Fontainebleau Contests Wynn's Request for Injunction in Employee Poaching Legal Dispute
Hear Ye, Hear Ye! The Vegas Gaming War Between Fontainebleau and Wynn Escalates
The ongoing legal dispute between two Sin City gaming icons, Fontainebleau Las Vegas (Fontainebleau) and Wynn Las Vegas (WLV), took a turn for the worse at the end of February. Wynn seemingly threw the first punch, filing a lawsuit accusing Fontainebleau of luring away senior-level employees with tantalizing job offers and sweet incentives.
In the latest round of this high-stakes showdown, Fontainebleau responded to Wynn's preliminary injunction motion last week, adamantly opposing it in a filing with the Clark County District Court. The crux of Wynn's motion—which aims to impede future attempts by Fontainebleau to disrupt their relationships with employees—has been met with strong disagreement.
According to reports by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Fontainebleau rejects Wynn's motion for a preliminary injunction, challenging the court's capacity to enforce such a sweeping order. Essentially, Fontainebleau argues that the court doesn't have the power to implement a blanket injunction, explaining that it would be a challenging task for the court to find a more audacious motion for a preliminary injunction than Wynn's.
The courtroom drama doesn't end there. Fontainebleau accused Wynn of presuming that every restrictive employment covenant it has ever penned is valid under Nevada law. Moreover, Wynn has failed to present any contract terms in front of the court, leaving doubts about the legitimacy of both current and past contracts.
Enough's Enough, Says Wynn
As the Vegas gaming war intensifies, the catalyst for the dispute seems to be the pursuit of Wayne Crane, a senior executive at Wynn Nightlife. Fontainebleau attempted to poach Crane, but after executives from Wynn met with him, offering him a better pay package, he refused Fontainebleau's offer and stayed put. Despite this, Wynn views Crane's decision to remain as the "last straw," leading to the lawsuit against Fontainebleau.
Fontainebleau, however, puts forth a contrasting view of the events. According to their account, Merina Crane, Wayne's wife who previously worked at Fontainebleau in Miami, was hired by Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. This move prompted Wayne to consider joining Fontainebleau, but after receiving a higher pay offer he chose to remain with Wynn. Fontainebleau alleges that Wayne was apprehensive about transitioning to Fontainebleau, fearing a lawsuit from Wynn.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas is a prized property that has been in development for a considerable period, and is helmed by executives like Maurice Wooden, who plays a pivotal role in the Strip's landscape and presides over Bowtie Hospitality LV LLC, Fontainebleau's parent company. Recently, Wooden and other execs earned gaming licensing recommendations from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, inching Toward the project's development.
Wynn Las Vegas, renowned for its extravagant amenities, has also been entangled in legal matters, such as a lawsuit resulting from a negligence incident involving a near-drowning in one of its pools. However, there is no clear evidence of employment incentives concocted by Fontainebleau to lure Wynn staff, nor any specific details regarding a legal battle linked to such incentives. Stay tuned as this saga unfolds in Las Vegas!
- The ongoing legal battle between Fontainebleau Las Vegas and Wynn Las Vegas, two iconic names in the Las Vegas business and casino-and-gambling scene, has escalated, with Fontainebleau challenging Wynn's attempt to impose a preliminary injunction.
- The finance department of Fontainebleau Las Vegas, led by Maurice Wooden, has been actively seeking resources to develop the prized property, after receiving gaming licensing recommendations from the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
- The casino culture in Las Vegas continues to be a hot topic, with the high-stakes showdown between Fontaineau Las Vegas and Wynn Las Vegas adding to the intrigue, as they accuse each other of poaching senior-level employees using casino-games industry incentives.
