Discipline Commission wants to know if Judge Halverson's crazy

Apparently, it isn't just readers of this blog that think Judge Halverson might be crazy. In a crafty move, the Judicial Discipline Commission informed the suspended judicial mass that she would have to submit to a mental health evaluation if she wants to claim medical conditions were the cause of her absurd behavior on the bench and in chambers.

The Review-Journal reports:

Claiming it doesn't want a "trial by ambush," the commission on Wednesday ordered Halverson to submit to an examination by a Reno-based psychiatrist by July 18 if she intends to argue that her mental or physical conditions contributed to her behavior on the bench, according to the commission order.

If Halverson doesn't comply and brings up a disability during the hearing, the commission can disallow the information and Halverson could be considered in contempt, the order states.

Halverson has contended that she doesn't have to provide information on medical issues because the federal Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from asking about disabilities, the order says.

The Judicial Discipline Commission pointed out that it isn't her employer.

I'm sure criminal defendants will lament that Judge Halverson won't get to blame her talent for falling asleep during a criminal trial on her alleged "disability".

P.S. Medical issues caused by allowing yourself to become massively overweight shouldn't be a categorized as a "disability".

Survey--Bonuses and Payscale

Okay, a number of attorneys have written in requesting information on the bonus and payscale structures at Vegas firms.

So we're hosting another survey. Please post a comment to this article or write us at nevadalegal@gmail.com and let us know:

• what the payscale is at your firm (i.e. the set annual pay increase to attorney salary during the 2nd yr, 3rd yr, 4th yr, etc.)
• the range of bonuses offered
• what the bonuses are based on (e.g. rainmaking, performance, hours billed, etc.)

Does your firm have a vast spectrum of bonuses and a flexible payscale? We want to know that too. Please write in. Results will be posted in a few weeks.

More Snell & Wilmer lawsuit news

We reported earlier that Snell & Wilmer and the partner in charge of the Las Vegas office have been named in a lawsuit alleging they participated in a $98 million fraudulent scheme and filing claims of legal malpractice, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and other civil matters.

Counsel for Snell & Wilmer and Byrne denied the allegations, claiming the lawsuit is a legal tactic to pressure the firm and Byrne into settling unsupported claims. (In Business Las Vegas)

However, the reporting on the suit has not fully laid out the extreme nature of the allegations. The Complaint, filed in federal court, states:

• the suit is bigger than reported--involving a class of 133 plaintiffs


• Snell & Wilmer [allegedly] represented the [alleged] raider of the Southwest Exchange trust ("SWX"), Donald K. McGhan, in his purchase of SWX at the same time that Snell & Wilmer represented SWX


• Patrick Byrne and Snell & Wilmer represented Mr. McGhan (the alleged raider of the trust) and several of his entities whose interests were adverse to SWX while the firm still represented SWX


• Byrne [allegedly] loaned money to McGhan (while he was a client), which was needed because McGhan had [allegedly] looted all of the money from the SWX trust


• Snell & Wilmer [allegedly] knew McGhan was using SWX trust money to purchase another company through another corporate entity owned by McGhan


• Snell & Wilmer's [alleged] failure to advise McGhan of Nevada law led to the commingling of client trust money in bank accounts, which [allegedly] made it easier for McGhan to loot the money


• Byrne and his investment partners [allegedly] loaned McGhan the money for him to purchase then Snell & Wilmer client SWX


• Byrne [allegedly] knew that McGhan was purchasing SWX to take the trust monies and use them to purchase another European corporation


• In 2004, Bryne [allegedly] personally made a loan to McGhan of $1.3 million through a corporate entity owned by Byrne in exchange for a fee, a trip on McGhan's jet and the grant of shares in one of McGhan's corporate entitites


• Byrne's [alleged] loans "artificially prolonged SWX's existence while it was insolvent to SWX's detriment . . ."


• Later, in 2005, while Snell & Wilmer still represented SWX--now owned by McGhan--Byrne [allegedly] loaned McGhan another $2 million through another corporate entity owned by Byrne at a 150% annual percentage rate and in exchange for another trip on McGhan's jet

I know, I know . . . questionable corporate investment schemes are not the sexiest thing in the world. But if you patiently read the Complaint, the Class Action suit is alleging that a partner at Snell & Wilmer aided in the collapse of one of their clients, SWX, through financial and legal assistance given to the [alleged] raider of the SWX trust.

A Complaint is a Complaint is a Complaint, but if there's even a shred of truth to these allegations, it could spell serious trouble for Byrne and Snell & Wilmer.

