Mehta v. Victoria Partners et al

Filing 91

ORDER denying as moot #72 , #83 , #84 Motions. ORDER granting #73 Motion to Dismiss; IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff must file, no later than February 17, 2023, a response explaining his failure to serve the newly added defendants and addressing whether and how there exists good cause for further extending the time for service. Signed by Judge Cristina D. Silva on 1/17/2023. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - HAM)

Case 2:21-cv-01493-CDS-VCF Document 91 Filed 01/17/23 Page 1 of 15

1
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEVADA

2
3
4
5 Kirti A. Mehta,

Plaintiff

6
7

Case No. 2:21-cv-01493-CDS-VCF

v.

8 Victoria Partners, et al.,
9

Order Granting Defendants’ Motion to
Dismiss
[ECF Nos. 72, 73, 83, 84]

Defendants

10
11

Five years ago, Bruno Mars informed the world that “gold jewelry shining so bright;

12 strawberry champagne on ice” were items he liked. Bruno Mars, That’s What I Like (Atlantic
13 Records 2017). Now, plaintiff Kirti A. Mehta alleges that defendants Park MGM, its corporate
14 officers, and various other entities did some things that Mehta dislikes, including denying
15 Mehta complimentary concert tickets to a Bruno Mars performance. See generally First Am.
16 Compl., ECF No. 66. The defendants who have been served now move to dismiss Mehta’s
17 amended complaint, arguing that there is no legal basis on which to hold defendants liable for
18 Mehta’s personal predilections. See generally Mot. Dismiss, ECF No. 73. Because Mehta’s amended
19 complaint alleges no facts which could support a claim against any defendant and as further
20 amendment would prove futile, I grant the served defendants’ motion and dismiss them from the
21 first amended complaint with prejudice, deny all other pending motions as moot, and warn
22 Mehta that I will dismiss claims against the yet-unserved defendants without prejudice if he
23 fails to show good cause for not serving them.
24
25
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1 I.

Relevant Background Information 1

2

a. Statement of Facts

3

This lawsuit stems from two trips Mehta took to Las Vegas in March and July of 2021.

4 Mehta stayed at the Park MGM beginning on March 16, 2021, and seemingly enjoyed his
5 vacation until the night of March 18. ECF No. 66 at 9. On that day, Mehta, who “is not a regular
6 drinker . . . and avoids drinks as much as possible” because he takes medication for his blood
7 pressure, diabetes, and anxiety, imbibed six bottles of beer at the Tropicana Casino & Hotel
8 pool. Id. at 10. He returned to the Park MGM and started playing slots at 6:00 p.m. Id. After
9 losing his free play 2 and $3,500 in cash, Mehta went to the high-limit room. Id. Beginning at 8:00
10 p.m., Mehta hit a series of slot jackpots totaling approximately $62,000. Id. at 9. By 5:00 a.m. on
11 March 19, Mehta “was holding . . . around $62,000 in winning[s] . . . in his sport coat.” Id. At that
12 point, Mehta consumed a six-pack of Heinekens within twenty minutes. Id. He has “no
13 knowledge” of what came next and states that he “does not remember what happen[ed].” Id. at
14 9–10. Defendants state, and Mehta does not dispute, that “Mehta blacked out and put his
15 winnings back into slot machines.” ECF No. 73 at 6. At roughly 8:00 a.m., Mehta’s wife found
16 him, and they returned to Mehta’s hotel room. ECF No. 66 at 10. Mehta then “rested for 24
17 [hours].” Id. Despite Mehta’s claim that he is not a regular drinker, this was not the first occasion
18 when Mehta blacked out and lost large sums of money at a casino. See ECF No. 66 at 11–12
19 (admitting a similar situation occurred in March 2020 at the Park MGM, in 2019 at the Mirage,
20
1

Mehta names “MGM International, Inc.” as a defendant in this case and references “MGM” several times

21 throughout his first-amended complaint. See generally ECF No. 66. Defendants claim these entities do not

exist but are named similarly to multiple entities affiliated with MGM Resorts International. ECF No. 73

