Casino mogul's lawsuit against columnist dismissed - News

PRINT THIS Popular

Nov. 07, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Casino mogul's lawsuit against columnist dismissed

Adelson agrees to end three-year battle with Smith

By ADRIENNE PACKER
REVIEW-JOURNAL

John L. Smith

Sheldon Adelson

A federal libel lawsuit between Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith and Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson formally ended Thursday when the casino mogul agreed to a dismissal of the case with prejudice and to pay for Smith's costs associated with the three-year battle.

"They will walk away," said attorney Donald Campbell, who represented Smith.

Most Popular Stories

NORM: Details emerge in Jackson probe

VICE ENFORCEMENT'S TOP OFFENDERS: Police are taking unprecedented steps to keep prostitution offenders off the Strip

NORM: Jackson changes Las Vegas address

NORM: When live news shots turn bad

NORM: Lance Burton renews contract

Michael Jackson's doctor has history of legal, financial woes

NORM: Donny Osmond recalls old friend

Motorcyclist killed in collision with CAT bus

Motorcyclist killed in crash on Blue Diamond

Clark County man dies of H1N1 virus

Adelson requested the dismissal, but his attorneys appeared disappointed Monday when U.S. District Judge Bruce Markell placed conditions on his ruling. Markell said the case would be dismissed with prejudice, which prevents the plaintiff from bringing the same lawsuit against the same plaintiff in the future. The judge also deemed Smith the prevailing party and ordered Adelson to pick up the costs and expenses.

Campbell said Thursday that while the case is over, the bickering is not.

Campbell estimated that he spent more than $12,000 defending Smith. Campbell represented Smith pro bono, but racked up bills traveling, taking depositions and conducting research. Adelson is contesting those expenses, Campbell said.

"As we speak, Mr. (Ryan) Loosvelt, one of his eight attorneys on this matter, has sent an e-mail quibbling with the costs we submitted as directed by the court," Campbell said. Campbell declined further comment on the case.

Adelson filed the libel lawsuit against Smith in 2005 in Los Angeles after Smith published his book "Sharks in the Desert." Adelson took issue with a couple of paragraphs in the book, which was published by Barricade Books Inc. Smith moved the case to Nevada in 2007, when he filed for bankruptcy protection. The California case has been stayed since the bankruptcy filing.

"In light of Plaintiff's voluntary dismissal with prejudice, Defendant is deemed the prevailing party in both cases," Markell wrote in his Thursday order.

Campbell suggested that Adelson was eager to get the case dismissed to prevent confidential gaming records from becoming public during trial.

Adelson reached a settlement with Barricade Books, which also was sued for libel. A New York judge is expected to rule on the settlement agreement Nov. 20. Barricade Books agreed to a judgment of $250,000, but it is unlikely the publishing company has the ability to pay Adelson.

Campbell told Markell that Barricade doesn't have $250,000 and owes more than $1 million to creditors, who must be paid first.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.

Share & Save

Leave Your Comment	16 Reader Comments
Terms & Conditions The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor. Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Fair and Balanced Fred wrote on November 07, 2008 10:11 PM: Regardless of the merits, or lack thereof, of this case, the fact remains that Sheldon is on mega drugs. Mega narcotics. That was one of his defenses in court not long ago as to why his memory is so foggy. His wife is a narcotics specialist physician. I'll be darned!!!!!!!!! Sheldon's main agenda is more and more, and endless welfare for Israel! It's actually true. You decide if you agree with endless welfare for Israel. honesty wrote on November 07, 2008 03:43 PM: dont worry folks ... smith will find someone else to tell the truth about and adelson will find someone else to sue ... but wouldnt it be fun if adelson wound up in that bankruptcy court? Dave wrote on November 07, 2008 03:06 PM: That's ok folks, Adelson won't be around to spread his misery much longer. He looks like the ghost of Las Vegas past. howard wrote on November 07, 2008 12:26 PM: If you are a loser columnist you can slander anyone you want and get away with it. Who's next John? Friend wrote on November 07, 2008 09:29 AM: Congratulations John! Adelson's a bully and it's fantastic that you stood up to him. His filing of a lawsuit against you was complete b.s. and the timing of the lawsuit, which was within days of you bringing your daughter home from the hospital, was especially cruel. You are loved by many while Adelson is an empty, mean, miserable sad little man. Well deserved wrote on November 07, 2008 08:47 AM: Shelly's wallet just keeps getting thinner and thinner. He may have possessed a lot of money . . . but he's lived a worthless life. Michael Green wrote on November 07, 2008 08:25 AM: Here's to John L. Smith! Danny wrote on November 07, 2008 08:23 AM: I love it. Adelson and all his money couldn't muscle out a little old newspaper man? Fred Frazzetta wrote on November 07, 2008 08:02 AM: Congratulations John...and I thank you for standing up as you have against the likes of Steve Wynn & Sheldon Adelson! We need for you to continue writing the stories that most reporters in this town are afraid of writing. Too many stories in this town are still being swept under the carpet because Las Vegas & our state of Nevada are drowning in a sea of corruption. The Casinos seem to be right in the center of the corruption...and I realize now that justice is not the same for ALL - especially here. The corruption is aided by the fact that most of the city, county, state & federal agencies in place to protect us are totally inept and not held accountable for either their actions or lack of actions - depending on the case. One would be hard pressed to find an agency responsibly doing their job. Here's a short list of agencies & individuals that should be investigated: "Clean Face", Governor Dumbo Jimbo, AG's office, DA David Roger, Michael MacDonald, State OSHA, Gaming Commission, Medical Board, State Contractor's Board, Clark County Building Department - Ron Lynn, CC Fire Department - Chief Smith & Deputy Fire Chief Girard Page, CCPro, Real Estate Commission, Ombudsman Office, our Judicial System, EPA, Clark County Commissioners, City Councilman, LV Police Department, local FBI Office...by no means a complete list. A perfect example is Harrah's and their numerous illegal remodel projects, which left every room that they touched unsafe for the public to stay in. Here it is over a year later and Harrah's is still repairing what they willfully did - all for the sake of their precious bottom line. I thought that Harrah's had a legal responsibility to provide safe rooms for the public to stay in...guess I was wrong - my bad... Dr J wrote on November 07, 2008 07:59 AM: Better get your judgement money before Adelson goes bankrupt. Read All Comments