Court asked to delay Venetian opening

A former worker at the Venetian hotel-casino construction site is asking District Court to delay this month's scheduled opening of the $1.5 billion project until fire-safety issues are settled.

John Prendeville filed a petition in District Court Friday asking that Clark County building inspectors be ordered to withhold certificates of occupancy until 2,000 of the resort's rooms meet Uniform Building Code requirements.

Prendeville is a former procurement manager for Lehrer McGovern Bovis Inc., the company overseeing construction of The Venetian. He claims he was fired for refusing to participate in alleged illegal activities at the site. LMB and the Venetian have denied his allegations.

In his latest action, Prendeville said less than 50 percent of the electrical outlet boxes in the rooms have fire-resistant pads or putty behind them. He also said bathroom plumbing, ceilings and crown molding don't contain fire stops, either.

County building inspectors were unavailable for comment on the latest allegations. The county was to have received results from a fire-safety test of the Venetian's electrical outlet boxes last week but haven't disclosed whether the reports were received.

"The putty is being placed in all rooms even though it isn't technically required," LMB spokesman Sam Singer said today. "LMB has bent over backwards to more than meet the minimum standards that are required."

"The Building Department has rigorously inspected all parts of the building and done an excellent job of following up on all of Mr. Prendeville's unfounded complaints," he said.

"Without seeing the papers, it would be difficult to comment specifically. But he's made a habit of suing anyone who disagrees with him," Singer said.

A spokesman for The Venetian had no comment.

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