22 at 3 n.1. Mehta is a pro se plaintiff, and “pro se pleadings must be construed liberally[.]” Draper v. Rosario,

836 F.3d 1072, 1080 (9th Cir. 2016). I do so here and thus consider Mehta’s references to “MGM
International, Inc.” as references to “MGM Resorts International,” and his references to “MGM” as either
24 references to “Park MGM” or “MGM Resorts International” depending on the context.
2 Free play refers to promotional casino chips or virtual currency awarded by a casino to a patron, often
25 to entice the patron to the property. See, e.g., Harrah’s Club v. State, 659 P.2d 883, 885 (Nev. 1983) (“As part
of their marketing and promotional activities, many casinos utilize gaming ‘loss leaders’ such as free slot
26 play, promotional coupons or ‘lucky bucks,’ and free ‘wheel of fortune’ play. The casino patron has no
‘stake’ at risk in these promotional ‘wagers,’ as they cost the patron nothing.”).

23

2

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1 and “repeated[]” other times between 2005 and 2021 in multiple casinos across various states).
2

Upon waking, Mehta complained to multiple named defendants—including his host,

3 Ryan Guadiz; Park MGM’s then-president, Ann Hoff; and Park MGM’s vice president of casino
4 operations, London Swinney—that he had been overserved alcohol. ECF No. 66 at 10–11. After a
5 few telephone conversations, Swinney offered Mehta two options: (1) he could accept $5,000 in
6 free casino play to resolve his complaint, or (2) he could “pursue [his complaints to Swinney]
7 from a legal standpoint” and “make a complaint with . . . the Nevada Gaming Control Board.”
8 ECF No. 66-1 at 10–11 (emails from Swinney). Mehta accepted the former offer and signed an
9 agreement with defendant Joseph A. Corbo, Jr.—senior vice president and legal counsel acting
10 as an authorized officer of MGM Resorts International—purporting to “release . . . any potential
11 claim[s] [Mehta] had against the MGM parties and others” that “existed before June 7, 2021” in
12 exchange for the $5,000 of free play. Id. at 13, 21–22. Mehta now challenges the validity of that
13 agreement—even though he does not dispute signing it—because Swinney communicated the
14 offer to him, but Corbo was the individual who signed the contract. ECF No. 66 at 15. However,
15 Mehta has challenged the validity of the agreement only after accepting the Park MGM’s offer of
16 $5,000 in free play (plus a food-and-beverage credit of $500); returning to the Park MGM for a
17 trip between July 1–5, 2021; and gambling away that $5,000. Id. at 14–16. He claims that upon his
18 return to Las Vegas for that trip, he was deceived into spending his free play on slot machines
19 that do not allow free play to trigger progressive jackpots (jackpots which grow over time in
20 proportion to the amount of total amount of wagers placed on the machine). Id. at 16.
21

On July 2, 2021, Mehta alleges that he complained to Guadiz, whom Mehta overheard

22 describing him as an “Indian free[-]loader” to another individual at the hotel. Id. at 17–18. The
23 next day, Mehta requested three complimentary Bruno Mars concert tickets for a Fourth of July
24 show at the Park MGM. Id. at 18. Mehta’s request was denied because he did not “have enough
25 play to qualify for comp[ed] tickets.” Id. He alleges that “white players” received complimentary
26 tickets to the Bruno Mars performance. Id. He does not describe further events from this trip. On

3

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1 July 12, 2021, MGM sent Mehta a letter “regarding [his] dispute related to [his] gaming history
2 with the MGM parties . . . in response to the various emails and the draft complaint [he] sent”
3 following his Fourth of July trip. ECF No. 66-1 at 21–22. The letter explained MGM’s bases for
4 denying Mehta the complimentary Bruno Mars tickets, copied the release Mehta signed
5 extinguishing his claims against the MGM defendants, and effectively banned Mehta from
6 MGM properties. Id. Mehta claims that the letter was sent as retaliation for his legal demands.
7 ECF No. 66 at 22–23.
8

b. Procedural History

9

Mehta initiated this suit on August 11, 2021, against MGM Resorts International, Park

