giant are barred by an obscure federal law. MGM, however, has apparently reconsidered its public litigation strategy and has agreed to suspend the cases in favor of private mediation.

MGM’s pre-emptive defense is based on a never-before litigated federal law—the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002, or SAFETY Act. The act was passed following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and provides legal protections to companies that develop cutting-edge anti-terrorism technologies—including both physical and cybersecurity technologies—after the companies pass a rigorous certification process administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

To view this content, please continue to their sites.

Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Why am I seeing this?

LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.

For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]