Quantcast
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

sponsored by
News


Deadline nears in judge's yard battle

Halverson gets until Friday for inspection

Clark County would rather have embattled District Judge Elizabeth Halverson clean up her own yard. But if she doesn't show progress by week's end, the county just might do it for her.

County attorneys are giving Halverson until Friday to let code enforcement officers inspect her side- and backyards at 4173 Oxnard Circle and either verify that she has removed junk from the lot, or start a cleanup for which she would be billed.


Most Popular Stories
  • Traffic accident claims life of longtime, successful lawyer
  • TRAFFIC STOP: Shooting accounts conflict
  • One motorcyclist killed, another critically injured in accident
  • THE FACES OF JOBLESSNESS: Family had to get help for first time
  • NORM: Buchanan called 'larger than life'
  • NORM: Marie Osmond, manager battling
  • Nurseries fence out day laborers
  • Second person dies after being restrained by police
  • NORM: Agassi reveals bad vibes with Shields
  • North Las Vegas motorcyclist killed in collision while racing, police say




  • If Halverson ignores the request, which was faxed to her attorney Wednesday, the county plans to seek a court warrant to enter her property. The nuisance abatement case began late last year, when complaints surfaced about the foul condition of her yard.

    "The county's goal is to gain voluntary compliance, which is why this matter has gone on for so long," Steven Sweikart, a deputy district attorney handling the case, said Wednesday. "She's made a lot of progress, but she hasn't completed the abatement."

    Dominic Gentile, an attorney representing Halverson, did not return a call seeking comment.

    The fight is just one spat Halverson is having with authorities. Chief Judge Kathy Hardcastle recently stripped her of many judicial duties because of her "seemingly volatile, angry, paranoid and bizarre behavior toward staff," Hardcastle said in a court filing. Halverson is contesting the action and allegations.

    The alleged behavior included having her bailiff give her foot rubs and back massages and verbally abusing other staff, among other complaints.

    Sweikart said the courthouse fight has nothing to do with the nuisance abatement case. "Not in our minds," he said.

    Originally, he said, "there was a massive amount of trash in the back. There was some in the front, but the back was even worse. There was a shed that was literally falling down.

    "There were overgrown weeds and shrubs. At one point, the pool was black and infested with mosquitoes, but that was voluntarily corrected," he said.

    "Unfortunately, it's our understanding that the pumps to keep the water circulating were not working," and that the pool's condition may have degenerated, Sweikart said.

    Earlier, Halverson, who uses a motorized wheelchair and oxygen tanks, told the Review-Journal that she couldn't move the trash and that her husband refused to help.

    This month, a Review-Journal reporter observed a pair of large white tents in Halverson's driveway, one containing miscellaneous equipment and a broken motorized wheelchair. Empty oxygen tanks lined the front porch.

    If the county cleans up Halverson's property, she would be billed. "It could be in the thousands of dollars," Sweikart said, adding that she also could be fined up to $10,000.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 8 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.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    Report abuse

    Morgan wrote on June 01, 2007 12:09 PM: Pig by de facto!


    Report abuse

    Chris wrote on May 31, 2007 06:35 PM: This woman is a total freak. She needs to be removed from the bench and removed from the community.


    Report abuse

    Ernie Tyler wrote on May 31, 2007 03:57 PM: Miss Piggy, is in lots trouble,she needs to shed some pounds,looks like a heart attack weighting to happen.


    Report abuse

    jack wrote on May 31, 2007 02:21 PM: Nice picture. This chick is hot.


    Report abuse

    Johnson wrote on May 31, 2007 11:04 AM: The woman is drawing an annual salary of $130,000. She lives in a home that the Assessor's Office says only cost her $123,000. Even if she is disabled and her husband is lazy, she can certainly afford to hire someone to clean up her messes. Angela is absolutely right: this is about bizarre and anti-social behavior. Halverson courts drama.


    Report abuse

    Angela wrote on May 31, 2007 09:55 AM: Please, let's not make this about Halverson's weight. Let's make this about her bizarre and anti-social behavior. Apparently she lives for chaos or she would just abide by the laws she was elected to uphold. She needs to go!


    Report abuse

    Morgan wrote on May 31, 2007 09:05 AM: If citizens want to decide for themselves, simply drive to:

    4173 Oxnard Circle
    Las Vegas, Nevada 89121-6130

    Between E. Tropicana and E. Harmon; off Bluecrest Road


    Report abuse

    Bob Rushing wrote on May 31, 2007 06:59 AM: Get this 425 lb pile of trash off the bench, then roll her out of town!