A Wynn Resorts employee filed Tuesday a lawsuit against Steve Wynn and Wynn Resorts, accusing the embattled casino billionaire of sexual misconduct and the company he founded more than 15 years ago of endorsing his behavior.
The accuser, listed as Jane Doe in court papers, said that she has been performing regular manicures, pedicures, and salon services for Mr. Wynn since 2015. She is still employed at Wynn Resorts, but refused to reveal her identity.
She told the court that Mr. Wynn continued appointing different salon services after he stepped down from his post as CEO and Chairman of the Las Vegas casino operator, and those have been performed at his two-story villa at the Wynn Las Vegas resort. Under the terms of the separation agreement the businessman signed in mid-February, he will have to vacate the villa by June 1.
The accuser described multiple incidents of Mr. Wynn coercing her into performing acts of sexual nature on him during their salon service appointments. Some of the incidents reportedly took place after news about the businessman’s alleged years-long pattern of sexual misconduct emerged in January.
This was the third lawsuit filed by Wynn Resorts employees in a week, all accusing the casino mogul of using his power to subject them to unwanted sexual advances.
Employees Asked to Record a Video
According to the Tuesday lawsuit, in the days after first sexual misconduct allegations emerged, Mr. Wynn asked salon employees to raise their hands if they had ever been abused or assaulted at their workplace. The lawsuit read that no hands were raised.
Shortly after, employees were asked to record a video in which they had to state that they had never been subjected to sexual harassment by Mr. Wynn.
The Tuesday lawsuit also involved Wynn Resorts and its Board for failing to investigate the matter and take due measures. The accuser said that she was afraid to go to work because officials never looked into the issue properly.
The lawsuit names Mr. Wynn, Wynn Resorts, nine Board members, and Claude Baruk, Managing Director of Claude Baruk Salons, as defendants. Mr. Wynn is facing accusations of assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress, and breach of his contract. Wynn Resorts, its Board and Mr. Baruk were accused of negligent hiring as well as of aiding and abetting the company’s former CEO and Chairman.
Reports about Mr. Wynn’s years-long pattern of sexual misconduct toward employees of his casino company first emerged in the Wall Street Journal. The media outlet published a detailed article in January that included multiple sexual harassment incidents described by former and current Wynn Resorts employees.
Following the publication of the Wall Street Journal’s report, the gambling regulators of Nevada, Massachusetts, and Macau opened separate investigations into the allegations and into the appropriateness of Wynn Resorts holding licenses from them.
