Valley Layoff Watch: Happy Holidays Edition

We are foregoing today's open thread, as we assume most of you are (hopefully) not working. How about some bad news instead?

Rumor has it that our old friends at Jones Vargas just laid off an unknown number of attorneys from their transactional/real estate group. These guys have wonderful timing, as evidenced by their late rescission of summer associate offers last March and this latest "Happy Holidays" round of layoffs.

Apparently, JV's Reno office is doing fine, as they recently announced the addition of former federal district court judge and current republican candidate for governor, Brian Sandoval.

If you're feeling a bit too upbeat today, head on over to the Las Vegas Business Press where you'll find an interview with JV's President, Joe Brown, and Lionel Sawyer's Managing Partner, Paul Hejmanowski, about how things are going in our market. You'll be reaching for the antacid in no time. Happy Nevada Day!

(Thanks, tipster!)

Sidebar: Costume Contest!

That time of year is upon us. A time to celebrate dark, spooky people and things that are not of this world. That's right, it's Nevada Day.

For those of you who aren't on your way to Disneyland right now (yeah, real original idea ... you and half the state), we thought it would be fun to get a little creative.

We want to hear your best/worst law-related Halloween costume ideas. What would you like to see your favorite judge dressed as? What would be the most inappropriate thing you could wear to calendar call? What are you going as this year? Let's hear it!

Miley Non-Update

Many of you are clamoring for Miley news, and we just can't seem to get any rumors verified. So, in keeping with our "tabloid" moniker, here are all the rumors we have been able to gather [cue the slow, sappy background western music]:

So, when we last left our dysfunctional couple, Ed, in a drunken rage, strangled his dog to death and gave his hot judge-wife the 'ole what fer before deciding to play shoot-em-up with a live firearm in his backyard. This landed Ed a TRO from his home, his kids' school, and the RJC (big problem for an attorney).

After that point, the rumors get a little murky. Apparently the TRO was allowed to expire. However, Ed's current location is unknown. From what we've heard, he is in rehab in either California or Arizona (possibly court ordered).

As for Judge Hottie, she took a little vacation (do judges really have unlimited sick days?). She is reportedly back to work as of Monday.

But what about the relationship, you ask? Here's where things get real rumory. Those of you who are not daytime soap fans may wish to stop reading here.

Here's an email we received on the matter:

I heard Judge Miley told friends she is going to take him back. Not because she is so in love, but she is over in debt. She paid a lot for her house a few years ago in Red Rock and now she can't sell it for half the price she bought it for. She feels trapped with all of their debt and can't give up the life style she has created.

The cops who were there and arrested Ed - said the kids got their baseball bats, light sabors etc to try and get Dad off of their mom. He was attacking her and didn't stop. Judge Miley thought he was going to kill her then.

These are the days of our lives ...

That's all we've got. We'll leave it to you guys to fill in the blanks and/or tell us we're full of shit.

(Thanks, tipsters)

Boyd Raises The Bar

Say what you will about our local lawyer factory, they certainly are putting up the numbers.

A very respectable 86% (91 of 106) of first-time takers from Boyd School of Law passed the July 2009 bar. The pass rate for all first-time takers was 74%, and the overall pass rate was 63%.

This is the highest passage rate for Boyd to date. The previous high was 83% (paired with a 69% overall pass rate).

Congratulations, Boyd! Now, if you could just limit your next entering class to approximately 15 students, we're sure many of our currently jobless Nevada attorneys would appreciate it.

Here are the numbers:

Overall Pass Rate:
NV overall pass rate (includes both attorneys and students): 63%. In comparison, in July '08, the NV overall pass rate was 69%, while in February '09, the NV overall pass rate was 56%.
Boyd overall pass rate (includes both first-timers and repeaters): 74% (101/136) In comparison, in July '08, Boyd's overall pass rate was 75%, while in February '09, the Boyd's overall pass rate was 58%.

First time Student Takers:
NV pass rate for first-time student takers: 74% In comparison, in July '08, the NV pass rate for first-time student takers was 70%, while in February '09 the NV pass rate for first-time student takers was 46%.
Boyd pass rate for first-time student takers: 86% (91/106) In comparison, in July '08, the Boyd's pass rate for first-time student takers was 83%, while in February '09 Boyd's pass rate for first-time student takers was 58%.