10 MGM, various other subsidiaries of MGM Resorts International, and some of its corporate
11 officers. ECF Nos. 1, 3. Most defendants, including Park MGM and the executives listed in the
12 original complaint (the “original defendants”), waived service. ECF No. 6. However, MGM
13 Resorts International did not. Review of the docket indicates that MGM Resorts International
14 was never served with this lawsuit. I dismissed Mehta’s original complaint, finding his causes of
15 action insufficiently pled, but granted him leave to amend on September 2, 2022. ECF No. 61.
16

Mehta filed an amended complaint—now the operative pleading—on October 6, 2022,

17 adding a host of additional executives from (seemingly arbitrary) MGM-affiliated casinos. ECF
18 No. 66. As with MGM Resorts International, these newly added defendants have not been
19 served with Mehta’s lawsuit, nor have they waived service. The original defendants moved for
20 reconsideration of my order granting Mehta leave to amend, arguing that amendment to the
21 original complaint by adding new defendants would prove futile and unfairly prejudicial. ECF
22 No. 72. The original defendants—the only entities upon which Mehta has effectuated service—
23 now move to dismiss Mehta’s first amended complaint. ECF No. 73. Mehta responded, ECF No.
24 76, and the original defendants replied, ECF No. 79.
25

Mehta moved for default judgment while the motion to dismiss was still pending. ECF

26 No. 78. I denied that motion, finding that default judgment is inappropriate when, as here, all of

4

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1 the served defendants have actually defended themselves in this suit. ECF No. 82. Mehta now
2 moves for reconsideration of my order denying default judgment. ECF No. 84. He also moves for
3 declaratory relief, requesting that I rescind the release agreement described supra page 3 and
4 exclude it as admissible evidence from the remainder of this suit. See ECF No. 83 at 1–3, 6
5 (arguing that the contract should be declared null and void because it was not properly
6 executed). The original defendants oppose both motions. ECF Nos. 85, 87.
7 II.

Legal Standard

8

Dismissal is appropriate under Rule 12(b)(6) when a pleader fails to state a claim upon

9 which relief can be granted. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6); Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555
10 (2007). A pleading must give fair notice of a legally cognizable claim and the grounds on which
11 it rests, and although a court must take all factual allegations as true, legal conclusions couched
12 as factual allegations are insufficient. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. “To survive a motion to dismiss, a
13 complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim for relief that
14 is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at
15 570). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the
16 court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”
17 Id. This standard “asks for more than a sheer possibility that the defendant has acted
18 unlawfully.” Id.
19

“Generally, a district court may not consider any material beyond the pleadings in ruling

20 on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion.” Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1555 n.19
21 (9th Cir. 1990). “However, material which is properly submitted as part of a complaint may be
22 considered.” Id. Similarly, “documents whose contents are alleged in a complaint and whose
23 authenticity no party questions, but which are not physically attached to the pleading, may be
24 considered in ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss” without converting the motion into
25 one for summary judgment. Branch v. Tunnell, 14 F.3d 449, 454 (9th Cir. 1994). On a motion to
26 dismiss, a court may also take judicial notice of “matters of public record.” Mack v. S. Bay Beer

5

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1 Distrib., 798 F.2d 1279, 1282 (9th Cir. 1986).
2 III.

Discussion

3

a. Motion to Dismiss

4

Mehta’s lawsuit suffers from the fundamental problem that his first amended complaint

5 describes no legal wrongdoing on the part of any defendant. He brings claims for (1) negligence
6 against Park MGM and MGM Resorts International, (2) willful and wanton misconduct against
7 all defendants, (3) national origin discrimination against MGM Resorts International, (4)
8 disclosure violations and/or equal-access-of-information violations against MGM Resorts
9 International, (5) retaliation against MGM Resorts International, and (6) emotional stress and
10 distress against all defendants. ECF No. 66 at 8–24. His first, second, and sixth causes of action
11 fail on their merits and have not remedied the defects that I identified in my prior order (ECF
12 No. 61) when I dismissed Mehta’s original complaint. I need not reach the merits of his third,
13 fourth, or fifth causes of action (asserted against MGM Resorts International only) because
14 Mehta has failed to serve MGM Resorts International altogether. I find that further amendment
15 in this case would be futile and therefore dismiss Mehta’s claims with prejudice. Finally, I deny
16 the remaining pending motions in this case as moot.
17
18

1.

