Vegas Casino Accused of Drugging Lawyer in Lawsuit Allegation
Incident Overview
Michael Duke Thomson, a licensed attorney, recounts leaving the high-limit blackjack area at a popular Las Vegas casino late at night on January 23, 2024, with several thousand dollars in chips. The next moment he recalls is waking up the following morning handcuffed in the casino’s security detention area, facing a substantial debt and criminal charges that were eventually dropped after he settled the owed amount.
Allegations of Being Drugged
Now 64 years old and residing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thomson, a regular casino visitor with a notable repayment history, has filed a federal lawsuit against the casino. He asserts that he was secretly drugged during his visit, which led to his incapacitation that should have been apparent to the casino staff, who nonetheless took no action to protect him from further gambling or detainment.
Thomson accuses the casino of negligence and failure to safeguard his well-being, arguing it is unfair for the establishment to retain the funds obtained under such circumstances. He also points out that the casino has withheld crucial information about his condition and the details surrounding his detainment, information he claims is exclusively controlled by the casino and its parent company.
Memory Gaps and Disputed Debt
The attorney recalls responsibly managing his previous casino credit—known as markers—and claims to have withdrawn and repaid a $10,000 marker on that night. However, he remembers nothing about several other markers totaling $75,000 that the casino later claimed were outstanding. He states that some of the signatures on these markers bear only a faint resemblance to his own.
According to casino staff, he was found asleep in a lounge area and reacted aggressively when disturbed, which prompted his detention. The following day, he was informed by his VIP host of these disputed markers, leading to criminal charges and an arrest, with a bail amount set. Thomson paid a significant sum to secure his release, and after settling the markers, the charges were dropped to avoid further legal battles.
Legal Claims and Demands
In his lawsuit, Thomson alleges that he was intentionally drugged and that the casino failed in its duty by allowing him to continue gambling while incapacitated. He challenges the validity of the markers issued under these conditions and accuses the casino of unjust enrichment, suggesting that some marker signatures may have been forged. The attorney seeks a jury trial and damages to be decided by the court.
