Four Queens Las Vegas Stabbing Victim Sues Casino for Negligence

Posted on: April 23, 2025, 08:16h. 

Last updated on: April 23, 2025, 09:44h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • Victim alleges inadequate security during stabbing incident
  • Lawsuit seeks damages for injuries sustained in 2023
  • Similar case involving MGM Grand settled confidentially

The victim of a June 2023 stabbing inside Fremont Street’s Four Queen’s Hotel & Casino is suing the venue for negligence.

Four Queens Hotel & Casino, George Beatty, Felipe Nicholson, Las Vegas stabbing lawsuit, casino negligence
The Four Queens Hotel & Casino, above, is accused of failing to protect George Beatty from Felipe Nicholson, who knifed the plaintiff in the arm at the casino in 2023. (Image: Fremont Street)

George Beatty, a California-based cook, was attacked with a knife at the downtown casino by Felipe Nicholson, resulting in permanent damage to his arm, according to the suit.

Nicholson later pleaded guilty to battery with substantial bodily harm in connection with the incident and was sentenced to 14-48 months in prison, where he remains, two years into his sentence.

The lawsuit claims negligence because Beatty argues that security was nowhere to be seen during his ordeal.

Argument Escalated

Beatty was gambling in the casino when Nicholson started arguing with another patron, according to the filing. During this argument, Nicholson repeatedly bumped into Beatty’s chair, per the suit.

This prompted Beatty to stand up to move to a different machine, at which point Nicholson bumped into him again.

Beatty asked Nicholson what his problem was, which caused the latter to fly into a rage, according to the lawsuit.

Felipe proceeded to chase George around the casino floor of the Four Queens,” the suit claims. “After a period of time, Felipe pulled out a knife and got close enough to attack George.”

Beatty is asking for a minimum of $15K in damages, which is standard for a civil case in Nevada.

MGM Grand Case

The case echoes that of Columbus, Ohio woman Leslie Alexander, who sued the MGM Grand in 2023 after she was repeatedly stabbed inside the casino in an unprovoked assault by a stranger.

Alexander was attacked by Nathaniel Mahoney on Sept. 6, 2021, as she walked to the women’s restroom. Mahoney had already stabbed someone else that day, according to court records.

He later pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to a minimum of 19 months to a maximum of 48 months in prison.

Again, Alexander claimed that MGM security and staff didn’t respond to the scene “until well after the attack had taken place,” and failed to stop the threat and provide “reasonable and timely precautions against the threat of injury to” the plaintiff.

Court records show that both parties in the case agreed to dismiss all claims with prejudice last year and no judgment for damages was entered on the record, which is highly indicative of a confidential out-of-court settlement.