Mehta’s Negligence Claim is Barred by the Economic Loss Doctrine

I previously found that Mehta’s original complaint may have stated a plausible case for

19 negligence on its face, but I pointed out that the economic-loss doctrine precluded him from
20 recovering his requested remedy of monetary damages. ECF No. 61 at 11–13. Mehta did not
21 rectify this issue in his amended complaint. After reviewing Mehta’s first-amended complaint, I
22 conclude that he cannot make out a prima facie case for negligence and find that even if Mehta
23 could plausibly plead a negligence claim, the economic-loss doctrine precludes recovery under
24 that theory.
25
26

6

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1

In Nevada, “to prevail on a negligence claim, a plaintiff must establish four elements: (1)

2 the existence of a duty of care, (2) breach of that duty, (3) legal causation, and (4) damages.”
3 Sanchez v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 221 P.3d 1276, 1280 (Nev. 2009). The existence of a duty is “a
4 question of law to be determined solely by the courts.” Turner v. Mandalay Sports Ent., LLC, 180 P.3d
5 1172, 1177 (Nev. 2008). Generally, a premises owner or operator owes entrants a duty to exercise
6 reasonable care. Foster v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 291 P.3d 150, 152 (Nev. 2012). However, Mehta
7 pleads no facts supporting his claim that the Park MGM or MGM Resorts International owed
8 him a duty, let alone that they breached it. Even if Mehta’s allegations that the Park MGM
9 overserved him alcohol are true, “it is well settled in Nevada that commercial liquor vendors,
10 including hotel proprietors, cannot be held liable for damages related to any injuries caused by
11 the intoxicated patron, which are sustained by either the intoxicated patron or a third party.”
12 Rodriguez v. Primadonna Co., LLC, 216 P.3d 793, 798 (Nev. 2009) (citing Hamm v. Carson City Nugget,
13 Inc., 450 P.2d 358, 359 (Nev. 1969); Snyder v. Viani, 885 P.2d 610, 612–13 (Nev. 1994)). This is
14 because “Nevada subscribes to the rationale underlying the nonliability principle—that
15 individuals, drunk or sober, are responsible for their torts.” Id. Because Mehta has not pled—and
16 cannot plead—that the Park MGM owed a duty to Mehta, breached its duty, and caused Mehta
17 damages, his claim for negligence cannot proceed. And even if I were to find that Mehta
18 adequately pled negligence, he would still be barred from proceeding with that claim under the
19 economic-loss doctrine.
20

“The economic[-]loss doctrine marks the fundamental boundary between contract law,

21 which is designed to enforce the expectancy interests of the parties, and tort law, which
22 imposes a duty of reasonable care and thereby encourages citizens to avoid causing physical
23 harm to others.” Calloway v. City of Reno, 993 P.2d 1259 (Nev. 2000) (citation omitted), overruled on
24 other grounds by Olson v. Richard, 89 P.3d 31 (Nev. 2004). The economic-loss doctrine exists to
25 prevent contract law from drowning in a “sea of tort.” East River S.S. Corp. v. Transamerica Delaval,
26 476 U.S. 858, 866 (1986). It thus provides that certain economic losses are properly remediable

