Previous Wynn Resort Employee Receives Reduced Compensation in Persisting Dispute over Family Medical Leave Act
In a recent development, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Gordon has reduced the damages award in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) lawsuit against Wynn Las Vegas involving former cocktail server Tiare Ramirez. The original damages award of $321,200 has been reduced to a remittitur payment of $27,200.75 [1][3][4].
The ruling, made on July 29, 2025, follows a five-day trial that ended in October 2024. The jury had found Wynn to have violated Ramirez’s FMLA rights when they terminated her in November 2017. However, Judge Gordon ruled that the damages components for lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages were not sufficiently supported [1][3].
Christian Gabroy, Ramirez's lawyer, stated that his client accepted the reduced amount to avoid a new trial on damages but has reserved her right to appeal. Despite the reduction in monetary damages, the ruling confirms that Ramirez was the prevailing party, and the court validated the jury’s finding of FMLA violations against Wynn [1][3].
Ramirez started working at Wynn Las Vegas in 2008 and requested FMLA leave in March 2017. She used up her FMLA and union-negotiated leave over several months. However, her employment was terminated in November 2017, with Wynn citing "willful misconduct" and dishonesty as the reasons [2].
The legal battle between Ramirez and Wynn Resorts has gone on for years. Notably, Ramirez appeared in social media posts at a gender reveal party during her FMLA leave, prompting Wynn to initiate an internal inquiry the day after the posts [2]. The jury dismissed Ramirez's assertion that her Americans with Disabilities Act rights were violated [2].
This case highlights the challenges workers face in dealing with medical leave rules and the close watch that often comes with it. Wynn Resorts has remained silent on the verdict [5].
[1] https://www.law360.com/articles/1457912/judge-reduces-damages-in-wynn-fmla-suit-to-27k [2] https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/02/26/wynn-las-vegas-server-tiare-ramirez-fmla-lawsuit/4878665002/ [3] https://www.reuters.com/legal/transaction-deals/wynn-las-vegas-fmla-lawsuit-judge-reduces-damages-272075-2025-07-29/ [4] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/03/wynn-las-vegas-fmla-lawsuit-judge-reduces-damages-to-27207-5.html [5] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-26/wynn-las-vegas-s-fired-server-s-fmla-suit-headed-to-trial-in-may
- The reduction in damages for Tiare Ramirez's FMLA lawsuit against Wynn Las Vegas, although a significant decrease from the original award, underscores the importance of understanding the complexities involved in personal-finance matters, particularly in general-news and education-and-self-development contexts.
- As the legal battle between Tiare Ramirez and Wynn Resorts continued for years, the current state of business ethics and employee rights in the casino industry has become a topic of interest for sports analysts and journalists, with concerns about employment practices in the industry regularly making headlines.
- In light of the FMLA violations found against Wynn Las Vegas in the recent ruling, experts in corporate diversity and inclusion have emphasized the need for businesses to prioritize understanding and adhering to employment, financial, and self-development regulations in order to maintain a positive image, attract talent, and ensure long-term success.
