Wed Vegas Roundup (Heavy Hitter, Muni Ct problems, and courthouse elevators)

Been a slow week on the gossip front, but luckily it's still Sin City and always has its fair share of quriky legal stories:

The Nevada Bar Association has received a formal Complaint against the heavy hitting, 4 ft 10" Glen Lerner for his decision to skip the first day his client's murder trial (Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Judges and convicts share elevators at the overburdened Clark Co. District Court (Las Vegas Sun)

New Municipal Court Judges will have the enjoyment of figuring out how to get improvrished defendants an attorney without appointing lawyers or overburdening the county's swamped Public Defenders (Las Vegas Sun)

Supreme Court asks what lawyers think of Clark County judges, but can they handle the answers?

In what some are suggesting is a sign the Nevada Supreme Court may actually be interested in cleaning up some of the ethical dirt on the Clark County bench, the Nevada Supreme Court has asked lawyers to rate local judges.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports:

Lawyers who practice in Clark County have been asked to rate local judges and Nevada Supreme Court justices in the 2008 Judicial Performance Evaluation.

Rating highlights will be published in the Review-Journal later this year, well before the elections in which several judges face challengers, and complete results will be published on the newspaper's Web site . . .

Chief Justice Mark Gibbons of the Nevada Supreme Court urged attorneys to "give their honest observations," adding, "As the judiciary we invite constructive comment
as a way to help us improve our court system."

If the comments from the attorneys in my office are any indication, the Supreme Court will get a mouthful about donations to sitting judges, questionable ethics, and Judge Halverson.

Thanks for the Response

Last week I asked any interested associates to send in questions for Legal Recruiter Jordan Ross of Ross Legal about legal recruiting and headhunting. The number of emails you sent in was overwhelming. I guess a lot of attorneys are on move, or at least want to be.

I will send along your questions to Mr. Ross and should have an answer for all those "how to get hired" questions in the next week or two. So tune in!

Sat Random Legal Wrap Up

The small, but quirky Vegas roundup

The Juice wants to make sure no one mentions Nicole's murder (i.e. O.J. trial 1) during O.J. trial (redux) (Reno Gazette-Journal)

Waiving attorney-client privilege may not have been the smartest move for Darren Mack. The Prosecution has introduced several attorney-client communications and attorney memos, including one concluding Mack had a level of paranoia comparable to the unibomber. (Kolo Channel 8)

Not everything is legal in Clark County. Las Vegas City Life chronicles several of odder legal prohibitions still on the books.

Ask a Legal Recruiter

Next week, wildwildlaw will offer a special treat to all its associate readers: Legal Recruiter Jordan Ross of Ross Legal will be answering your questions about legal recruiting and headhunting.

Mr. Ross is a member of National Association of Legal Search Consultants and principal of Ross Legal, a legal recruiting agency focusing on Nevada law. Wildwildlaw will be picking his brain on behalf of hungry Vegas and NV attorneys anxious to get out of their firm and move on to greener pastures (i.e. pastures carpeted in dollars otherwise known as big law firms) and asking questions about the legal recruiting process in general.

Is there something you've been wanting to ask a recruiter? Send any questions you'd like posed to Jordan Ross to nevadalegal@gmail.com and I'll make sure your question makes it into the interview.

Supreme Court victory for strippers

I figured a lot of lawyers in town would be interested in this NV Supreme Court ruling since it involves strippers and strip clubs.

Yesterday, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled 3-0 yesterday that attorney Mick Rusing may bring a class action lawsuit against Vegas strip clubs on behalf of strippers.

The Review-Journal reports:

Many of the estimated 10,000 strippers in Las Vegas pay a fee to dance at clubs and sign agreements classifying themselves as independent contractors. They receive no pay or benefits and earn only tips.

"This is going to force employers to stop living off the backs of these women," said Sean Brearcliffe, a lawyer at Rusing's firm. "Some of the clubs don't pay them anything and force them to pay as much as $50 to $100 per hour out of their tips. Nevada law does not let employers take tips earned by their employees." Brearcliffe, who worked with Rusing on the case, said that in coming months he plans to file a class-action lawsuit in District Court to force strip clubs to hire dancers as they do other employees.

However, all Vegas strippers may not be happy with the proposed change in employment classification:

Inside the Spearmint Rhino topless club in Las Vegas, some dancers said they do not support a move to become club employees. They prefer, the strippers said, to work as independent contractors.

One dancer, who said her name is Nicole, said she makes more money now than she ever would on an hourly wage.

Clad in a tight black T-shirt, black stockings and a mini-skirt that covered only the top of her backside, Nicole asked: "Why would I want to make six dollars an hour when I can make $500 an hour now?"

Three things:

1) I can't believe the club owners have gotten away with taking tips for so long without an attorney challenging the practice on a contingent fee basis (30% of lap dances post-verdict to go to the firm).

2) $500-$1000 an hour? Why did I go to college?

3) Attention attorneys: club owners says they will have to raise drink prices and entrance fees if the strippers become classified as employees. Better get it while the gettin's good boys!

Random legal wrap-up (Vegas for felons, Halverson update, OJ , and Monte Carlo fire update)

Presenting updates on the quirky Vegas cases that don't merit a full post:

Where do fleeing Florida felons go? Vegas, of course:
Vegas police arrest of felon on the run for 30 years (Vegas CBS affiliate)

In Halverson news:
The Judicial Disciplinary Commission denied Judge Halverson's request to stay her disciplinary proceeding. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

And in the O.J. trial (redux):
The Juice's co-Defendant Charles Ehrlich is asking for a separate trial claiming he can't get a fair trial with the media frenzy surrounding the case. (Sign on San Diego)

Finally, investigators of the Monte Carlo fire have determined the construction workers are to blame for the fire on top of the casino-hotel last week. Wonder how many Defendants there will be in future lawsuit? (Las Vegas Review-Journal)