7

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1 only in contract. Giles v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp., 494 F.3d 865, 873 (9th Cir. 2007). The Nevada
2 Supreme Court has applied this doctrine to negligence cases unrelated to products liability. Id. at
3 879 (collecting cases). The primary purpose of this doctrine is “to shield a defendant from
4 unlimited liability for all of the economic consequences of a negligent act, particularly in a
5 commercial or professional setting, and thus to keep the risk of liability reasonably calculable.”
6 Terracon Consultants W., Inc. v. Mandalay Resort Grp., 206 P.3d 81, 86–87 (Nev. 2000) (en banc).
7

In Nevada, the doctrine bars unintentional tort claims when a plaintiff seeks to recover

8 “purely economic losses.” Calloway, 993 P.2d at 1259 (citations omitted). “Purely economic loss is
9 a term of art that does not refer to all economic loss but only to economic loss not recoverable as
10 damages in a normal contract suit.” Progressive Ins. Co. v. Sacramento Cnty. Coach Showcase, 2009 WL
11 1871947, at *4 (D. Nev. June 29, 2009) (citing Giles, 494 F.3d at 877). Economic losses are not
12 recoverable “absent personal injury or damage to property other than the defective entity itself.”
13 Calloway, 993 P.2d at 1267.
14

Mehta’s negligence claim seeks the remedy of purely economic losses, but even

15 accepting the allegations in Mehta’s amended complaint as true, as I must, I find that Mehta has
16 not pled any personal injury or damage to property which could support such a remedy. See
17 generally ECF No. 66. He does allege that the March 18–19, 2021, beer-induced blackout “caused
18 emotional and physical injury when it was combine[d] with [Mehta] taking his daily
19 medicines,” id. at 10, but he fails to describe what injury he suffered or how any defendant’s
20 negligence contributed to the injury. Fundamentally, Mehta seeks to recover gaming losses from
21 his slot play at a casino via a negligence suit— but he has not cited any law, nor can I find any,
22 indicating that such an action is viable. I thus dismiss his first cause of action.
23

2. Mehta Has Not Plausibly Pled Willful and Wanton Misconduct or Fraud

24

Mehta’s second claim for relief, titled “willful & wanton misconduct,” alleges that the

25 original defendants “attempt[ed] . . . to deceive and cheat” him in a variety of manners. ECF No.
26 66 at 15. Defendants claim that neither Nevada nor federal law recognize a standalone cause of

8

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1 action for willful and wanton misconduct but agree that “[t]he label that a plaintiff places on his
2 pleadings . . . does not determine the nature of his cause of action.” Johnson v. United States, 547
3 F.2d 688, 691 (D.C. Cir. 1976); Rains v. Criterion Sys., 80 F.3d 339, 343 n.2 (9th Cir. 1996).
4 Nonetheless, according to Nevada law, willful misconduct in other contexts is “intentional
5 wrongful conduct, done either with knowledge that serious injury to another will probably
6 result, or with a wanton or reckless disregard of the possible results.” Davies v. Butler, 602 P.2d
7 605 (Nev. 1979); see also Van Cleave v. Kietz-Mill Minit Mart, 633 P.2d 1220 (Nev. 1981) (defining
8 willful misconduct as an act “that the actor knows, or should know, will very probably cause
9 harm” (quotations and citations omitted)); Bell v. Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, 642 P.2d 161 (Nev.
10 1982) (stating that willful misconduct “requires a consciousness that one’s conduct will very
11 probably result in injury”).
12

Mehta’s cause of action for willful and wanton misconduct could be construed as either a

13 claim for aggravated or gross negligence or for fraud. For his part, Mehta seems to agree that his
14 own allegation sounds in fraud. See Pl’s Reply Br., ECF No. 76-1 at 2 (alleging that Swinney and
15 other MGM executives “deceptively . . . committed fraud of will full [sic] wanton misconduct”).
16 Furthermore, the substance of his specific allegations requires me to conclude that he meant to
17 charge the defendants with fraud, and I thus analyze this cause of action as such.
18

First, Mehta alleges that the parties (i.e., himself and Corbo) to the release agreement did