Repeat Takers:
NV pass rate for repeating student takers: 28%. In comparison, in July '08, the NV Pass rate for repeating student takers was 34% and in February '09, the NV pass rate for repeating student takers was 29%.
Boyd pass rate for repeating student takers: 33% (10/30). In comparison, in July '08, the Boyd pass rate for repeating student takers was 48% and in February '09, Boyd's pass rate for repeating student takers was 55%.

Overall for Students:
NV overall pass rate for students (includes both first-timers and repeaters but excludes attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions): 69% In comparison, in July '08, the NV overall pass rate for students was 70% and in February '09, the NV overall pass rate for students was 46%.
Boyd overall pass rate (includes both first-timers and repeaters): 74%. (101/136) In comparison, in July '08, Boyd's overall pass rate was 75% and in February '09, Boyd's overall pass rate was 58%.

Those numbers certainly look good, what do you guys think?

(Thanks, tipster!)

Friday Open Thread

It's official, we're loving it. Friday Open Threads are now a regular feature on WWL.

Discuss whatever you'd like. Previous threads are available here. Have a great weekend!

Happy Bar Results Day!

Hey, you.

Yeah you ... the one with the sweaty palms who is supposed to be billing, but is instead checking the local legal gossip blog in hopes you will be able to take your mind off the potentially career-changing news that will drop later today.

You ... the one wondering if it was a good idea to listen to your friend's BarBri bootlegs instead of actually paying for the course.

And you ... the one second-guessing your analysis on whatever asinine question Nevada's sadistic bar examiners decided to trip you up with this year.

RELAX ... you are amongst friends.

Commenters, how about posting some happy thoughts for our soon-to-be-hyperventilating pals? Let them know that life goes on, regardless of the results ... tell them your tales of woe.

RESULTS ARE POSTED ... press button below.

Good luck!! Don't forget about tipping us when you become big shot attorneys!

Daaaaad!! You're ruining the play!

Doesn't anyone think about their future children when they make the decision to practice law?

Sure, living in a nice pad and getting a BMW for your 16th birthday are good perks, but what about when the economy tanks and Daddy, Esq., suddenly finding he has more time on his hands, decides to become more "involved" regarding your extracurricular activities?

Local Attorney Cory Hilton (of Hilton English, website currently "under construction") is taking on Green Valley High School over their theatrical productions of Rent and The Larime Project. Hilton is leading a group of overprotective concerned parents who don't want their children's virgin eyes and ears traumatized by such debauchery. What year is this again? From LV Now:

Hilton says he will ask a judge to shut down the plays, citing, in part, the Clark County School District's own policy related to movies. It forbids any movie above a PG rating in the schools. The movie version of Rent is PG-13.

Ahhhh ... the old "Motion To Do My Parenting For Me," very shrewd Mr. Hilton.

As a criminal defense attorney, we'd think Hilton would be more aware of the types of things modern-day high schoolers are exposed to as part of their everyday lives. We're guessing that the daily happenings over at GVHS make Rent and The Larime Project look like Sesame Street and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, respectively.

Be sure to check out the video over at LV Now, if only for the final 10 seconds when current Boyd law student Colleen McCarty is awkwardly subject to a pop civil procedure quiz.

(LV Now)

Henness & Haight Lands $3.5 Million Verdict

Local firm Henness & Haight landed themselves a big verdict last Thursday.

According to our tipster, an eight-day trial ended in an eight-person jury returning a verdict of $3.51 million (it's $1.4 million for those of you slow at math) in favor of Las Vegas resident Roger Johnson, and against JP Flexibles, a New Jersey corporation as a result of injuries Johnson suffered from a defective high pressure paint hose.

It all started with a man and a dream ... a dream of painting houses:

Plaintiff, a professional house painter, was using a flexible hose manufactured by Defendant with a paint sprayer. The hose ruptured, injecting paint into Plaintiff's right hand. As a result of the accident, Plaintiff underwent six surgeries, including having his right index finger amputated.

