Fontainebleau responds to Wynn lawsuit with counterclaim
Fontainebleau denies poaching Wynn employees, claiming they left willingly and accuses Wynn of bullying tactics in a countersuit.
Fontainebleau has submitted a counterclaim against Wynn in Clark County District Court, in response to allegations of employee poaching, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The dispute stems from Wynn’s accusation that Fontainebleau induced its employees to breach non-compete clauses.
Fontainebleau officials assert that the executives who transitioned from Wynn to Fontainebleau did so independently, citing their own dissatisfaction with their former employer.
Referencing The Eagles’ ‘New Kid in Town,’ Fontainebleau likened its emergence to a fresh start, distancing itself from Wynn’s claims.
Included in the counterclaim is a profanity-filled email exchange between Wynn CEO Craig Billings and Fontainebleau CEO Jeff Soffer.
Wynn officials stated: “Fontainebleau’s counterclaim, filled with fictitious accusations, was clearly designed to incite social media chatter and is devoid of answers to our original claim.”
The counterclaim highlights executives’ initial interest in Fontainebleau while still employed at Wynn. Allegations of Wynn resorting to bullying tactics to dissuade employees from leaving are also outlined.
Soffer stated in the counterclaim: “As FBDev and FBLV have now come to know from subsequent interactions, Billings demonstrated a disturbing lack of dignity and judgment normally exhibited by CEOs of publicly traded companies.”
Wynn’s Tuesday statement said: “We clearly hope Fontainebleau will achieve the success to which it aspires; its success, if it comes, will benefit all of us.”
Fontainebleau’s grand opening was in December 2023, following its regulatory approval a month prior to opening.
Additionally, Wynn Resorts reported growth in operating revenues and net income in Q4 2023, driven by increased revenue from Macau Operations and Las Vegas Operations.
This story is evolving, with both parties expected to present their cases in court as the legal proceedings unfold.
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