19 not actually witness each other sign the contract, as they instead circulated the document
20 electronically to have parties sign it on their own. Id. This allegation appears to stem from either
21 a misinterpretation or confusion regarding the language above the signatory page of the release
22 agreement which states, “IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereby execute this
23 Agreement.” ECF No. 66-1 at 13. He also alleges that Corbo’s signature on the release agreement
24 renders the agreement invalid, as he negotiated the agreement with Swinney, not Corbo. ECF
25 No. 66 at 14–15.
26

9

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1

Second, Mehta alleges that MGM Resorts International’s offer of $5,000 free play was

2 “designed to lie, cheat[,] and deceive players who come to play [at] MGM casinos” because the
3 free play was not eligible for certain progressive slot jackpots. Id. at 15. Mehta played $4,300 of
4 his $5,000 in free play on machines with such progressive jackpots. Id. at 16 (“Mehta played . . .
5 [a] $100 denomination slot machine in [a] high[-]limit area, where [the] machine sticker said,
6 free play is not allowed . . . and [it] took $4300 free play without any bonus spin [i.e., it did not
7 award Mehta an opportunity to win the progressive jackpot].”). Contradicting Mehta’s claim of
8 deception are Mehta’s own admissions, see id. at 15–16 (“Mehta played . . . [a] slot machine in
9 [the] high[-]limit area, where [a] machine sticker said” free play was not allowed), and his own
10 photographs, which he attached as exhibits to his first amended complaint. See ECF No. 66-1 at
11 15–17 (zoomed-in photo states “FREE PLAY Not Available” on the left-hand exterior of the slot,
12 above where Mehta would have inserted his player’s card).
13

The elements of fraud under Nevada law require a plaintiff to plead (1) a false

14 representation made by the defendant; (2) the defendant’s knowledge or belief that the
15 representation was false, or the defendant’s insufficient basis for making the representation; (3)
16 the defendant’s intention to induce the plaintiff to act or refrain from acting in reliance upon the
17 misrepresentation; (4) plaintiff’s justifiable reliance upon the misrepresentation; and (5) damage
18 resulting from such reliance. Bulbman, Inc. v. Nev. Bell, 825 P.2d 588, 592 (Nev. 1992). The Federal
19 Rules of Civil Procedure further heighten the pleading requirement for fraud, demanding that a
20 plaintiff “state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake.” Fed. R. Civ.
21 P. 9(b).
22

Mehta cannot meet his pleading burden for fraud. Even if the boilerplate “in witness

23 thereof” language on the signature page to the release agreement were a clause requiring each
24 signatory to witness each other’s signatures, Mehta does not explain how Carbo’s signature
25 induced his own reliance on the signature or what the resulting damages were. Furthermore,
26 Corbo’s signature on the agreement rather than Swinney’s does not constitute a fraudulent

10

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1 “misrepresentation” because nothing in the agreement states that Swinney would be the
2 signatory—the contract required only that an authorized officer of MGM Resorts International
3 sign the page. See ECF No. 66-1 at 13 (no mention of a specific signatory). Nowhere does Mehta
4 allege that Corbo was not authorized to sign on behalf of MGM Resorts International.
5

As for Mehta’s allegations regarding the free play and the limitations about how it could

6 be redeemed, he cannot demonstrate that any misrepresentation occurred. His claim that he was
7 “deceived” is not plausible given the fact that the machine he played on and took a photograph of
8 explicitly mentions, “FREE PLAY Not Available” on its exterior. Id. at 15–17. Mehta does not
9 state that anybody lied to him or otherwise contradicted the placard on the machine, that
10 anyone knowingly misrepresented the availability of free-play jackpots, or that he relied upon
11 such a misrepresentation. See generally ECF No. 66. Because Mehta’s claim for willful and wanton
12 misconduct sounds in fraud and he cannot meet the heightened pleading burden for fraud, I
13 dismiss his second cause of action.
14
15
16

3. Mehta’s Claim for Violations of NRS Chapter 463 Fails Because There is No Private
Right of Action for Gaming Violations
Mehta also brings a claim for violations of Nevada’s gaming regulations and statutes.

