Jim Murren, the chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, sent a letter to his employees Friday, saying he wanted to clear the air about the recent shooting-related lawsuit after what he described as “misleading and truly awful” media reports.

“I know the way things have been portrayed has left many feeling confused, hurt and disappointed,” he wrote. “I am very sorry for that and I am grateful to have this opportunity to clarify. To be perfectly clear, MGM Resorts is not suing victims for damages or attempting to extract monetary payment from the victims in any way. The notion of such an act betrays everything we stand for at MGM Resorts.”

Earlier this month, the gaming giant filed lawsuits in eight states, naming more than a thousand shooting victims or their loved ones as defendants. The litigation attempts to shield MGM Resorts from liability by moving the cases to one courtroom and invoking a little-known federal law called the SAFETY Act, which protects certain companies from liability after an act of terrorism.

Attorneys for MGM Resorts argue that because an on-site security firm at the Route 91 Harvest Festival had SAFETY Act designation from the Department of Homeland Security, the gaming corporation — which they consider part of the supply chain — should not be held liable either. The attorneys also make the case that the mass shooting, which killed 58 people, qualifies as an act of terrorism.

MGM Resorts owns the festival grounds, where the country concert was held Oct. 1.

The gaming company’s legal approach set off a firestorm of criticism when it came to light. Murren, however, told his employees that it’s simply a way to consolidate cases and prevent a lengthy court process. Vital Vegas first reported the letter to employees.

More than 2,500 shooting victims or their loved ones have filed or threatened to file lawsuits against MGM Resorts.

“Unfortunately, resolving these cases currently requires a prolonged litigation process across multiple courts in multiple states lasting many, many years,” he wrote. “If these cases proceed in this manner, victims, which include MGM Resorts employees and families, first responders and witnesses would face the need to testify over and over again, traveling throughout various court rooms across the U.S. in trial after trial. That scenario would place an unnecessary and painful burden on all of those affected.”

Last week, several victims held a press conference in California to decry the lawsuits.

Message From the Chairman 7-27-18 by Jackie Valley on Scribd

Disclosure: MGM Resorts has donated to The Nevada Independent. You can see a full list of donors here.