Judge dismisses harassment lawsuit against Wynn Resorts

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by nine women who alleged they were sexually harassed by former casino mogul Steve Wynn.

The women, manicurists and makeup artists in a salon at the Wynn Las Vegas, were unnamed in the lawsuit and instead identified by their attorneys as Judy Doe No. 1 through Judy Doe No. 9. Their decision to stay anonymous was one reason the judge dismissed the case in a Wednesday filing, arguing they hadn't legally justified the need to stay anonymous to continue their case.

They sued the Wynn Las Vegas and Wynn Resorts Ltd, alleging that the companies did not do enough to prevent a hostile work environment. They alleged that the companies were aware of misconduct by Wynn towards female employees but did not investigate it and covered up any reported misconduct.

Wynn, 78, resigned in February 2018 as chairman and chief executive of Wynn Resorts. He has consistently denied sexual misconduct allegations, which were first reported in January 2018 by the Wall Street Journal.

Wynn was not named as a defendant in the women’s lawsuit. Wynn’s attorney L. Lin Wood said in an email message Friday night that he was not representing Wynn in the matter and would forward the message seeking comment to another Wynn attorney who was, Nate Lloyd. A voicemail message seeking comment from Lloyd was not immediately returned Friday night.

In the order dismissing the lawsuit, Judge James C. Mahan agreed with another judge's earlier ruling that the women did not sufficiently justify their need to file their lawsuit anonymously using pseudonyms.

The women said in court filings that they chose to file anonymously because of fear of legal retaliation by Wynn, potentially being ostracized in their workplace and sensitive details that would...