By
Jane Shaw
Senior Editor Updated: 03/16/2024
We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.
Wynn Las Vegas Files Lawsuit
It has been revealed that Wynn Resorts in Las Vegas has taken official legal action against its competitor, Fontainebleau. There were reports of a lawsuit going back to summer 2023, but Wynn has now filed a lawsuit that alleges the poaching of its key staff members by its rival.
According to reports, there was a secret settlement reached last year, where Fontainebleau agreed to stop interfering with Wynn staff’s contractual obligations. However, the recent lawsuit claims that despite this settlement Fontainebleau executives have continued their illicit practices by trying to entice Wynn employees to breach their employment contracts and join the rival establishment.
The lawsuit was eventually filed by Wynn toward the end of February this year, and it asks for an injunction to be put into place against the rival company in a bid to stop Fontainebleau from trying to entice away any more Wynn employees.
A number of people have been named and shamed in the lawsuit filed by Wynn. Among those highlighted in the lawsuit is David Snyder, Wynn’s former VP of culinary operations.
He is accused of violating his noncompete agreement with Wynn to join Fontainebleau, and then attempting to recruit his former colleagues. Chef Sandy Shi, executive chef at Wynn Las Vegas, was allegedly targeted for recruitment by Snyder.
The legal complaint also accuses Brian Kenny, a sous chef at Wynn, who allegedly went to Fontainebleau and then attempted to lure chef Corey Francis away from Wynn. Likewise, former Wynn executive pastry chef Patrice Caillot is accused of recruiting Wynn pastry chef Vivian Lam upon moving to Fontainebleau.
Fontainebleau executives, including Michael Waltman, senior VP of nightlife, and Brett Mufson, president of Fontainebleau Development, are also implicated in the lawsuit for allegedly attempting to poach key talent from Wynn’s nightlife division.
The lawsuit singles out Fontainebleau’s General Counsel, Mike Pappas, for his alleged involvement in the situation, particularly after negotiating the previous settlement.
Wynn Resorts claims that Fontainebleau’s actions have been brazen, even resorting to using a recruiting agency to conceal its efforts after a restraining order was issued against further solicitation. The lawsuit basically claims that Fontainebleau relentlessly pursued Wynn’s talent pool, even attempting to solicit employees on Wynn’s own property.
The lawsuit states:
Wynn Las Vegas requires its executive-level employees to agree to a non-competition provision that precludes the employee, during their employment term, from accepting similar employment with a Wynn Las Vegas competitor.
According to reports, Fontainebleau’s defense against the accusation is based on the claim that the poached employees were intended for roles at Fontainebleau’s Miami location. However, Wynn dismissed this as a façade aimed at masking direct competition.
Officials state that Wynn Resorts portrays Fontainebleau’s conduct as being an unhealthy obsession with both the amenities and personnel associated with the Wynn brand.
Many believe that this lawsuit by Wynn is a reflection of how fierce competition has become among casino resort giants in Las Vegas.
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