Colorado Man Says MGM Grand Security Gave Him Brain Injury After Women’s Restroom Incident

A Colorado man claims MGM Grand security officers tackled him inside his Las Vegas hotel room, leaving him with a minor brain injury, fractured arm, dislocated shoulder, and more than $166,000 in claimed and projected medical costs.

Denis Matthew Lanctot alleges the July 5, 2024, confrontation began after an incident involving his girlfriend, Tiffany Goldman, in a downstairs women’s restroom at the Strip casino resort.

According to Lanctot’s lawsuit, MGM security officers entered the restroom while Goldman was inside, causing her to scream. Lanctot went inside to check on her before security told him to leave.

Lanctot says he and Goldman were then escorted by several security officers to their hotel room to pack their belongings and leave the property.

While inside the room, he alleges, several guards suddenly rushed and tackled him to the ground without justification.

MGM has denied the material allegations in Lanctot’s complaint.

Fractured Arm, Dislocated Shoulder

Lanctot was taken by ambulance to Sunrise Hospital, according to his attorneys. They say he was diagnosed with a dislocated left shoulder and a humeral shaft fracture and underwent a shoulder reduction under sedation.

The plaintiff claims he subsequently underwent extensive treatment for continuing shoulder, neck, back, and neurological symptoms. His attorneys say later diagnoses included a Bankart injury and Hill-Sachs deformity in the shoulder and mild traumatic brain injury/post-concussion syndrome.

In a Sept. 3 filing seeking to exempt the lawsuit from Nevada’s mandatory arbitration program, Lanctot’s lawyers estimated past and anticipated medical costs at $166,815.50. The figure includes more than $69,000 in listed treatment costs and estimates for future injections and surgeries.

Lanctot is suing MGM Grand for negligence and negligent hiring, training, supervision, and retention. He also alleges assault and battery by unnamed security officers. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, lost wages, attorney fees, and costs.

Judge Questions Federal Move

MGM moved the case from Nevada state court to federal court Oct. 2, arguing the parties are citizens of different states and the amount at stake exceeds the threshold for federal jurisdiction.

On Tuesday (Oct. 6), US Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe questioned the move and ordered the parties to discuss potentially returning the lawsuit to state court. If no agreement is reached, MGM must file an amended disclosure by Oct. 13.