Supreme Court to hear arguments in libel judgment

Monday, April 24, 2000 | 10:34 a.m.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in June on a book publishing company's appeal of a $3.2 million libel judgment won by Mirage Resorts, Inc. Chairman Steve Wynn.

The court will have a one-hour hearing on the appeal by Lyle Stuart and Barricade Publications regarding the judgment they were ordered to pay Wynn.

Wynn won the judgment in October 1997 following a jury trial before District Judge Sally Loehrer.

Jurors decided that Stuart, a co-owner of Barricade, libeled Wynn in a catalog sent out to 5,000 book reviewers on the book "Running Scared: The Life and Treacherous Times of Las Vegas Casino King Steve Wynn."

The book about Wynn's life was written by Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith.

After the trial, Smith was dropped from the litigation because he had nothing to do with the preparation of the catalog. Wynn has sued to prevent Smith from being dropped from the case.

Lawyers said Stuart filed for bankruptcy because of the judgment. Barricade has fewer than 10 full-time employees and publishes about 40 books a year.

Lawyers said the judgment "vastly exceeds" the net worth of Stuart and Barricade and has "financially annihilated" the company.