In a federal lawsuit, a guest of a casino in Biloxi that was welcomed by a resort and enticed with a complimentary stay claims that he was “battered, restrained, and detained” by the establishment's security.

In a lawsuit submitted to the Southern District federal court of Mississippi, plaintiff Brent Nettles claims that on Friday, March 11, 2022, he was forcibly arrested and held by Beau Rivage Resort & Casino security. Florida resident Nettles claims the Beau Rivage lured him in with a complimentary stay at the Mississippi Gulf Coast casino.

Nettles claims he likes to gamble and is ready to lose up to $20,000 annually because he views it as a kind of enjoyment. 

According to St. Augustine general contractor Nettles, MGM Resorts, the company that runs the Beau Rivage, offered free lodging at the resort hotel from Thursday through Saturday.

Attorneys for Nettles stated that on March 11, in the evening, casino security found their client to be inebriated and requested him to leave. Nettles claims that after losing roughly $5,000 on the slots, he was just having a beverage with his wife and parents.

Nettles claims he followed the instructions to leave the area, but he came back after seeing he hadn't paid his bill. That's when Nettles was allegedly "violently" tackled by casino security and "pinned" to the ground, according to the lawsuit.

Allegation of Unlawful Arrest

Nettles states in the court document that at the time he was recuperating from a bilateral hip replacement procedure. After the hard tackle, he was handcuffed by security personnel with zip ties, which he claimed were too tight and hurt. 

"The Beau Rivage employees unlawfully battered, restrained, and detained Nettles without probable cause and without the authority of law,” the civil complaint contends.

Later, a police officer from the Biloxi Police Department showed up and accused Nettles of trespassing. Security at the casino initially informed Nettles that he was being held for disorderly conduct.

Nettles claims he experienced "severe" physical trauma, including damage to his radial nerves, and that he is now experiencing pain and numbness in his hands. The casino is accused of seven different offenses in the lawsuit: malicious prosecution, false arrest, false imprisonment, false detention, intentional battery, general and gross negligence, and negligent infliction of emotional distress, pain, and suffering.

Nettles is requesting payment for "pain and suffering" as well as monetary damages for his associated medical costs. In addition, the lawsuit requests that the court grant him money to cover his legal fees.

Case Has Long Chances

MGM quickly dismissed Nettles’ lawsuit as frivolous. Attorneys representing the casino giant say Nettles’ recollection of the evening is untrue and surveillance video shows a reasonable detention.

"This case is not a close call. The evidence does not support a punitive damage instruction. Plaintiff’s claims lack merit and should be dismissed,” MGM attorneys said in the casino’s response and request for summary judgment.

MGM’s legal team added that Beau Rivage has every right to deny a person access to the property for a variety of reasons.

“Plaintiff’s fixation on the intoxication issue is, frankly, irrelevant to the summary judgment analysis. Defendants would have been within their rights to tell the Plaintiff to leave because they didn’t like the shirt he was wearing. Such is the nature of the law permitting business owners to choose their customers,” the MGM response explained.