Jeff German

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Mediation an attractive option in hard times: It’s not court, but it does settle legal disputes — and it’s free; Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009; On the sixth floor of a building across the street from the county courthouse is an office where people can deal with their legal disputes without lawyers, judges or reams of court documents.
Civil law self-help center opening at Regional Justice Center: Monday, Nov. 30, 2009; In a period of economic misfortune, the opening next month of a civil law self-help center at the county courthouse is perfect timing.
Judge’s divorce filing follows arrest of her husband, a lawyer: Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009; District Judge Stefany Miley is suing attorney Edward Miley for divorce.
Wynns agree on ‘amicable’ split of assets in divorce: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009; Steve Wynn and Elaine Wynn have struck a court-approved financial agreement that splits up their estimated $2 billion gambling empire and paves the way for the divorce he has been seeking for eight months.
Regulators holding off to let court rule in Watanabe case: Friday, Nov. 20, 2009; Back in May, a high roller went public with his allegations that Harrah’s Entertainment not only kept him drunk but provided him drugs to induce his massive gambling losses.
Police ask DA to seek criminal neglect charges against Desai: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009; Metro detectives late Tuesday handed the district attorney’s office the brunt of their criminal investigation into last year’s hepatitis C outbreak, for what is expected to be a groundbreaking prosecution.
Police probe of clinic cases in hepatitis outbreak nears end: Prosecutors expected to get results next month; Monday, Nov. 16, 2009; At long last, Metro Police are winding down one of the Las Vegas Valley’s most complicated and anticipated criminal investigations in recent years.
High court removes judge from bench, at least for now: Vegas lawyer wins year-long fight for ‘integrity of the constitution’; Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009; For the past 12 months Las Vegas attorney Robert Lueck has been telling anyone who would listen that Robert Teuton was illegally serving as a Family Court judge. Teuton had not been on the ballot in the next general election after his August 2008 judicial appointment, and that was a violation of the state constitution, Lueck argued.
Bankruptcy trustee: Leave the hepatitis claims to us: Move to handle Desai cases outside district court riles plaintiffs; Friday, Nov. 13, 2009; The massive assortment of lawsuits over last year’s hepatitis outbreak could be taking another detour.
Scientology foe’s arrest raises issue of rights: Authorities feared his opposition crossed line, threatened violence; Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009; The arrest of a member of an anti-Scientology group on terrorism-related charges last month thrust Las Vegas into the forefront of a worldwide dispute between the group and the celebrity-laden church.
Ex-lawyer cited by police after sting at his office: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009; Just two days after the Sun reported that he was facing felony theft charges, former attorney Charles Radosevich landed in more trouble with the law.
Magistrate: No misconduct in tattoo parlor gun sting: ‘Marijuana’ smoked by one was fake called Wizard Weed; Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009; After more than a year of weighing evidence, U.S. Magistrate George Foley has absolved federal agents of wrongdoing in a 15-month firearms sting at a local tattoo parlor.
Disbarred lawyer practiced law, took money from clients, authorities say: Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009; Charles Radosevich is not a licensed lawyer, but he has been playing one in Clark County for years, authorities allege. The law finally caught up to him last week, when the district attorney’s office filed felony theft charges against Radosevich for allegedly pocketing nearly $190,000 from people who say they were paying him to be their attorney.
County will again fight a move to add judges: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009; Clark County is heading into yet another tug-of-war with its court system over money.
Judge orders release of hepatitis case records: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009; The public could soon learn a lot more about how last year’s hepatitis C outbreak occurred and health authorities’ role in it. After a hearing this week, District Judge Allan Earl ruled that key records and the answers that witnesses and defendants gave to questions under oath must be made public as some of the cases move to trial. The records and depositions had been kept secret for the past 18 months.
Hepatitis case has escalating side battle: Insurance company, bankruptcy trustee at odds over control of money; Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009; In court battles over huge amounts of money, all sides go to the mat. That’s what’s taking place behind the scenes in the massive litigation over last year’s hepatitis C outbreak. A nasty fight has erupted between an insurer and bankruptcy trustee.
New attorney takes on booze defense: Lawyers withdraw from high roller’s fight with Harrah’s over debt; Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009; Las Vegas attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld are the architects of an unusual defense being mounted by high roller Terrance Watanabe in a $14.7 million Strip gambling debt case. They contend the Nebraska philanthropist can’t be held responsible for not paying back two Harrah’s Entertainment casinos because the resorts kept him constantly intoxicated.
Nevada is prosecuting ACORN itself, not just individuals in it: Monday, Oct. 19, 2009; For more than 40 years ACORN has helped the nation’s poor solve their own problems.
Endoscopy plaintiffs target drug suppliers: Insurance thought not to be nearly enough to cover $300 million in liability; Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009; Lawyers suing Dr. Dipak Desai and his clinics say it would take $300 million on the table to negotiate a settlement for thousands of former patients whose lives were disrupted by last year’s hepatitis outbreak.
