The Nevada Supreme Court has ended a defamation lawsuit brought by casino owner Steve Wynn against The Associated Press AP over a 2018 story. The story reported on two women who accused Wynn of sexual misconduct. Wynn had hoped for a jury to hear his case, but the court ruled against him.
The court upheld a previous decision that the case was blocked by Nevada’s anti-SLAPP law. This law protects against lawsuits intended to intimidate or silence critics. The judges explained that such laws are meant to stop cases like this, where a news organization reported on a matter of public interest.
Justice Ron Parraguirre stated that Wynn, being a public figure, needed strong evidence that the AP acted with “actual malice” — meaning they published false information knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth.
The court concluded that the public had a right to know about the allegations against Wynn, a well-known figure in Nevada.
Wynn’s lawyers did not respond to requests for comment, while AP’s vice president, Lauren Easton, expressed satisfaction with the decision. The AP plans to seek legal cost reimbursement through a lower court.
Legal expert Dominic Gentile remarked that this ruling will make it harder for public figures like Wynn to sue over news coverage. He explained that proving malice is key, meaning the accuser must show that the publisher knew the information was false or did not do enough to verify it.
Steve Wynn, now 82, has denied all sexual misconduct allegations. He resigned as CEO of Wynn Resorts following the accusations, sold his shares, and paid fines to Nevada gambling regulators, though he did not admit to any wrongdoing. In earlier settlements, Wynn Resorts paid millions in fines for not investigating the allegations properly.
Wynn had filed his lawsuit against AP, one of its reporters, and one of the women, Halina Kuta, who accused him of rape in the 1970s. Although Kuta’s name was redacted in the original AP report, she later agreed to be identified. Wynn’s attorneys argued that AP’s article did not include details that could have discredited Kuta’s claims.
A trial court previously ruled that Kuta’s accusations were fanciful and awarded Wynn $1 in damages.