Apparently perennial Plaintiff's champion Noel Gage isn't just [an alleged] scumbag who cheated his clients, he may have already been found liable by a Texas court for withholding settlement money (without the client's knowledge), paying additional money to longtime clients, and charging $100,000 for expenses he could never document.Las Vegas Now reports:
Federal prosecutors are ready to drop a bombshell on Las Vegas attorney Noel Gage when the lawyer is re-tried on conspiracy charges next month. Gage is accused of conspiring with local doctors and a middleman to rip off his own clients for huge sums. His first trial ended in a hung jury. But that jury didn't get to hear the evidence that could be introduced the second time around . . .Apprarently the case in Texas is eerily similar to Gage's [alleged] bilking of his Vegas clients.
Federal lawmen have uncovered evidence suggesting Gage left El Paso after being caught doing the same thing he is accused of doing here, namely, cutting side deals behind the backs of his own clients and fattening his own pocket in the process . . .
Court documents show Gage was hired to represent a group of chiropractors who were suing the insurance industry. But the jury found that he cut a side deal with two of the chiropractors, behind the backs of the other clients.I'm torn here. On one hand, the prosecution of Gage suggests the corrupt practices of Vegas law may be getting cleaned up. On the other hand, what will I blog about. Either way: be warned Vegas Plaintiff's bar--apparently it's not open season on your clients anymore.
Gage failed to tell his other clients that he had a special relationship with two of the plaintiffs and had represented them in a dozen or more cases. The jury found that Gage misled most of the clients, withheld settlement money without telling them about it, directed too much money to his two longtime clients, and charged nearly $100,000 for expenses he could never document. The jury verdict was unanimous.
The lawyer who sued Gage and his co-defendants in Texas said Gage manipulated his clients for his own benefit and predicted Gage would express indignance and outrage at being accused, something now familiar in Las Vegas.
[kudos to Mr. Knapp for his investigative reporting on Mr. Gage's [allegedly] corrupt practices]
First, nobody is "convicted" in a civil trial-your either liable or not liable. Second, you can demonize Plaintiffs attornies all you want, but at least be even-handed and give the insurance companies their due attention, as well. Some objectivity would be nice. If Gage is guilty, then lock him up. However, he has not been found guilty yet (at least, not by a jury. Apparently you have found him guilty already. Everybody loves their consitutional rights except when they apply to somebody they don't like).
ReplyDeleteTouche. Changes made on my "convicted" error.
ReplyDeleteAs for insurance companies, the blog has no love for them either. Got any good insurance companies/insurance defense attorneys are corrupt stories? Serve them up.
defamation defense attorney here - I recommend changing your title as it's misleading and clarification in the comments won't save you from a claim.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work. I enjoy your blog.
Thanks for the feedback. And I apologize for the typos. Trial and error some days here at the blog.
ReplyDelete"defamation defense attorney here"
ReplyDeleteNoel Gage is the epitome of a public figure, which means you must prove actual malice. And I'm pretty sure a "legal tabloid blog" is inherently "saved" from a claim.
"law student here"-I think you may be a little over confident in your claim that Gage is a public figure. I don't think it is that clear cut. Prior to this trial/indictment, most people in Vegas would not be able to tell you who Gage is. Hell, most people in Vegas probably STILL can't tell you who he is.
ReplyDeleteWhile we here at wild wild law find it strangely entertaining to read whether or not we can be sued, for the record, Mr. Gage is [allegedly] a crook who bilked his clients in Las Vegas. In Texas, he was found liable [not allegedly] for bilking his clients.
ReplyDeletedefamation defense attorney here -
ReplyDeleteLegal Eagle might win the lawsuit, although claiming that someone has been convicted when they have not -public figure or not - is awfully dangerous, but there is much to be said for skipping the lawsuit in the first place. Litigation is expensive and taxing. Sometimes they skip that part in law school. You'll figure it out soon.
While I certainly agree that LE "could" be sued over what she writes is an "error" (at 4/22, 11:58) and that is providing a nice academic discussion, I'm pretty sure that the blog's public retraction of the error and re-posting using the proper civil term would eliminate any real basis for a suit.
ReplyDeleteLE-Yeah,I've got plenty of "insurance companies/defense attorneys are corrupt stories." Just look at the recent medical malpractice "crisis." All that was simple propaganda from the insurance companies-none of it substantiated-to strike fear into the LV public. The fascinating thing is that it worked! Maybe for one of your posts you can look into how many doctors *actually* left LV during the "crisis," in addition to looking at how much the insurance companies lowered the premiums after the caps were imposed (I'll give you a hint-they didn't go down at all). Its actually a pretty interesting topic. (By the way, FYI, no, I am not a trial/plaintiff attorney. I'm just somebody who enjoys seeing some balance).
ReplyDeleteI wrote 6:07, and forgot to say, thanks for opening up the comments. I agree, it will make for some good discussion. I enjoy the blog.
ReplyDeleteTo April 24, 2008 6:07 AM,
ReplyDeleteI will definitely consider your idea on a post on how many doctors actually left NV during the malpractice "crisis".
But we are just a blog with limited resources and always open to submissions, so if you or any of the other readers have a scoop, tip or story, send it along. We'll check it the best we can and put it up if we can verify details.
- LE