A Las Vegas judge has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit brought against Genting Berhad and subsidiaries by the family of two victims of a gunman who ambushed and set fire to Philippines casino Resorts World Manila in 2017.
According to Las Vegas Review-Journal, the suit against Genting Berhad, its Chairman and CEO Lim Kok Thay, Resorts World Las Vegas LLC and Resorts World Manila, among other entities, was filed in the United States because the family did not trust the fairness of the legal system in the Philippines. Attorneys representing the family said the case was applicable in the US due to Genting’s ownership of Resorts World Las Vegas, due to open next month.
Tung-Tsung Hung and Pi-Ling Lee Hung, Taiwanese citizens visiting the Philippines at the time, were among 37 people killed when the gunman stormed RWM and used petrol to set fire to slot machines and gaming tables.
Tung-Tsung and Pi-Ling Lee died of smoke inhalation after employees directed them to hide in a pantry in an RWM VIP room.
“We are still looking for justice. Human life is precious,” said one of the couple’s representatives, Hwa-Min Hsu. “It’s not going to be the end. Because in the Philippines, there’s no justice. And I don’t want to see this happening to Americans.”
However, the judge dismissed the case, stating, “The occurrence did not occur here, and there are no witnesses here.”
Lawyer for the defendants Mark Ferrario had described thje decision to file suit in Las Vegas as a “hail Mary”, adding, “Resorts World Las Vegas has zero connection with the incident.”