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Dec. 16, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Tort reform group criticizes Clark County court system

Report on judicial hellholes calls judges biased

By DAVID KIHARA
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

An organization that advocates for tort reform has listed Clark County as a "judicial hellhole."

Citing news stories, the American Tort Reform Association stated in its annual Judicial Hellholes report that Clark County's judges are believed to be biased. The report didn't mention names of judges alleged to be biased but said many of the 799 Clark County attorneys surveyed said that certain judges favor one side in a case.

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    • "Defense lawyers continue to feel that the scales of justice are tipped against them in Clark County," said Tiger Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association, in a prepared statement.

    The report, to be released today, also criticized attorneys, citing a June issue of Nevada Lawyer. Sixty percent of attorneys questioned in a different survey said the ethical standards and practices of lawyers were declining.

    The American Tort Reform Association's Judicial Hellholes report didn't include data showing why Clark County should be considered a judicial hellhole. Instead, it used several recent high-profile cases to make its point, including the doctor-lawyer federal case involving attorney Noel Gage.

    Federal prosecutors alleged Gage conspired with doctors to defraud patients out of millions. A jury deadlocked and a senior federal judge later dropped the charges against Gage.

    The American Tort Reform Association is against personal injury lawyers who sue insurance and tobacco companies, among others. Critics have said the American Tort Reform Association is merely a front for corporations that push for tort reform in America.

    The organization also calls the following judicial hellholes: West Virginia, South Florida, Cook County, Ill., Atlantic County, New Jersey, Montgomery and Macon counties, Ala., and Los Angeles County, Calif.

    In 2004, Nevada passed a $350,000 cap on damages for pain and suffering in medical malpractice.

    Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.

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    Mamamia wrote on December 16, 2008 10:59 PM: If only someone with "pull" and "power" could actually do something to reform these disgraceful, incompetent and insane judges in Clark County, that would be a miracle to behold! But alas, 'tis but a dream I fear, not this nor next year will we ever see justice given here! Typical case lately? Judge Mosley's wild kid. Your or my kid would rot in prison for a hell of a lot less! Ta Da!


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    J Williams wrote on December 16, 2008 09:48 PM: Great! Maybe another reason the bad guys should go some place else to lead a life of crime.


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    neuevo americano wrote on December 16, 2008 07:12 PM: I could say somthing to the defense attorneys but they are in California buying doctor's testimony or at a seminar to convince a jury that running a red light was not the cause of the accident. Hey David, tort reforn groups ARE insurance companies and defense attorney. This is not a news story it is paid advertsing for the insurance companies.


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    Get a clue wrote on December 16, 2008 12:37 PM: Nice..."Citing news stories, the American Tort Reform Association stated in its annual Judicial Hellholes report that Clark County's judges are believed to be biased"

    So, a bunch of defense attorneys want to cite news stories as evidence for their woes. What a joke. News stories are often biased and filled with ambiguities that mislead the readers. These are the holy grail of evidence that Judges are biased?

    Notes to the defense attorney community:

    1) Gain some competence and you might fair better and,

    2) Always remember that 99.9% of all charged defendants really are guilty. So don't cry so much about not being able to get them off.

    Keep rolling in your blood money.


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    Good wrote on December 16, 2008 09:47 AM: Report on judicial hellholes calls judges biased? This is an understatement.

    How about some action. The group criticizes but takes no action.

    How about some law suits.
    Something! Anything!

    Its the people that are the victims of these judges and cops. Stop the Domestic Terrorism.


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    See wrote on December 16, 2008 09:44 AM: Is that all, a "judicial hellhole."
    The Nevada legal system is a whole lot worst than just that. We can think of a lot worst names to call Clark County, especially that sewer hole called Henderson.

    The entire system from the cops to the judges are all out of control, abusive terroristic, and corrupt.

    We are glad someone see it for what it really is. Too bad not one is filing the necessary class action law suits to repay the visitors and residents who have suffered under the hands of the lousy cops and abusive judges.

    Only in Nevada do you see so much legal abuse, the state is truely a Terrorism Police State..

    Its their records, their history, their twisted facts on file that are a matter of public record. Proof of abuse and corruption.


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    dosboot wrote on December 16, 2008 08:28 AM: A couple of cases that I'm aware of:
    In one case an attorney represented both the driver and passenger as plaintiffs in a motor vehicle accident case. The attorney filed a second lawsuit arising out of the same accident, representing the passenger only who sued the driver.

    This is a direct conflict of interest.

    It took multiple motions over a series of months in both courts to disqualify the attorney from representing both the driver and passenger.

    Of course, neither of the judges referred this attorney to the Nevada Bar. The attorney, who had a previous suspension for bankruptcy fraud continues to practice law in this state.

    In another case, a plaintiff's attorney sent a letter to the adverse driver threatening her with license and vehicle registration suspension if she did not contact the attorney. (this alone would result in suspension in other jurisdictions)
    The attorney literally fabricated quotes from opinions issued by the Nevada Supreme Court. The attorney also made numerous other misrepresentations to the court such as false certificates of mailing etc. In this case, the judge issued a monetary sanction. The attorney still practices law in this state.