Civil RICO lawsuit filed against Resorts World, Sibella, and Chesnoff. [Nevada Current]
Stepfather and other witnesses testify about road rage shooting that left 11-year-old boy dead. [RJ; KTNV]
Sandoval, Aguero, Vellardita won’t face sanctions for failing to register as lobbyists during November special session. [Nevada Current]
Las Vegas’ Grant Sawyer Building eyed for possible Lennar housing project. [8NewsNow]
New ICE data shows extent of Trump’s immigration crackdown in Nevada region. [TNI]
Metro won’t release public records from fatal 12-car crash. [RJ]
Las Vegas short term rental owners take county to federal court. [8NewsNow]
CCSD sued over dyslexic foster students. [Fox5Vegas]
It’s that time of year again where traditionally everyone from the office gathers for mandatory fun! What is your firm doing for a holiday party this year? Do you skip it and put the money into bonuses? Are you going to a fancy restaurant or are you having a potluck? Are there gifts and/or prizes?
I have never seen a firm miss more status checks and show cause hearings without any repercussions than Williams & Starbuck on these Republic trash lien cases.
I may be naive but isn’t the point of a show cause hearing to impose a meaningful consequence if good cause is not shown? Maybe it’s because they have to solicit campaign donations but state court judges seem way too hesitant to police the bar compared to the Federal bench.
Just a tip: At your fancy Christmas party, don’t do what a firm did a couple years ago: Big party at a hotel. Two senior partners got up and, in front of at least 50 employees, thanked only 3 people They even forgot to acknowledge their third partner. By April half the firm had bid them good bye. “Gratitude is a fruit of great cultivate. You don’t find it among gross people.” Samuel Johnson.
I will take the other side. The two partners’ strategy was perfectly executed saving the firm millions in severance payments and getting rid of all the dead wood.
Against my objection, my partners opted for a catered event to take place in our new office. The food will be good and the place will be nicely decorated; but I voted for an outside restaurant or event space. It just seems weird to me to eat a fancy dinner in the place that I work.
That idea about skipping the Christmas party and tacking the money on to bonuses has some appeal for me. It isn’t that I don’t like my co-workers; but I do find it awkward to try and maintain social conversations with them about non-work topics. I know it’s awkward for them to try and socialize with me. And I know that it’s even worse for my spouse and their spouses. Plus, I worry about what could happen after they load up on our premium liquor.
Doesn’t one need to practice 10 years to become a judge? Is that as of filing or when taking office? AB hasn’t practiced 10 years as of today, but would be over that mark when taking office.
1. A person may not be a candidate for and is not eligible to the office of district judge unless the person:
(a) Has attained the age of 25 years.
(b) Is an attorney licensed and admitted to practice law in the courts of this State at the time of the election or appointment.
(c) Has been an attorney licensed and admitted to practice law in the courts of this State, another state or the District of Columbia for a total of not less than 10 years at any time preceding the election or appointment, at least 2 years of which have been in this State.
(d) Is a qualified elector and has been a bona fide resident of this State for 2 years next preceding the election or appointment.
(e) Has not ever been removed from any judicial office by the Legislature or removed or retired from any judicial office by the Commission on Judicial Discipline.
2. For the purposes of this section, a person is eligible to be a candidate for the office of district judge if a decision to remove or retire the person from a judicial office is pending appeal before the Supreme Court or has been overturned by the Supreme Court.
[Part 2:108:1866; A 1953, 711; 1955, 459] + [Part 1:217:1909; A 1931, 9; 1931 NCL § 618]—(NRS A 1977, 762; 1999, 94; 2005, 1211)
“Today’s episode of The Middle Ground with Tom Letizia delivers [two people who are paying Tom to say nice things about them] and a deep commitment to [getting Tom to help them get elected].”
She can be annoying and long-winded at times, but her decisions have been pretty good, at least in my own experience. As a civil practitioner, I would much prefer her over some young DA who doesn’t know about anything other than being a DA.
How does that make him familiar with civil practice? He’s only ever practiced with the DA. Why do we keep getting DA’s running civil dockets? Is this a pay issue?
Peterson’s court isn’t a civil docket, it’s mostly criminal and a little civil. She was moved from a full civil calendar after numerous complaints from civil attorneys. Now she’s overseeing a docket of mostly criminal cases and is in way over her head.
Most AUSAs prosecute white collar crimes and fraud cases and have no fitness for the bench. Austin has not even been practicing 10 years and has really not distinguished himself as a wunderkind. And after the addition of Mendoza, I am done with DAs who are young and feckless.