17 ECF No. 66 at 14–16. While this appears to be intermingled with his fraud claim, I address it
18 separately because no private cause of action exists for gaming violations, and thus Mehta’s
19 claim is not viable. The Supreme Court of Nevada has long held that “the legislature vested
20 authority for enforcement of Chapter 463 [Nevada’s statutes pertaining to licensing and control
21 of gaming] in the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission.” Sports
22 Form v. Leroy’s Horse & Sports Place, 823 P.2d 901, 904 (Nev. 1992). “Therefore, absent express
23 language to the contrary, the legislative scheme of Chapter 463 precludes a private cause of
24 action.” Id. Mehta cannot identify a specific statute that permits him to bring a cause of action
25 for gaming violations. He references “NRS 465.070” in his reply brief when discussing “gaming
26 fraud” but NRS 465.070 simply describes the elements of gaming fraud. See generally NRS

11

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1 465.070. It does not permit an individual, like Mehta, to assert gaming violations via a lawsuit.
2 Id. As a result, Mehta’s claim for violations of the gaming control regulations must be dismissed.
3
4

4. Mehta’s Claim for Emotional Stress and Distress Does Not Have a Remedy in Law
Mehta’s final claim for relief alleges that he has lost sleep, gets more frequent anxiety

5 attacks, and experienced financial issues to the point where he has “become financially broke”
6 because of the defendants’ actions. ECF No. 66 at 24. A showing of emotional distress may
7 satisfy the damages element in some circumstances. S. Nev. Adult Mental Health Servs. v. Brown, 498
8 P.3d 1278 (Nev. 2021) (table) (recognizing that the negligent infliction of emotional distress can
9 be an element of the damage sustained by the negligent acts committed against the plaintiff)
10 (internal citations omitted). However, “emotional distress” does not stand alone as a cause of
11 action, and Mehta has not identified authority permitting him to bring such a claim. To the
12 extent that Mehta pleads damages resulting from emotional distress as part of his other causes
13 of action (i.e., his negligence- or fraud-based claims), those other causes of action have failed to
14 survive dismissal. Consequently, Mehta’s claim for emotional stress and distress must be
15 dismissed as well.
16
17

5. Mehta’s Claims against Unserved Defendants
I sua sponte address the issue of the unserved defendants who remain in this lawsuit:

18 Travis Lunn, Niklas Rytterstrom, Brandon Dardeau, Clive Hawkins, Chuck Bowling, and Anton
19 Nikodemus. See ECF No. 66 (adding these defendants as part of the first-amended complaint).
20 The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide that “[i]f a defendant is not served within 90 days
21 after the complaint is filed, the court—on motion or on its own after notice to plaintiff—must
22 dismiss the action without prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made within
23 a specified time.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). The court may extend the time for service if the plaintiff
24 shows good cause. Id. Based on Mehta’s continued failure to effect service on the newly added
25 defendants, dismissal of these unserved defendants appears to be warranted. Patrick v. McDermott,
26 2019 WL 10255472, at *13 (C.D. Cal. June 24, 2019). Consequently, this order constitutes notice

12

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1 to Mehta under Rule 4(m) that unless he shows good cause for the failure to serve these six
2 “new” defendants, I will dismiss without prejudice this action against them. In addition,
3 although the unserved defendants are listed in the caption of the amended complaint, they are
4 not mentioned or referenced anywhere in Mehta’s statement of facts or the recitations of his
5 causes of action. See generally ECF No. 66. Therefore, dismissal of the unserved defendants for
6 Mehta’s failure to state any claims against them also appears to be warranted, as it is not clear
7 from the face of his complaint how, if at all, these defendants are involved in this lawsuit.
8

No later than February 17, 2023, Mehta is ordered to file a response addressing his failure

9 to serve the newly added defendants and whether (and how) there exists good cause for further
10 extending the service deadline. He must also show cause why the newly added defendants
11 should not be dismissed for his failure to state claims against them. If Mehta fails to file an
12 adequate response by February 17, 2023, I will dismiss this action without prejudice as to the
13 unserved defendants. As no claims or defendants will remain, I will order this case be closed on
14 that date.
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6. Amendment of the Complaint Would Prove Futile
After a party has amended a pleading once as a matter of course, it may only amend