Warrant sought for Michael Jackson's Vegas physician over child support: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009; Clark County prosecutors are seeking an arrest warrant for the Las Vegas physician at the heart of the investigation into Michael Jackson's death over the physician's failure to pay $13,311 in child support.
For judges who err, justice far from swift: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009; Count Raul Saavedra among the courthouse regulars who say Las Vegas Municipal Judge George Assad got off easy in connection with the unlawful detention of a Las Vegas woman in the judge’s courtroom six years ago. Saavedra was the Municipal Court marshal who took Anne Chrzanowski into custody that day under what he insists were orders from the judge.
Judge's lawyer husband accused of domestic battery: Friday, Oct. 2, 2009; The husband of District Judge Stefany Miley was arrested late Thursday on a domestic battery charge following a disturbance at the couple's home. Edward R. Miley was taken into custody sometime after Metro Police arrived at the scene about 9 p.m., according to a police report obtained by the Sun.
Desai says he didn’t see or approve settlement: In court papers, doctor’s personal lawyer objects to deal struck by trial lawyer; Friday, Oct. 2, 2009; Dr. Dipak Desai has his personal lawyer opposing a settlement the physician’s chief trial lawyer struck last week with a former patient suing over last year’s hepatitis outbreak. Attorney Dennis Kennedy says Desai didn't see or agree to the settlement.
Warrant issued for ballplayer Shawn Chacon over gambling markers: Onetime All-Star accused of failing to pay Caesars Palace $150,000; Friday, Oct. 2, 2009; Authorities now have an arrest warrant for former major league pitcher Shawn Chacon as a result of his alleged failure to pay Caesars Palace $150,000 in gambling markers.
Election workers help pare piles of ﬁles: Millions of pages of court files have been scanned into a computer system; Monday, Sept. 28, 2009; Steve Grierson, the top executive officer in District Court, can’t heap enough praise on the folks at the Clark County Election Department.
Desai, ex-patient settle but other defendants remain in lawsuit: Amount to be paid man who says he contracted hepatitis C in endoscopy clinic not disclosed; Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009; Dr. Dipak Desai has settled with the first of thousands of former patients suing over last year’s hepatitis outbreak springing from his clinics. Lawyers for Desai filed court papers this week disclosing they have reached a deal with Michael Washington.
Private counseling plan was no secret: Gaming Control, Metro knew about plan to reroute casino detainees to program; Friday, Sept. 25, 2009; It turns out that Steven Brox not only told Metro Police and at least one judge about his plan to route people detained at casinos on suspicion of petty crimes into private counseling, but also talked to top gaming regulators about it.
Lawyers: More cases of hepatitis discovered: Endoscopy clinic infected at least three more patients, plaintiffs’ attorneys say; Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009; Lawyers suing the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada say they have discovered a new cluster of hepatitis C cases that originated at the clinic and predict the discovery will have a big impact on the massive litigation over the outbreak.
District judge who endorsed counseling service could face investigation, expert says: Disciplinary process for judges is slow and secretive; Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009; District Judge Doug Smith could face punishment from his peers for endorsing a court-connected counseling company that police are investigating, experts say. “In general, judges should not be endorsing any private vendors,” UNLV law professor Jeff Stempel said. “The better practice would be not to get into that type of thing at all.”
Cops knew of counseling service: Owner says police were aware of arrangement as Metro denies promoting, approving the business plan; Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009; The counseling company raided this week in an extortion investigation had run its business plans past Metro Police several times in the past two years, and in 2007 a uniformed department spokesman even briefly starred in the company’s marketing video.
Cops raid firm accused of extortion: Company tried to team with casinos for end runs around courts, police say; Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009; Metro Police on Tuesday raided the office of a counseling company that regularly does business at the courthouse, looking for evidence the company was involved in an alleged extortion scheme on the Strip. The company, United States Justice Associates, is run by Steven Brox, 44, who was charged last week in a six-count criminal complaint stemming from an alleged sexual assault of one of his relatives, a 15-year-old girl.
Attorney is persistent: Desai can’t answer judge: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009; The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners might think Dr. Dipak Desai is competent to face legal proceedings over his role in last year’s hepatitis C scare, but Desai’s lead attorney, Richard Wright, doesn’t. Wright swears so in the affidavit he filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Familiar face in awkward place in court: Man charged with sex crime involving minor owns company that counsels defendants; Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009; Steven Brox is a familiar face at the county courthouse, where his counseling company helps people charged with crimes get through the justice system. Now it turns out that Brox himself could use some of that counseling.
Harrah’s hires local gun to help in Watanabe case: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009; Harrah’s Entertainment has brought in more high-priced legal talent in its battle with high roller Terrance K. Watanabe. Harrah’s hired lawyers this year from the Chicago office of the national law firm Jenner & Block to help it sort out sensational allegations leveled by Watanabe that the company’s casinos supplied him with a steady flow of alcohol and drugs as he gambled away tens of millions of dollars.
