Father of Huntington Beach Woman Killed in Vegas Shooting Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The father of a Huntington Beach woman who was killed during the Las Vegas mass shooting has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the operators of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, concert promoter, Live Nation, and the manufacturers of a device that allows semiautomatic weapons to behave like a machine gun. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, 28-year-old Andrea Castilla was attending the Route 91 Harvest festival with her boyfriend, sister and a friend when she was struck by gunman Stephen Paddock, who fired semi-automatic rifles from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay resort.

Paddock ended up killing 58 people and injuring more than 500 before taking his own life. Police confiscated a dozen semi-automatic rifles from his hotel room, which they say, were equipped with “bump stock” devices that increased the rate of fire. The shooting lasted a harrowing 11 minutes when Paddock fired into a packed and enclosed outdoor venue.

What the Lawsuit Alleges

The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the hotel, the security companies for the hotel and the concert, the companies that set up the concert and the company that made the bump stock devices – were all responsible for Castilla’s death. The lawsuit says the shooter should not have been allowed into the resort with the amount of weapons he had and that poor security helped create a virtual killing zone.

The lawsuit also accuses casino security of failing to promptly respond to the incident. The lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 in general damages and more than $50,000 in economic damages as well as an unspecified amount for medical, funeral and other expenses. Castilla was separated from the family after she was shot and died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Castilla’s family and the family members of everyone who was murdered in this senseless shooting. We also wish all the survivors, many of whom are still recovering from their wounds, the very best for a quick and full recovery.

Premises Liability Issues

There is no question that casinos, hotels, resorts and concert organizers do have a responsibility to safeguard guests and concertgoers. However, there is also no question that the case involving the Las Vegas shooting and is an extremely complex one. The main question here will be what the hotel and concert promoters could have done to prevent this carnage. Our wrongful death attorneys will be closely watching this case and others that stem from this immense tragedy.