17 further after obtaining the court’s leave or the adverse party’s consent. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a).
18 Generally, Rule 15 advises that “leave shall be freely given when justice so requires.” Id. This
19 policy is “to be applied with extreme liberality.” Owens v. Kaiser Found. Health Plan, Inc., 224 F.3d
20 708, 712 (9th Cir. 2001) (internal quotation omitted). District courts, when deciding whether to
21 grant leave to amend, should consider “undue delay, bad faith[,] or dilatory motive on the part of
22 the movant, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, undue
23 prejudice to the opposing party by virtue of allowance of the amendment, futility of amendment,
24 etc.” Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962). It is the “consideration of prejudice to the opposing
25 party that carries the greatest weight.” Eminence Cap., LLC v. Aspeon, Inc., 316 F.3d 1048, 1052 (9th
26 Cir. 2003). Dismissal with prejudice and without leave to amend is inappropriate unless it is

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1 clear that the complaint could not be saved by amendment. Id.
2

I have thoroughly considered the Foman factors and find that further amendment would

3 be both futile and unduly prejudicial to the original defendants to this case. A claim is
4 considered futile—and leave to amend to add to it shall thus not be given—if “there is no set of
5 facts which can be proved under the amendment which would constitute a valid claim or
6 defense.” Netbula, LLC v. Distinct Corp., 212 F.R.D. 534, 538–39 (N.D. Cal. 2003) (citing Miller v.
7 Rykoff-Sexton, 845 F.2d 209, 214 (9th Cir. 1988)). There is no set of facts that can support Mehta’s
8 claim for negligence, as his damages are strictly economic in nature and are thus precluded by
9 the economic-loss doctrine. There is no set of facts that can support Mehta’s claim for willful
10 and wanton misconduct, as Mehta has explicitly contradicted his own assertion of
11 misrepresentation by providing evidence proving that the MGM defendants did not mislead
12 him. There is no set of facts that could support Mehta’s claim for gaming regulation violations,
13 as violations of NRS Chapter 645 do not permit private causes of action. And finally, there is no
14 set of facts that could support Mehta’s isolated cause of action for emotional distress, as neither
15 Nevada law nor federal law recognize emotional distress as a standalone claim.
16

Consequently, amendment of any of Mehta’s claims would be futile. Allowing Mehta to

17 continue this litigation against the original defendants would serve only to tether those
18 individuals and entities to a lawsuit with no possibility of success on the merits. Because justice
19 does not so require further amendment in this case, I dismiss Mehta’s claims against the original
20 defendants with prejudice.
21

b. Other Pending Motions

22

Having dismissed Mehta’s claims against the original defendants with prejudice, I order

23 that all other pending motions brought by and against the original defendants are now moot.
24 The original defendants move for reconsideration of my prior order permitting Mehta to amend
25 his original complaint. ECF No. 72. Mehta also requests declaratory relief (ECF No. 83) and
26 reconsideration of my order denying his motion for default judgment (ECF No. 84). The

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1 declaratory relief he seeks is moot as I have no basis for rescinding the release agreement. And
2 the default judgment he seeks is moot as I have no basis for issuing a default judgment against
3 parties who have been served, participated in the lawsuit, and are now being dismissed from it.
4 IV.

Conclusion

5

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that defendants’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 73) is

6 GRANTED.
7

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the other motions pending in this case (ECF Nos. 72,

8 83, 84) are DENIED as moot.
9

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff must file, no later than February 17, 2023, a

10 response explaining his failure to serve the newly added defendants and addressing whether and
11 how there exists good cause for further extending the time for service. He must also show cause
12 why the newly added defendants should not also be dismissed for Mehta’s failure to state claims
13 against them.
14

DATED: January 17, 2023

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Cristina D. Silva
United States District Judge

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