Game Theory

  • Law

  • Attorney General Adam Laxalt announced he retained former U.S. Solicitor General Paul D. Clement and the firm of Bancroft PLLC to defend against the ACLU’s challenge to education savings accounts. Good luck finding their Nevada office. [RJ; Fox5Vegas]
  • Is there, or should there be, a legal difference between daily fantasy sports and betting? [RJ]
  • The Gaming Commission approved regulations on skill-based slot machines. [Vegas Inc.]
  • Chief Judge David Barker denied a request from Robert Cottle’s client to disqualify Judge Joe Hardy from a medical malpractice case against Summerlin Hospital. [RJ]
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
September 18, 2015 4:03 pm

What kind of budget does the Attorney General have to pay for outside legal costs? I can't imagine that firm is going to come cheap.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
September 18, 2015 4:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Clement is an ideologue, apparently has several other cases like this one, and has been known to lower his rates substantially to get work that fits his ideology. So maybe it won't be as expensive as you're thinking. That said, you're probably right. And, while Clement is probably a better pure appellate lawyer than anyone in Nevada, it's not like Nevada state judges are going to bow down and lick his boots. It's more likely that bringing an outsider in will put a chip on the judge's shoulder. Unless his role is solely to offer high-level advice to Nevada lawyers that will be arguing it, I think bringing this guy in a mistake.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
September 18, 2015 5:25 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

The RJ article said the initial cost wouldn't exceed 10K, which tells me that Clement was brought on to spot big picture arguments/appellate considerations, and the actual drafting will be by the AG's office. I think it's a smart move to use someone as bright as Clement as a sounding board. It happens all the time in big cases around town – national firms vet arguments (based on experience from other cases) and the local team runs with those arguments.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
September 18, 2015 8:35 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

AG, the State has no money. Don't blame me; I didn't vote for Lewis and Roca alum, Laxalt. The guy is an imbecile.

Lawyer Bird
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Lawyer Bird
September 18, 2015 9:16 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Initial cost is 10k because that's the amount they can squeeze the state for without much scrutiny. In aa few months they'll be back asking for the other 70k with a sob story about how is gotten out of hand.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
September 18, 2015 10:07 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

State money to take on Planned Parenthood, too. Laxalt is a joke!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
September 18, 2015 7:58 pm

Interesting to have the Lt. Gov. enter the cases as a lawyer for a proposed intervenor, defending the constitutionality of the legislation:

http://www.rgj.com/story/news/education/2015/09/17/national-law-firm-defend-nv-private-school-payments/32572629/

Anonymous
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Anonymous
September 18, 2015 8:17 pm

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/florida_supreme_court_adopts_no_frills_judicial_robe_policy/?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email Title says it all. I love the expression on the faces of Wall Street lawyers when i walk them into a department where a dressed up, but colorful clown appears on the bench. There is one in every new batches of judges. If the judge is already a dork, it is hysterical. I must admit the pictures of the dogs on the walls, are better than the dog-dolls that once adorned an actual bench.

Angel B
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Angel B
October 13, 2015 11:54 am

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