Wynn Prevails in Defamation Suit against Joe Francis

Steve Wynn and Wynn Las Vegas awarded $7.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages in Nevada District Court

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Feb 22, 2012, 08:39 ET

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Wynn Las Vegas was awarded $7.5 million in damages in Nevada District Court on Wednesday, concluding an ongoing legal dispute with "Girls Gone Wild" founder, Joe Francis.

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The defamation complaint, filed by Steve Wynn and Wynn Las Vegas in August 2008, was in response to Francis' false claims that Steve Wynn and Wynn Las Vegas deceives customers and did not honor contractual agreements related to a $2 million debt that Francis incurred at the resort.

After hearing evidence, Nevada District Court Judge Mark Denton ruled in favor of Steve Wynn and Wynn Las Vegas, awarding $5 million in compensatory and $2.5 million in punitive damages. The ruling disproves the false claims against Steve Wynn and Wynn Las Vegas that Francis has publically disseminated over the past three years.

Joe Francis still owes $2 million plus interest and fees to Wynn Las Vegas as determined by the Nevada District Court in 2009. That judgment by the Nevada District Court still stands and Wynn Las Vegas will continue its efforts to identify and attach assets of Mr. Francis to satisfy both judgments.

About Wynn Las Vegas:

Wynn Las Vegas, a luxury hotel and destination casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip features 2,716 luxurious guest rooms and suites, an approximately 111,000 square foot casino, 15 restaurants, a nightclub, spa and salon, an on-site 18-hole golf course, approximately 223,000 square feet of meeting space, an on-site Ferrari and Maserati dealership, and approximately 74,000 square feet of retail space.

Encore, an expansion of Wynn Las Vegas, opened on December 22, 2008. Encore is located immediately adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas and features a 2,034 all-suite hotel, approximately 72,000 square foot casino, 6 restaurants, 2 night clubs, a spa and salon, approximately 60,000 square feet of meeting space and approximately 27,000 square feet of upscale retail outlets.

SOURCE Wynn Las Vegas