in february 2012, clark county, nevada judge mark denton awarded $7.5 million to businessman steve wynn for defamatory statements made by francis. in september 2012, a jury awarded $20 million to wynn in a slander case against francis for claiming that wynn had threatened to kill him over a gambling debt. francis's witnesses all denied hearing wynn make such threats. the jury added an additional $20 million in punitive damages. in november 2012, judge joanne o'donnell reduced wynn's award to $19 million, reasoning that the jury's award was "speculative" and based on their dislike of francis.