MGM Resorts International, which owns The Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, is suing victims of the mass shooting which took place at the venue in October 2017, as The Telegraph reports.

64-year old Stephen Paddock opened fire from the window of his 32nd floor hotel room, killing 58 people and injuring an additional 851 who were attending the nearby Route 91 festival.

MGM Resorts International owns both the Mandalay Bay and the Route 91 festival, which was targeted. It argues that a 2002 law passed by Congress means it cannot be held liable for deaths and injuries.

The law gives immunity to companies that use ‘anti-terrorism’ technology, which MGM says it did. It claims its security services were approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

Debra DeShong, a spokesperson for MGM, said in a statement to The Telegraph: “Years of drawn out litigation and hearings are not in the best interest of victims, the community and those still healing.

“Congress provided that the federal courts were the correct place for such litigation relating to incidents of mass violence.”

Robert Eglet, a lawyer representing at least 900 of the shooting victims, said in a statement to The Telegraph that MGM attempting to defend itself by classifying the shooting as terrorism was “outrageous”.

“It won’t be classed as terrorism,” he said. “All evidence points to a lone individual.”

The FBI has not classified the shooting as terrorism, but if they do then MGM’s attempt to move the cases to a federal court will benefit them, as the 2002 Congress Law will provide them some protection.