Good thing she didn’t hold breath for apology: Years later, judge says he’s sorry for ordering woman detained for beau’s fines; Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009; Being a judge means never having to say you’re sorry — unless you’re ordered to. And even then, you apparently can take a year to apologize.
Court to rule on whether hepatitis cases can proceed: Monday, Aug. 24, 2009; Unless cooler heads prevail, this week’s hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on whether the massive litigation over the valley’s 2008 hepatitis C outbreak can proceed is shaping up as a real donnybrook.
Station Casinos founder left his mark as philanthropist: Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009; The publicity-shy Frank Fertitta Jr., founder of Station Casinos, will be remembered for both his vision and his philanthropy as a businessman, turning a small casino just off the Strip into a casino empire that catered to locals while most of his counterparts focused on tourists, and then pouring much of his profit into schools, charities and medical research. Fertitta died early Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he was being treated for a long-standing heart condition. He was 70.
Judge's order puts AG back on Krolicki case: Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009; The attorney general's office is back on the criminal case against Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki — at least temporarily.

District Judge Valerie Adair signed an order today voiding a previous judge's decision disqualifying the attorney general because of a conflict of interest.
Nevada high court weighs judge’s legitimacy: Gibbons appointee accused of overstaying his term; Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009; In an unusual step, the Nevada Supreme Court has launched administrative proceedings to determine whether Family Court Judge Robert Teuton has been violating the state constitution by sitting on the bench since January.
In deal, ex-ACORN official promises to testify against others: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009; The attorney general’s office turned up the heat Monday on a national organization at the heart of a voter registration fraud investigation.
Lawyers seek liver transplant for Aryan Warrior: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009; In a bizarre saga that has dragged on for eight months, lawyers for imprisoned white supremacist Ronald “Joey” Sellers are making another push to get the government to buy him a liver transplant.
In hurried appearance, ex-official admits to felonies: Deane pleads guilty to three felony charges that could result in up to 15 years in prison; Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009; The public defender’s office hastily scheduled Friday’s guilty plea in District Court for former Clark County Recorder Frances Deane to try to shield her from the media. The morning plea, which had been in the works for the past several days, was kept so secret that the prosecutor and the judge who ultimately accepted the plea didn’t find out until less than two hours before it was to take place.
Former county official pleads guilty to 3 felonies: Plea deal results in dismissal of 15 other charges; Friday, Aug. 14, 2009; More than three years after being charged, former Clark County Recorder Frances Deane pleaded guilty in District Court this morning to three felony counts stemming from a scheme to profit from her public office. The plea was the result of a deal worked out within the last few days between the district attorney's office and the public defender's office, which is representing her. Deane appeared frail in court and walked with a cane.
'Girls Gone Wild' producer ordered to pay Wynn millions: Friday, Aug. 14, 2009; “Girls Gone Wild” producer Joe Francis went wild in a court deposition this year, and he’s being handed a hefty bill as a result.
Just call man at center of hepatitis cases Dr. Delay: Desai’s lawyers slow civil, bankruptcy cases to crawl; Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009; Attorneys for Dr. Dipak Desai, who is squarely at the heart of litigation over last year’s hepatitis C outbreak, are mounting the best possible defense on his behalf: stall, stall and stall.
Young lawyer’s first trial heard by state Supreme Court justice: Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009; As civil trials go, Sound & Secure v. Roni Amid isn’t going to rank as one of the most intriguing cases in District Court in Clark County. But what makes the case worth singling out is who presided over it — Nevada Supreme Court Justice Mark Gibbons.
Longtime lawsuit finally to get court airing: North Las Vegas, its police department and chief sued over man’s death in 2002; Friday, Aug. 7, 2009; It’s been more than seven years since 31-year-old Roberto Arce died after being restrained by North Las Vegas police officers.
Whale’s defense vs. Harrah’s gains traction: Charges that company plied gambler with drugs will be investigated; Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009; Gaming regulators are finally starting to acknowledge the seriousness of a Nebraska high roller’s allegations against Harrah’s Entertainment. Philanthropist Terrance K. Watanabe gambled away tens of millions of dollars at Harrah’s casinos in 2007. This year Harrah’s asked the Clark County district attorney’s office to file criminal charges.
Heat turned up on alleged Ponzi schemer: Complaint filed to prevent Pahrump developer Seibt from discharging $70 million debt; Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009; Hundreds of senior citizens have moved a step closer to getting back at least some portion of life savings they invested with bankrupt Pahrump developer Hans Seibt.
Attorneys now find hope in Bogden’s nomination: Obama’s choice for Nevada office has Reid’s backing, and Senate confirmation is next step; Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009; President Barack Obama’s nomination of Daniel Bogden as U.S. attorney for Nevada was met Friday with initial disappointment from defense attorneys and prosecutors who had questioned his leadership abilities.