We let the staff pick their option. We tell them the budget for the party and let them choose from (1) fancy activity with a +1 that will eat up the budget; (2) firm lunch/activity that will eat up about half the budget with the balance added to bonuses or (3) put the entire budget into pro rata division added to bonuses.
And for the seventh year in a row, their choice was the same. Firm lunch for firm members/staff only during a work day with a voluntary white elephant/Secret Santa activity. You are free to take the rest of the day off from the moment of the party so if you don’t want to come to the Party, your choice. Enjoy the afternoon off. If you want to eat and run, great. Enjoy the rest of the day.
It seems that people want to do something for the holiday but dont want it all blown on ballrooms and bubbly.
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2025 3:47 pm
Government – I always get gift cards for staff as well as any adjacent folks (security guards, cleaners, etc). I wish I could do more. I asked staff if they wanted to do anything festive and they said they wanted festive things spread out, like bringing in cookies or having breakfast goodies in the kitchen. Nothing where they have to spend money or give up time.
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2025 4:12 pm
Michael Kagan is basically the immigration-law version of Farhan Naqvi -kind of a shameless but effective self-promoter for himself and the UNLV clinic. He stands out as one of the few white guys in a field mostly led by women and people of color, and it feels like the really good work is mostly being done by the talented folks on his team.
I call bullshit on your post, 4:12 p.m. What is the basis for what “it feels like” to you, keyboard warrior? Are you one of his competitors in the field, and you resent that a white man is more highly recognized for his scholarship in this area than you are? Are you butt-hurt because you “feel like” he did not give you enough credit for your research contribution? What is the “really good work” to which you refer? Do you “feel like” “his team” is doing “really great work” despite him rather than because of him? Most, if not all, “teams” who do really good work do so because they have a really good leader of that team. Was his book ghost-written by someone else? GTFOH with your anonymous, non-specific pot-shots.
We have a client whose transactional work with us as declined as it insists now on having its contracts drafted by GROK. Lets just say we are confident that the company’s litigation expenditures will increase more than its transactional expenditures will decline.
I have never seen a firm miss more status checks and show cause hearings without any repercussions than Williams & Starbuck on these Republic trash lien cases.
I may be naive but isn’t the point of a show cause hearing to impose a meaningful consequence if good cause is not shown? Maybe it’s because they have to solicit campaign donations but state court judges seem way too hesitant to police the bar compared to the Federal bench.
“Maybe”? Ya think?
Just a tip: At your fancy Christmas party, don’t do what a firm did a couple years ago: Big party at a hotel. Two senior partners got up and, in front of at least 50 employees, thanked only 3 people They even forgot to acknowledge their third partner. By April half the firm had bid them good bye. “Gratitude is a fruit of great cultivate. You don’t find it among gross people.” Samuel Johnson.
I will take the other side. The two partners’ strategy was perfectly executed saving the firm millions in severance payments and getting rid of all the dead wood.
and a gutted firm absent of talent.
Against my objection, my partners opted for a catered event to take place in our new office. The food will be good and the place will be nicely decorated; but I voted for an outside restaurant or event space. It just seems weird to me to eat a fancy dinner in the place that I work.
That idea about skipping the Christmas party and tacking the money on to bonuses has some appeal for me. It isn’t that I don’t like my co-workers; but I do find it awkward to try and maintain social conversations with them about non-work topics. I know it’s awkward for them to try and socialize with me. And I know that it’s even worse for my spouse and their spouses. Plus, I worry about what could happen after they load up on our premium liquor.
No one wants a Christmas party in the office.
Jesica Peterson has an opponent. DA Austin Beaumont.
Doesn’t one need to practice 10 years to become a judge? Is that as of filing or when taking office? AB hasn’t practiced 10 years as of today, but would be over that mark when taking office.
NRS 3.060 Qualifications.
1. A person may not be a candidate for and is not eligible to the office of district judge unless the person:
(a) Has attained the age of 25 years.
(b) Is an attorney licensed and admitted to practice law in the courts of this State at the time of the election or appointment.
(c) Has been an attorney licensed and admitted to practice law in the courts of this State, another state or the District of Columbia for a total of not less than 10 years at any time preceding the election or appointment, at least 2 years of which have been in this State.
(d) Is a qualified elector and has been a bona fide resident of this State for 2 years next preceding the election or appointment.
(e) Has not ever been removed from any judicial office by the Legislature or removed or retired from any judicial office by the Commission on Judicial Discipline.
