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Man says Rizzolo is hedging on injury deal

Attorneys representing a tourist left paralyzed after he was beaten at the Crazy Horse Too claim strip club owner Rick Rizzolo hid his assets to avoid honoring an agreement to pay the man $10 million.

A federal court judge granted Kirk Henry's request to force Rizzolo to produce financial documents, including checks, billing invoices, payment records, engagement letters and transmittal sheets, according to court records.


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  • U.S. District Judge George Foley gave Rizzolo until Jan. 8 to submit the paperwork to the court.

    Henry claims Rizzolo divorced his wife, Lisa, in 2005 and transferred all of his assets to her in order to dodge paying Henry.

    "(Rizzolo) conspired to defraud plaintiffs from collecting on their claim by concealing and alienating the ownership of their assets, in part, through a collusive June 2005 divorce decree," according to a motion filed by Henry's attorneys.

    Henry was left a quadriplegic after an argument over an $80 bar tab at the Crazy Horse. Associates of Rizzolo allegedly followed him out of the club and beat him, breaking Henry's neck. Henry and his wife, Amy, filed a lawsuit in 2001.

    In 2006, Rizzolo pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.

    That same year, the two sides struck a deal that directed Rizzolo to immediately pay Henry $1 million and the balance when his club sold. But the club failed to sell and its value plummeted after the Las Vegas City Council stripped it of its liquor license.

    Henry's attorneys claim Rizzolo handed over everything but the club to his wife. They said Rizzolo held onto Crazy Horse because he knew the government would ultimately seize it. Still, Henry's lawyers said Rizzolo is obligated to pay the $9 million, even if it doesn't come from the sale of the club.

    Henry's motion filed earlier this month states that in arguing to withhold the relevant documents, Rizzolo's attorneys never asserted the attorney-client privilege, which could have protected Rizzolo from having to turn over the documents, according to court records.

    Foley agreed, saying the former strip club owner's lawyers "waived its and its clients' privilege objections to the subpoena by failing to assert objections in a timely manner and by failing to support its belated objections by appropriate privilege logs or other affidavits."

    Henry's attorneys claim the records will show that Rizzolo conspired to defraud the Henrys by filing for divorce and shuffling his assets around.

    Rizzolo, who is represented by Patti, Sgro & Lewis, contends that he and his wife filed for a legitimate divorce and because they were married shortly after graduating from high school, they split everything 50-50. The attorneys also scoffed at the notion the couple conspired against the Henrys, saying the divorce was finalized a year before Rizzolo and Henry entered into the agreement.

    In a court filing, Rizzolo's attorneys said Rizzolo has turned over all of his tax returns and other financial documents in his possession.

    "Objections to the discovery were not waived and responses were timely served," Rizzolo's attorneys claimed in court filings.

    "Plaintiffs' interrogatories and their request for documents were served by e-mail and regular U.S. mail."

    They also argued that the deal was that he would pay the Henrys from the sale of the club.

    "They entered into a settlement agreement to be paid from the sale of a lucrative business and their entitlement to money has been thwarted by their friends in the government; not by the Defendants herein," the filing states.

    Rizzolo has claimed the government failed to sell the club when it was worth between $29 million and $36 million. During the delay to sell the club, the city stripped it of the license that made it valuable.

    "Plaintiffs, without a civil judgment for money, are on an expedition to find money that was long ago spent," Rizzolo's attorneys argued.

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

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    annebabe wrote on June 26, 2009 03:27 PM: GRANDPARENTS BEWARE Judge Steve E JONES (who performed the 'quickie' Rizzolo divorce) denied me evidentiary hearing and discontinued my gp visitation under NRS125C.050 (2) & (3) --- Reason? "didn't meet the "requisite legal standard" (RSL)--- only place to meet RSL? evidentiary hearing. [Ok, I'm old & female - and probably had wrong attorney] Appeal? Not if Jones is an "untouchable"


    Hey Joe wrote on January 04, 2009 11:17 AM: I'm surprised that your Mommy lets you near her computer. Get back in the basement. Here she comes.


    Joe wrote on January 04, 2009 10:32 AM: I am suprised that Reid didn't suggest that Blagojovich appoint Rizzolo or Nancy Saitta to the Illinois senate seat.


    Truth wrote on January 03, 2009 11:30 PM: Rizzolo deserves to go to prision, in fact he deserves to go back for life. He has hurt/damaged too many people at his ex-gentlemen's club, the Crazy Horse Too.

    Kirk Henry deserves the money from Rick Rizzolo. In fact, he deserves much more than money itself. You can never take back a person who has been hurt & damaged for life. At least before he passes on he should get to have money to vacation in places he always wanted to go and see things he had wanted to see. Maybe even to make some of his dreams come true.

    As for Buffalo Jim Barrier, I hope for the best in his investigation and best wishes to the family. Buffalo Jim Barrier didn't have his neck snapped, but he was drugged and they took an innocent life away that will never be brought back. The water is becoming clearer as Jennifer pushes on to find the truth.


