Supreme Court’s Stylish Snub: Steve Wynn’s Libel Law Dreams Dashed
Let’s unravel this legal debacle with all the flair of a Las Vegas showgirl, shall we? In a move that has left casino magnate Steve Wynn clutching his pearls, the Supreme Court has decided to pass on his plea for a libel law makeover. The high court declined to hear his case against the Associated Press regarding a piece on rape allegations from the 1970s—because apparently, the justices have better things to do than entertain Wynn’s wish to rewrite decades of legal precedent. The landmark case, New York Times vs. Sullivan, has been the gold standard in libel law for over 60 years, requiring public figures like Wynn to prove actual malice when claiming defamation. But Wynn’s legal team argued that this standard is so yesterday, claiming it “corrodes public discourse” in our fast-paced, misinformation-riddled media landscape.
Let’s not forget, the Nevada Supreme Court dismissed Wynn’s claims under the state’s anti-SLAPP statute, affirming that he failed to demonstrate, “by clear and convincing evidence,” that the AP acted with actual malice. Quite the setback for a man who has clashed with the media before! Interestingly, Wynn’s legal woes come in a climate where many public figures, including those on the right, have found both victory and defeat in defamation suits—think of the hefty settlements involving Fox News and Alex Jones.
While Wynn and his legal entourage may feel like they’re battling the forces of evil misinformation, overturning established libel laws could backfire spectacularly on conservative outlets, opening them to a flood of lawsuits. As the court’s decision echoes through the legal landscape, one has to wonder: is it really the “golden age of lies,” or just another classic case of trying to change the rules mid-game? Class dismissed, and let’s hope Wynn brushes up on his legal history before his next encore.
Sources: Celebrity Storm
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