Yikes! That one must be hard to explain at parties. Don't worry Roger, they'll forget all about that missing finger when you're "makin' it rain" at the club.

Judge Susan Johnson presided over the case, boring details are available here.

The ambulance chasers rainmakers on this case were Michael D. Haight and Jay A. Kenyon, both of Henness & Haight. Looks like Haight is already a member of MDAF, and we're sure Kenyon's $1,200 check is already in the mail.

(Thanks, Tipster)

Sidebar: Who Owns You?

In the open thread, someone provided a great topic for a Sidebar. We are always asking what is in your wallet. Salaries are one of the things that not many people talk about, but everyone wants to know.

This week, instead of finding out how much you make, we want to find out how much you owe. How much did your law school education cost? How much do you owe in student loans? Do you have a mountain of debt that makes your stomach turn at night? If you are so bold, tell us your law school, or whether you went to a public or private school. Do you regret using student loans?

WWL Mailbag

While sifting through the WWL mailbag, we came across the following email:

Dear WWL -

There was a litigation partner working for us who moved to another smaller firm. He took his Legal Secretary with him. We told her not to go, as she'd only worked with him a few months and hadn't seen his tirades as of yet. Thus, she took his offer to go to the firm with him.

A few weeks or a month or so working with him, she was getting treated like crap, he was throwing tantrums, and she walked out. He asked her to come back, apologizing and stating that he'd mend his ways, etc. She went back, only to be treated worse. She walked out again and he bribed her with money not to say anything to anyone about his treatment of her or his temper, tantrums, etc. Actually his girlfriend who is another lawyer made the money offer and negotiated the bribe.

I wonder how often this happens. I've heard of attorneys throwing things at their staff, having hissy fits, and being 5 year olds. I'm sure people have stories.

How about it, commenters - Do you have a tyrannical boss? We've covered the exploits of certain ego-heavy attorneys in the past, but we're always interested in new gossip. Let's hear the latest.

(Thanks, Anonymous!)

Friday Open Thread

This was fun last week, so let's do it again!

This thread is all you, kiddies. Feel free to discuss anything you want. Have a great weekend!

Fisticuffs at the CPK Party

Okay, okay ... we got the message.

Our bad for not putting up a post-CPK Party ... um ... post. It's the number one thing on our commenters minds, and we're sorry. Wea culpa.

Anyways, here's what we were able to glean about the fight at the party:

1. Attorney (unknown) was getting frisky with Girlfriend (not his).


2. Boyfriend (Boyd 2L) showed up, and took a swing at Attorney, thereby reducing his chances at OCI by one.


3. Attorney Leon Symanski ("hired goon" or former Running Rebel great, depending on who you ask) stepped in and sent the men to their corners.

That's all we know, we're looking to you guys to fill in the blanks. Also, do let us know of any other party shenanigans of which you are aware.

As for Ed Miley ... we got nothing (yet). Although, kudos to LU for finding this gem.

We also got a little chuckle out of Ed's website profile - "member of the Divorce and Domestic Section of the State Bar of Nevada" ... really?

(Thanks, tipsters!)

Harris Strikes Again

We're not exactly sure how new/old this is, but we were tipped to the fact that Richard Harris (the highly-suspect winner of our Advertising Firm Poll) has expanded his empire with yet another easy-to-remember phone number.

This time Dick went for a super hero theme, simply calling his new group of soon-to-be-rich associates "The Defenders." We have to admit that the use of handcuffs and a key to represent the phone number, while completely unprofessional, is genius - give that marketing guy a raise.

Does anybody know (or care to guess) how much Harris paid for the number?

(thedefenders.net; Thanks, commenter)

Friday Open Thread

We've usually run out of steam by the time Friday rolls around, so we thought we'd try something different. Feel free to post about whatever is on your mind in the comments.

Got a bone to pick with your secretary? Have at it. Want to express you disgust with the latest Supreme Court opinion? Be our guest. Got a general legal question? We're sure many of our commenters will be willing to mock help you. Got a juicy piece of gossip? Well ... you get the idea.

It's all you, we'll see how this goes.

Sidebar: Sizzle

I've considered posting this question a few times, but I was worried that the topic was too superficial. But, based on the content of some comments, it is a pressing question that must be posed to our legal community.

