Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Sued After VIP Claims Security Attacked Him

Article by : Erik Gibbs Feb 14, 2024

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A visitor at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Mississippi is taking legal action against the establishment, alleging mistreatment by security personnel. Brent Nettles, a VIP player invited by the casino and provided with a complimentary hotel room, is the plaintiff in this case.

The incident, which occurred in March 2022, involved Nettles being described as “tipsy” on that particular night. According to the lawsuit filed in the US District Court in Gulfport, security instructed him to leave the bar where he was enjoying drinks with his wife and parents.

Nettles contends that, as he was departing, he realized he forgot to settle his tab and turned back. It was at this point that the situation intensified, as captured by video footage showcasing parts of the altercation.

Nettles contends that the staff subjected him to physical harm by body-slamming him to the ground, followed by the use of zip ties for handcuffing. He was then taken to a secluded room, where he was restrained on a bench. Consequently, a Biloxi Police Department officer arrived, leading to Nettles’ arrest on a trespassing charge.

The legal filing alleges that the security personnel committed acts such as battering, restraining, and detaining Nettles without probable cause. As a result of the incident, Nettles claims he sustained a wrist injury, experiencing lingering issues, including tremors and difficulty holding objects.

The specific allegations against the casino and a security guard encompass charges of battery, gross negligence, false arrest and imprisonment.

In seeking recourse, Nettles aims for damages covering pain and suffering, medical expenses, emotional distress, and humiliation. Additionally, he is pursuing punitive damages and reimbursement for legal costs.

The casino, operated by MGM Resorts International, has refuted any allegations of misconduct in the lawsuit, asserting that the arrest for trespassing was justified due to Nettles’ refusal to leave the resort’s bar.

In justifying a business’s right to ask a patron to depart, the casino argued that it would have the entitlement to instruct the plaintiff to leave for reasons as trivial as disliking the shirt he was wearing.

Nettles, a regular visitor to the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino since its inauguration in 1999, frequented the property a couple of times annually.

As a general contractor, he disclosed an annual gambling expenditure exceeding $20,000. On the night of the incident in March 2022, he incurred a loss of $5,000.