A confidential settlement hearing involving a California man who says he was pulled while playing blackjack at the MGM Mansion in 2021 was conducted Monday in US District Court in Nevada, but the parties did not disclose whether a settlement was reached.
The hearing, held before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna Youchah, was closed to the public.
Dwight Manley, 60, a real estate executive and sports agent from Brea, Calif., who holds executive status at MGM Resorts International, sued the company after he said he was drugged with ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic drug that can cause sedation, reduced pain perception, short-term memory loss, disability and hallucinations used by animals and is a substance used by veterinarians.
Manley’s attorney did not return calls seeking comment on the outcome of the hearing. MGM has had no comment on the lawsuit.
Manley initially offered a $500,000 reward and later increased it to $1 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for drugging him.
He said that while under the influence of the drug, he received credit markers totaling $3 million and was allowed to continue playing.
According to the lawsuit, Manley, a longtime VIP player, received an invitation in November 2021 from his casino host to come to Las Vegas the following month.
In the lawsuit, he said he, his girlfriend and three friends were flown to Las Vegas in a corporate plane and received luxury car transportation from the airport and stayed at the MGM Mansion beginning Dec. 10, 2021, to play table games and in a poker tournament.
Manley said in the lawsuit that he entered the MGM Mansion’s high-limit gaming lounge at 1:45 p.m. and ordered an Old Fashioned to drink. But when he got the drink, he said it tasted bitter.
Disoriented
He finished the drink around 2:21 p.m. and friends ordered another. But after consuming the drink, Manley said he felt disoriented and “out of it.”
At about 4 p.m., while playing, he broke an ashtray, cut his hand and bled on the table cloth. He said he didn’t remember cutting his hand and didn’t know he was bleeding.
Manley said MGM staff moved him to another blackjack table but did not call for medical help and gave his friends Band-Aids for his cut hand.
Manley claims he continued to gamble and while gambling he received three separate applications for a temporary increase in his maximum credit limit, despite his casino host saying he was acting “erratic”. The three “this trip only” credit extensions increased his limit to $3.5 million. Manley said he had no recollection of extending his credit game.
After considering going to another casino at 4:45 p.m., Manley’s friends instead took him to their villa because he was so disoriented that he could not stand or walk without help.
He collapsed in his room at 17.15 The next day he said he felt nauseous and gross and had no memory of the events of the previous day.
Manley texted his host saying he suspected his drink had been spiked and when he returned to California he sought medical help. His doctor ordered him to grow out his hair so it could be analyzed. The analysis showed that he had ketamine in his system.
He told MGM that he did not believe he should have been held responsible for the credit markers he signed.
Manley filed his first lawsuit on November 10, 2022. The five-count lawsuit for declaratory relief accused MGM of negligence, unfair or deceptive trade practices, unjust enrichment, and breach of implied covenants.
After MGM attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed, an amended complaint was refiled on July 7, 2023.
Manley is seeking unspecified damages in excess of $75,000.
He hired a private investigator to try to find out who was responsible for drugging him.
This is an evolving story. Check back for updates.
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