Two women who worked for MGM Resorts International’s Aria Casino Hotel in Las Vegas (pictured) are suing the operator. The pair are claiming they were fired after being falsely accused of the theft of millions of dollars.
This past Monday, September 9, Erendira Dominguez and Allison Lopez filed their complaint in Nevada District Court.
They say they worked as full-time employees in Aria’s offices from the casino resort’s 2009 opening until they were fired in 2023. They say a new executive joined the team, took a dislike to the pair, and began pinning what they say were baseless accusations on them.
In August 2023, the pair were suspended from employment with Aria. They claim the dismissal was based on allegations millions were missing from an account used to manage golfing tours and experiences for resort guests.
No criminal charges were ever filed against either plaintiff. In December 2023, their contracts were officially terminated. Dominguez says she received no severance pay. Neither Aria or MGM Resorts International have yet responded to the complaint, in court or in a statement.
The Complaint
Dominguez and Lopez are seeking lost wages and compensatory damages from MGM. The dismissal led to “mental anguish, emotional distress, pain and suffering, humiliation, harm to reputation,” the lawsuit says.
Both were employed as managers in the Aria Casino Hotel’s marketing department. As part of their duties, the pair managed bookings between Aria guests and a third-party business, Las Vegas Golf Adventures.
In 2023, a new vice president of national marketing joined the department at Aria. The lawsuit says within months, the new arrival began openly speculating with colleagues that Lopez was using the system to book rooms for her personal use.
When Lopez challenged that account, the lawsuit says, nothing came of it. However, weeks later, the pair received official notifications that they were being internally investigated over missing funds from the Golf Adventures account.
The pair said in the lawsuit they repeatedly told senior management that they had no direct access to account funds, or the ability to make bank transfers. However, the suit says, they were suspended in August of 2023. By December, their contracts were terminated.
The lawsuit also alleges that after the pair were dismissed, two executives from the department were allowed to leave gracefully. One was transferred to a role at an MGM casino in Ohio and another resigned before being given full severance.
The lawsuit does not explicitly say those departures were connected to the alleged theft. But the mention of it creates an implication. The lawsuit says MGM never found the culprits behind the supposedly missing millions.
“Only the Hispanic female plaintiffs had to endure that adverse treatment,” court filings said.
Dominguez says she received no severance pay. Lopez received six weeks of salary.
If the lawsuit is successful, the pair could be in for some payday. Earlier in 2024, Las Vegas’ Downtown Grand was forced to settle a court case for $700,000 over claims it discriminated against disabled employees.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
