Judge Clears MGM Resorts, Boyd Gaming in Sex Trafficking Lawsuit

By Michael Davidson

December 4, 2024 at 03:08 PM

A federal judge in Nevada has dismissed a sex trafficking lawsuit against MGM Resorts and Boyd Gaming filed by a woman who alleges she was forced into prostitution at their Las Vegas properties starting at age 14.

Anti-human trafficking billboard sign

Anti-human trafficking billboard sign

The plaintiff, identified as "Tyla D.," claimed she was trafficked at Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, and The Orleans between 2006-2007 and again in 2013. According to the complaint, multiple men controlled her through violence, rape, and coercion while forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts.

The lawsuit alleged that despite casinos using facial recognition technology that flagged her frequent visits in 2013, staff failed to intervene. Tyla D. argued the properties deliberately ignored trafficking activities due to Las Vegas's historically permissive attitude toward prostitution.

Chief U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon dismissed the case on two primary grounds:

  1. The 10-year statute of limitations had expired, and the plaintiff failed to demonstrate extraordinary circumstances preventing timely filing
  2. Insufficient evidence that the hotels knew she was specifically being trafficked rather than engaging in voluntary sex work

The judge noted that simply knowing about general commercial sex activity on property isn't enough to establish liability - plaintiffs must prove operators knew or should have known about specific trafficking involving force, fraud, or coercion.

While dismissed, Tyla D. has until December 20 to file an amended complaint addressing these legal deficiencies.

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