    MTG wrote on January 03, 2009 09:35 PM: For Jenn,
    Mr. Rizzo will not ever be allowed the Peace He Desires,,, Big Jim Barrier watches Heaven's "GATES" from above and has been asked to be present at the Long Crawl to ""HELL"" when Mr. Rizzo Arrives. MTG


    Imagine wrote on January 03, 2009 09:05 PM: Maybe someday when they find a single dollar bill stuffed into U.S. District Judge George Foley's wallet, the F.B.I. will investigate the Metropolitan Police Department for their refusal to investigate Rizzolo over the years.

    Maybe someday when they find a single dollar bill stuffed into Disrict Attorney David Roger's wallet, the Department of Justice will investigate the D.A.'s Office for not prosecuting Rizzolo over the years.

    Maybe someday when they find a single dollar bill stuffed into ALL of the wallets of ALL the Politicians that Rizzolo has bought off over the years, This Town will become a better place.

    I hope that Jennifer keeps looking. Find Lisa. There's your murder weapon.

    Hopefully Rizzolo doesn't pay her that dollar that he owes her before Jennifer finds her.
    Investigate Metro and the Coroners Office. Murphy probably has a dollar coming his way too.

    There are alot of loose ends out there. Constant Pressure will cause them to unravel. Keep going Jennifer.


    Fair and Balanced Fred wrote on January 03, 2009 08:26 PM: "On the weekend of April 28 and 29, [2007] Rizzolo flew into [Orange County’s] John Wayne Airport and mocked his upcoming 366-day stint in a federal penitentiary [and] . . . threw himself a "Rick's Farewell Party" at the Ritz . . . in Newport Beach. Restaurant employees donned police uniforms or inmate jumpsuits, held toy machine guns and handed out handcuffs, according to sources. Rizzolo even constructed a mock jail cell to provide a comedic photographic backdrop for the estimated 200 partygoers. ‘If you think THIS is a party, just wait until I get out!" was written on the special barbecue menu . . . .

    "The affair may have also amused [Orange County] Sheriff Mike Carona . . . [who] accepted a re-election contribution from Rizzolo in the 2006 campaign. The two men have previously partied together inside the Ritz.

    "Indeed, Carona—a politician who likes to appear on televangelist broadcasts professing his Christian faith—first denied knowing Rizzolo. But the man who has an organized-crime bureau in his $660 million-per-year department changed his story after the Weekly published a photo of Rizzolo embracing the smiling sheriff. Reports about the Vegas businessman's underworld connections—documented in both FBI reports and media accounts for years—were unfounded rumors, Carona claimed.

    "The swank Ritz is owned by Vegas' Freddie Glusman, a Rizzolo pal who brags about his Mafia connections and was appointed a reserve Orange County sheriff's deputy by Carona. Glusman is also one of the sheriff's campaign contributors. Two years ago, Glusman resigned from the department after he was caught trying to use his official badge to illegally park before a dinner date."

    http://www.ocweekly.com/2007-05-24/news/kissing-the-pinky-ring/http://www.ocweekly.com/2007-05-24/news/kissing-the-pinky-ring/


    Dave wrote on January 03, 2009 07:29 PM: Rick deserves no respect. For all the bad he has done, he deserves what is coming back on him (karma).

    As for the $1 bill, how does the law enforcement not tap into that clue?

    This is getting deep.

    Dave B


    vegas needs a wake up call. wrote on January 03, 2009 05:57 PM: I've over heard that Rizzolo has over 15 million in hidden assests. Kirk Henry deserves it all. Period.

    Rick Rizzolo is nothing in this town anymore. Thanks to Buffalo Jim for standing up for justice. We miss him dearly.

    Rick, go back to prison where you belong.


    Goodman is Goodfella's wrote on January 03, 2009 02:19 PM: With Rizzolo and his Gang.

    Rizzolo has greased so many Politicians Palms in this Town, I'm surprised that the Henry's haven't recieved a citation from the Clark County District Attorney's Office for loitering outside of The Crazy Horse that night. First they snap his neck and then tell him to get off the Property. Italian Hospitality.

    Google Rick Rizzolo. Connections to Mayor Goodman. Connections to D.A. David Rogers. Connections to Sen. Harry Reid. Connections to Judges. Connections to Lawyers. Connections to Metropolitan Police Department.

    Did you know... After Mr.Henry's neck was snapped and he was thrown off the Property, when the authorities checked his wallet, they found a single dollar bill stuffed into it. That was it. A single dollar bill. Amessage from the mob.

    Did you know... After Buffalo Jim Barrier's body was found in the Motel,(the day after Rizzolo completed his year and a day in Federal Prison) when the authorities checked his wallet, they found a single dollar bill stuffed into it. That was it. A single dollar bill. A message from the mob.

    I think it would be idea for U.S. District Judge George Foley to give Rizzolo until Jan. 8 to jam 10 MILLION MORE in Mr. Henry's wallet.

    A message from the U.S. District Judge.

    Then Rizzolo better start saving up for Buffalo Jim's Kids Future. Apparently some of that "grease" has been wiped away.


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