Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Nevada Supreme Court upholds Wynn’s $7.5M judgment against ‘Girls Gone Wild’ founder

Opening of Downtown Grand

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Steven Wynn speaks to the media during the opening of the Downtown Grand Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Sunday, October 27, 2013.

Joe Francis, producer of the "Girls Gone Wild" franchise

Joe Francis, producer of the "Girls Gone Wild" franchise

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld Steve Wynn's $7.5 million judgment in a civil defamation case against "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis.

A three-justice panel in an order dated Thursday rejected arguments by Francis that a default judgment granted by a Clark County judge in 2012 should be set aside because Francis’ attorneys had withdrawn and he was unable to defend himself.

Justices said the soft-porn video empire founder's last-minute attempts to challenge the default were an attempt to stall proceedings.

Wynn sued Francis in 2008 amid a legal tussle over a $2 million gambling debt Francis incurred the prior year at Wynn Las Vegas.

In 2012, Wynn was awarded $21 million against Francis after a separate slander trial in Los Angles.

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