It seems that a certain judge in Dept. 23 (current, not former) is considered a judicial hottie. One of my Delta Nu sisters has a major crush on Judge Wall. I know many super hot members of our profession, both male and female, from various firms, although my heart will always belong to the Honorable Justice Harry Blackmun.

Who is your legal dreamboat? Ever have opposing counsel who was too foxxxy and you got distracted? Who gets your vote for hottest, most attractive or most stylish? This can be a judge, lawyer, professor or even Supreme Court Justice (I know we must have some Nino fans!). And for another one of my Delta Nu sisters, yes, you can list legal lexicographer, Bryan Garner.

More Miley Details

Now that the dust has settled, some of our local news outlets are wringing more details from Cirque du Miley. Here are some of our favorites:

• After choking his dog and shoving his wife in front of their children, Big Ed went all "gangsta," grabbed a gun, and fired off multiple rounds in the backyard of their home. (Fox 5 Video @ 1:07)


• Good news for those of you looking to "court" a 38-year-old hot judge: Apparently Judge Miley initiated the argument by telling Ed she wanted a divorce. We expect to see her office filled with roses tomorrow morning. (LVRJ)


• The status of the choked dog, while mentioned in almost every article, is still unknown. Someone get the status of that pooch!
LV Now is reporting that the dog was euthanized. Anyone know the dog's name?


• Judge Miley was granted a temporary restraining order against Ed, forbidding him from coming within 100 yards of their home, their children's school, or her work. Too bad she works at the RJC, and he happens to be an attorney (for now). Guess there will be a lot of pro se ugly hookers in court today. (LVRJ)


• Ed is best known for representing Charles Cashmore, one of the defendants in the O.J. Simpson robbery case. Cashmore was given a 12- to 36-month suspended sentence and up to three years of probation after pleading guilty to accessory to robbery. He then promptly violated his probation.


• LV Now has a link to the arrest report.

Two Words: Beer Truck

It's that time of the year again ... the weather is cooling, the leaves are falling, and the nicest guy in P.I. is preparing to host the biggest lawyer shindig of the year.

This years CPK "Open House" begins this coming Friday (10/09/09) at 5:00 PM. Live music will be provided by West Coast Blues Conspiracy, followed by a D.J. for those of you who like to shake a leg. Grub will be provided by Amalfi Pizza & Pasta.

For those of you new to the scene, Craig's parties are a great place to eat, drink and walk that thin line that separates debauchery from disbarment. But seriously, there is no better networking opportunity for those of you seeking to make some law-friends.

Pictures from last year's festivities are available here. Feel free to play "Find the Judge" if you get bored at work (it amused us for way too long).

For those of you more experienced CPK party-goers, let's hear your favorite moments from years past. Hope to see you all there!

Meet "Eviler Ed" ...

Not sure about you guys, but this is getting a little too Lincoln/Kennedy for us.

The ravishing Judge Stefany Miley's husband Ed Miley (yes, Ed ... just like that other guy) was arrested last Thursday on a domestic battery charge. From the LV Sun:

... [Judge Miley] called police from a neighbor’s house about 8:30 p.m. to report a domestic violence incident involving her husband, the report said. Miley told police at the neighbor’s house that her husband was “drinking heavily” and choking their dog, which had bitten him.

Miley said that when she tried to stop her husband from choking the dog, he pushed her to the floor in front of their children. Then she and her children fled to the neighbor’s house in fear, the report said.

Earlier in the evening, Miley said her husband had pushed her and struck her in the chest with the back of his hand.

Well, in all fairness, the odds of Ed's blow landing on her chest were pretty high. [Rimshot!] Eviler Ed continued his parade-o-class once police arrived:

Police said he told a lieutenant he “would like you to arrest better looking hookers because I am tired of defending ugly ones."

Well, maybe it's just that good-looking hookers actually have the money to hire decent representation. Besides, does Ed own a mirror?

If memory serves, Judge Miley's next appearance in the paper will be after she orders her bailiff to perform inappropriate favors. That lucky bastard.

(LV Sun, Thanks to everyone who sent this in!)