Copy That

  • Law
  • According to managing partner Paul Hejmanoskwi, Lionel Sawyer is in a “state of transition.” [8NewsNow]
  • The Nevada System of Higher Education incorporated portions of an unpublished Brookings report into a competitive grant application and didn’t bother to cite the original report in its first draft.  The final draft had an asterisk at the end mentioning the report, but did not put quotation marks around the parts lifted directly from the report. You can get more details in the article by intrepid reporter Bethany Barnes. One of the money quotes comes from NSHE Chancellor (and active Nevada attorney) who said, “You don’t plagiarize when you identify the author.”  Meanwhile, UNLV political science professor David Damore said that “it is common knowledge that using whole phrases and large chunks of text requires quotation marks.” Lawyers tend to do a lot of copying and pasting, so they should know what plagiarism is, right? So, was this plagiarism?
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 4:38 pm

I'm in my 24th year practicing law in Las Vegas. To see LSC come to such an unceremonious end is sad. The firm was a Nevada institution. If you were ever lucky enough to be in court on a civil motion calendar and watch Sam Lionel argue, you understand what I mean. If you ever met Bob Faiss , you understand what I mean. These guys were a force. With LSC being effectively swallowed, the Nevada legal community is just a little more watered down.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 5:49 pm

The only thing that concerns me at LSC is the support staff losing their jobs, especially at the holidays.
I am so happy for the attorneys being taken care with new jobs, but not the support staff. Speaks volumes.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 6:12 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I know right.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 9:26 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

wait until you hear staff talk once theres no risk of losing unemployment

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 10:04 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Interesting, we all know lawyers are the most pleasant and wonderful people to work for.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 11:17 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Interesting, we all know that legal secretaries and paralegals are bat shit crazy.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 19, 2014 5:03 am
Reply to  Anonymous

awful for staff to lose the jobs before the holidays. not sure FC is getting that many LSC folks

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 24, 2014 3:40 am
Reply to  Anonymous

legal secretaries are bat shit crazy because entitled attorneys drive us their. the only thing that makes us crazy, is allowing it…and feeling a sense of loyalty to you at the same time. eff off and good luck formatting ur own motions or falling on your own sword next time you screw up… or being any bit of self sufficient, lordy, attys can be so full of themselves. a bit disenchanting.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 6:22 pm

What's to feel "sad" about? Sam and Bob and all their partners made more money than you could even count. Plus, that law firm willfully aided mobsters like Rick Rizzolo hide millions offshore so he could avoid paying a federal court ordered judgment to victims. Good riddance to these sacks of shit!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 7:38 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

On a total side note, I received an email for a "Retire the Debt Party" for Richard Scotti. What is a "retire the debt" party? I don't even know what that means. Any input?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 16, 2014 1:46 am
Reply to  Anonymous

The candidate had to "borrow" personal money to pay for campaign expenses. The retire the debt party says give me money so I can pay myself back. Generally such parties are not held by candidates who lost (for obvious reasons).

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 16, 2014 4:32 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Sounds greed as shit. You got elected to a $160,000 a year job, and you want me to pay off your debt. Sorry, but I just lost some respect for Richard.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 7:36 pm

Anybody going to Scotti's retire the debt party?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 7:52 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Yup, I putting presents under the tree, instead of giving Scotti money.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 7:36 pm

So, I have heard rumors both ways. Does anyone KNOW if LSC closed today or are they still in business?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 9:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Dec 31

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 9:53 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I'm getting e-mails from their office today on a case I'm handling against them, so I know they're open today.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 10:07 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

If the majority of them are moving and/or merging firms, I am sure it will be an orderly process and the phones aren't just going to be disconnected all of the sudden.

LS&C takes a lot of criticism here, a great deal of it probably justified, but this is a sad turn of events. I think it was a combination of an inability to compete with multi-state firms, failure to replace the talented people who have left over the last 10-15 years, and the same leadership staying in place for far too long. It is too bad that they undertake a merger several years ago, when they could have negotiated from a position of strength.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 10:08 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

didn't undertake

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 10:14 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

This is the tip of the iceberg…Half-Price Lawyers are hurting, you think these other law firms are not suffering cracks from this economy? Law firms will continue to fold.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 10:14 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

is

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 16, 2014 12:18 am
Reply to  Anonymous

2:14- What's happening with Half-Price Lawyers?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 16, 2014 12:28 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Can we start the rumor that Half-Price Lawyers is getting bought out by Fennemore Craig?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 16, 2014 2:48 am
Reply to  Anonymous

I agree with 2:07. The same guys were running the show seemingly forever. How many years was Hemo the managing partner? It is sad for the local legal community when the biggest firm in the state, essentially the establishment firm, just disappears. The people getting hurt really aren't the ones who did really well by it anyway, such as the support staff and the more junior attorneys who may or may not have jobs at FC and even if they do, who knows how long they'd last. I don't think that many people would accuse the management of that place as having an excess of human decency.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 7:57 pm

A "Retire the Debt" party is to assist candidates in paying themselves back for the amount they put into their campaign. This happens when contributions don't exceed costs (campaign costs that is). Anyone that paid for commercials is probably in the hole.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 8:11 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Hmm. I guess contributing to a debt retirement party is more efficient than contributing to a campaign.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 8:40 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Exactly. Retire the debt parties go better when you win. It's also a way for contributors that picked the wrong pony to correct course.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 8:32 pm

@ 10:22 "sacs of shit!" Are you 12?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 16, 2014 12:29 am
Reply to  Anonymous

I think he said sacks with a "k," but I like it without. Gives it a little je ne sais quoi.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 16, 2014 5:24 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Nope, 12:32, wasn't talking about apricots, chickenskins or ur wrinkly balls. Meant the dictionary definition of sack of shit (noun) as in "a despicable person." But u put a smile on 4:29 so good 4 u

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 15, 2014 10:08 pm

This was out and out plagiarism. If you quote large blocks of language like that, there need to be quotes or some indication that the language is taken from somewhere else (like a specially indented paragraph or something). Another shining example of Nevada higher education at work.