Wed Roundup

Defense counsel in the murder-for-hire case where a contract was allegedly taken out on Judge Leavitt and a Clark Co. Assististant D.A. got the chance to question the District Attorney of Clark Co. David Roger and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Lalli on the witness stand about whether the Clark Co. D.A.'s office should be recused from the matter. (Las Vegas Sun)

During the Nevada Supreme Court's hearing over the constitutionality of term limits for elected officials, Justice Jim Hardesty said that the state's rule on term limits for elected officials is unambiguous, agreeing with arguments that 12 years in office means just that. (Review-Journal)

At the most recent round of Nevada Supreme Court Public Defender reform hearings, public defenders, prosecutors, and county managers agreed on the need to implement indigent defense reforms--leaving the question of how unanswered. (Review-Journal)

Congratulations to Glenn Light, who Lewis and Roca named as an associate in its gaming practice group. (Review-Journal)

Magic Number Update 2008

Update: Now with updated 2008 Hale Lane, Payne & Fears, Snell & Wilmer (for 1st yrs and after), KKBRF, Alverson Taylor, Hutchinson & Steffen, Boies Schiller, DLA Piper, Downey Brand, Duane Morris, McCormick Barstow numbers.

2008 salary and billable number updates noted with a *. [disclaimer: these numbers are the most recent available from tips and websites]

[If you don't know about the magic number, learn more here.]

So, here, ranked in order by highest (or best) magical number are the Vegas firms (did I miss something or someone, let me know at nevadalegal@gmail.com):

Name $ per billable (Salary/Min Billable)
Watt, Tieder 73 ($145,000/2000 billables)
DLA Piper 72.5 ($145,000/2000 billables)
Duane Morris 69 ($135,000/1950 billables)
Ballard Spahr 68 ($133,000/1950 billables)
Fox Rothschild 68 ($125,000/1850 billables)*
Snell & Wilmer [1] 67 ($120,000/1800 billables)* -- [only 1800 billables for 1st yr]
Fennemore Craig 65 ($125,000/1925 billables)
Payne & Fears 64 ($125,000/1950 billables)*
Lewis & Roca 63 ($120,000/1900 billables)*
Hale Lane 63 ($120,000/1900 billables)* -- [incl. 100 required pro bono hrs--67 if excl. pro bono]
Lionel Sawyer 61 ($110,000/1800 billables)
Snell & Wilmer [2] 60 ($120,000/2000 billables)* -- [2000 billables after 1st yr]

Greenberg Traurig 59 ($112,000/1900 billables)*
Jennings, Strouss 58 ($110,000/1900 billables)
Bullivant Hauser 57 ($105,000/1850 billables)*
Downey Brand 57 ($100,000/1750 billables)
Brownstein Hyatt 56 ($110,000/1950 billables)
Jones Vargas 55 ($102,000/1850 billables)*
Fisher & Phillips 54 ($100,000/1850 billables)
McDonald Carano Wilson 54 ($100,000/1850 billables)
Santoro, Driggs 53 ($95,000/1800 billables)*
Gordon & Silver 53 ($95,000/1800 billables)
Kummer Kaempfer 53 ($100,000/1900 billables)*
Morris Pickering 51 ($95,000/1850 billables)
Marquis & Aurbach 50 ($100,000/2000 billables)
McCormick Barstow 46 ($80,000/1750)
Hutchison & Steffen 45 ($86,000/1900 billables)
Lewis Brisbois 43 ($84,000/1950 billables)
Alverson, Taylor 43 ($78,800/1840 billables)*
Thorndal, Armstrong 31 ($68,000/2160 billables)

Other--not enough info for magic number (any tips would be appreciated so we can clear this up)

Boies Schiller ($168,000/???? billables)
Jolley Urga 50 ($92,000/ avg of 1850 billables--no minimum listed)
Gordon & Rees ($????/1850 billables)

Hale Lane Hours Update and Hale Lane Reno office lockstep raise

Good news for the Reno residents who double as Hale Lane attorneys: Hale Lane is bringing Reno starting salaries up to $120k. The increase brings the Reno office in lockstep with the Vegas office's starting salary.

Additionally, we received an update on the Hale Lane billable hours requirement since the merger: the billable requirement is actually 1800, but there is an additional 100 hour civic service/Pro Bono requirement.

I guess it depends on your view of pro bono for whether you count that as 1800 minimum billables or 1900 minimum billables.

If you're counting (and we are), that make Hale Lane's magic numbers:
63 with pro bono hours included in minimum billables requirement
67 with pro bono hours excluded from minimum billables requirement

[hat tip to Anonymous]

Tues Roundup

Citing due process concerns, U.S. District Judge James Mahan issued an order stopping Nevada's new sex offender law from going into effect until constitutional challenges are resolved. Arguments on the law constitutionality are set for Aug. 26. (Review-Journal)

The domestic violence hearing for everyone's favorite steak knife wielding Nevada Assemblywoman was postponed because her husband/[alleged] victim didn't show up to testify. (Review-Journal)

Apparently, the Wynn resort is in a suing mood. Earlier this week, the casino resort filed suit against NBA-star Alonzo Mourning's charity for an unpaid bill (LA Times) and now the Strip resort has sued "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis, saying he owes the company $2 million in unpaid gambling debts. (Review-Journal)