Las Vegas Judge orders MGM Resorts International not to destroy evidence

LAS VEGAS – Clark County District Court Judge, Mark Denton granted a temporary restraining order last week that will prevent the destruction of records related to the Oct. 1 massacre and all evidence involving gunman Stephen Paddock.

Attorneys representing Rachel Sheppard, who was shot and critically wounded while attending the Route 91 Music Festival in Las Vegas applied on Oct. 13 for a restraining order, asking for Denton to stop MGM Resorts International from destroying any evidence related to the massacre, such as video surveillance, radio traffic and key card records.

MGM Resorts International and Mandalay Corporation filed a response on Oct. 18 that opposed the order.

“This is about answers, it’s about changing the way that we do things in this country, and that these hotels in these events protect their guests,” Sheppard’s attorney Brian Nettles said.

MGM attorneys argued that there has been “absolutely no showing that my clients are failing to comply with their obligation to preserve evidence.”

“Our concern is that before the discovery period starts, something bad could happen,” Nettles said. “That something could be altered, something could be destroyed.”

Nettles also requested that judge allow camera access to the court proceedings.

Other defendants named in the negligence lawsuit are the concert promoter, Live Nation Entertainment, the Estate of Stephen Paddock and Slide Fire Solutions LP, the manufacturer of the bump stock.

Clark County District Court records indicate that on Oct. 10, plaintiff Paige Gasper also a filed a negligence lawsuit against MGM Resorts International and the additional defendants listed in Sheppard’s filing.

Another hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.