Nevada

Drop in traffic tickets causes budget shortfall for state supreme court

The Nevada Supreme Court is in a budget bind because motorists in the state are receiving fewer traffic tickets, according to the state’s chief justice. Chief Justice James Hardesty told lawmakers earlier this month that the court will run out of funds by May 1 if lawmakers don’t approve emergency…

Mar 24, 2015 7:57 AM CDT

General counsel, 3 others federally convicted in conspiracy to fleece Las Vegas HOAs

A former general counsel for a condominium association and three other defendants were found guilty Tuesday by a federal jury in Las Vegas of participating in a massive fraud of area homeowner associations. Lawyers for attorney Keith Gregory and the other three individuals said they knew nothing of the scheme…

Mar 18, 2015 12:35 PM CDT

Defense rests in Las Vegas HOA criminal trial; says that GC didn’t know of the fraud

The defense has rested in a federal trial of the remaining four defendants, including a lawyer, in a massive criminal case over construction-related fraud at large condominium associations in the Las Vegas area. Following plea deals by the man portrayed by prosecutors as the mastermind of the scheme and dozens…

Mar 17, 2015 12:50 PM CDT

Judge OKs guitar collector’s copyright suit over Toyota ad featuring B.B. King

Guitar collector Eric Dahl made a spectacular find when he purchased at a pawn shop in 2009 a prototype Gibson Lucille that he later discovered had been stolen from B.B. King. Rewarded in person by the blues legend with an autographed Gibson Lucille when he returned King’s own instrument, Dahl…

Mar 13, 2015 11:35 AM CDT

Lawmaker sponsors bill to allow foster parents to carry a concealed handgun, if they have a permit

Is it a good idea for a foster parent with a concealed-carry permit to be allowed to have a loaded gun on his or her person? Currently, the Nevada Department of Child and Family Services says the answer to that question is no. The agency’s regulations require guns and ammunition…

Mar 9, 2015 12:20 PM CDT

Woman who confessed to murder to get private room in mental hospital is exonerated decades later

Prosecutors are dropping a murder case against a woman who was twice convicted in a Nevada slaying based on a confession her lawyer says she made in order to get a private room in a psychiatric hospital. Cathy Woods, who is now 64, won a new trial for the second…

Mar 6, 2015 2:30 PM CST

Former judge gets 26 months in federal case over $2.9M investment scheme

A former Nevada family court judge accused of using his position to help his ex brother-in-law and others bilk some 50 investors out of nearly $3 million was sentenced Wednesday to 26 months in federal prison. Steven Jones, 57, pleaded guilty last year to one count of wire fraud conspiracy…

Feb 27, 2015 10:43 AM CST

Former general counsel is at forefront as last 4 defendants in massive Vegas HOA case head to trial

After seven years of investigation, 37 guilty pleas and the suicides of three key targets, four remaining defendants are headed to trial this week in a massive federal investigation of homeowner associations in the Las Vegas area. Foremost among the quartet is Keith Gregory, one of two lawyers indicted in…

Feb 23, 2015 12:20 PM CST

Burglar’s suit, supported by judge, says state jailed him for 16 months without a conviction

Bryan Hiser is currently serving a Nevada prison term of 10 years to life as a habitual offender and he has a lengthy rap sheet for burglary and theft, according to prosecutors. According to a civil right lawsuit that was filed by Hiser, the state went ahead and imprisoned him…

Feb 6, 2015 10:45 AM CST

Once-storied law firm, now dissolved, files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

Once a storied Nevada law firm known for its gaming expertise, Lionel Sawyer & Collins dissolved last month as 18 of its lawyers moved to Fennemore Craig. Now the firm, which was formed in 1947 and had more than 80 attorneys on its roster at one time, has made a…

Feb 5, 2015 4:20 PM CST

Ex-attorney who lost DA’s race and was convicted in November traffic case gets probation

A former Nevada attorney who lost his law license after being convicted of three felonies in connection with a 2009 traffic stop in which he was shot by a Las Vegas police officer was sentenced Thursday to five years of probation, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal. While still admitted to…

Jan 15, 2015 2:15 PM CST

Former US attorney for Nevada gets 18 months for not filing federal tax returns

A former U.S. attorney for Nevada was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months for failing to file federal tax returns. Lawrence “Larry” Semenza II must report to prison by April 17, 2015 to begin serving his sentence in the Las Vegas case, KLAS reports. He must also pay $290,000 in restitution.…

Jan 14, 2015 2:40 PM CST

Sued by dad over his 13-year-old daughter’s suicide after bullying, school denies responsibility

Already distraught after his 13-year-old daughter committed suicide last December, Jason Lamberth says subsequent conduct of Nevada school officials is what drove him to file suit. Hailee Lamberth’s suicide note blamed bullying by a specific student, but the Clark County School District denied any report of bullying until the family…

Dec 17, 2014 4:00 PM CST

Judge struck by wrong-way driver outside courthouse says she suffered debilitating injuries

A Nevada judge who was struck near the downtown Las Vegas courthouse by a wrong-way driver last month was released from the hospital the same day. But District Judge Linda Bell still hasn’t returned to the bench and says she won’t be able to do so until her concussion symptoms…

Dec 3, 2014 3:20 PM CST

Court worker files HIPAA suit, says she was searched daily after misconstrued remark

It all began with what a worker at a Nevada courthouse describes as a misconstrued remark. Irritated at being pushed to work harder on a Monday, due to an early exit the previous Friday by another worker who was upset at being criticized by a judge, Jacquelynn Nickler said something…

Nov 25, 2014 10:10 AM CST