2. For the purposes of this section, a person is eligible to be a candidate for the office of district judge if a decision to remove or retire the person from a judicial office is pending appeal before the Supreme Court or has been overturned by the Supreme Court.
[Part 2:108:1866; A 1953, 711; 1955, 459] + [Part 1:217:1909; A 1931, 9; 1931 NCL § 618]—(NRS A 1977, 762; 1999, 94; 2005, 1211)
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2429851/episodes/18293971-inside-the-courts-judge-shell-mercer-austin-beaumont-join-the-middle-ground
“Today’s episode of The Middle Ground with Tom Letizia delivers [two people who are paying Tom to say nice things about them] and a deep commitment to [getting Tom to help them get elected].”
She needs one.
She always seems finds a way to come to a decision that neither party wants and the law doesn’t support. Truly a generational talent.
“Your honor, we just need you to choose red or blue.”
“I choose salad.”
I’ll take the incumbent.
She can be annoying and long-winded at times, but her decisions have been pretty good, at least in my own experience. As a civil practitioner, I would much prefer her over some young DA who doesn’t know about anything other than being a DA.
Normally I’d agree, but this DA prosecutes white collar crimes and fraud cases. That’s a big departure from the standard prosecutor fare.
I would take almost any DA over him.
How does that make him familiar with civil practice? He’s only ever practiced with the DA. Why do we keep getting DA’s running civil dockets? Is this a pay issue?
Peterson’s court isn’t a civil docket, it’s mostly criminal and a little civil. She was moved from a full civil calendar after numerous complaints from civil attorneys. Now she’s overseeing a docket of mostly criminal cases and is in way over her head.
yes, it is.
Most AUSAs prosecute white collar crimes and fraud cases and have no fitness for the bench. Austin has not even been practicing 10 years and has really not distinguished himself as a wunderkind. And after the addition of Mendoza, I am done with DAs who are young and feckless.
I want Peterson to draw an opponent. I just don’t want it to be this guy.
Is there a link to where we can see who has filed so far?
Filing won’t start until January
We let the staff pick their option. We tell them the budget for the party and let them choose from (1) fancy activity with a +1 that will eat up the budget; (2) firm lunch/activity that will eat up about half the budget with the balance added to bonuses or (3) put the entire budget into pro rata division added to bonuses.
And for the seventh year in a row, their choice was the same. Firm lunch for firm members/staff only during a work day with a voluntary white elephant/Secret Santa activity. You are free to take the rest of the day off from the moment of the party so if you don’t want to come to the Party, your choice. Enjoy the afternoon off. If you want to eat and run, great. Enjoy the rest of the day.
It seems that people want to do something for the holiday but dont want it all blown on ballrooms and bubbly.
Government – I always get gift cards for staff as well as any adjacent folks (security guards, cleaners, etc). I wish I could do more. I asked staff if they wanted to do anything festive and they said they wanted festive things spread out, like bringing in cookies or having breakfast goodies in the kitchen. Nothing where they have to spend money or give up time.
Michael Kagan is basically the immigration-law version of Farhan Naqvi -kind of a shameless but effective self-promoter for himself and the UNLV clinic. He stands out as one of the few white guys in a field mostly led by women and people of color, and it feels like the really good work is mostly being done by the talented folks on his team.
I call bullshit on your post, 4:12 p.m. What is the basis for what “it feels like” to you, keyboard warrior? Are you one of his competitors in the field, and you resent that a white man is more highly recognized for his scholarship in this area than you are? Are you butt-hurt because you “feel like” he did not give you enough credit for your research contribution? What is the “really good work” to which you refer? Do you “feel like” “his team” is doing “really great work” despite him rather than because of him? Most, if not all, “teams” who do really good work do so because they have a really good leader of that team. Was his book ghost-written by someone else? GTFOH with your anonymous, non-specific pot-shots.
4:12 here. Hunh?
Sounds like MK reads the blog and responded to you.
MK is tilting at windmills
“sounds like” – just as incorrect as “feels like”
“Whoever” “you””are,” “you’ve” “been” “told” “a” “funny” “story.”
Comic gold.
We have a client whose transactional work with us as declined as it insists now on having its contracts drafted by GROK. Lets just say we are confident that the company’s litigation expenditures will increase more than its transactional expenditures will decline.
@grok what is the fool above trying to say. Please re-write so there is clarity
It’s like Legalzoom. Its use actually increased the need for lawyers to clean up the messes it created.
T&E litigator here. Can confirm.
I’ve read the RJ judicial reviews. It’s time. Alan Lefebvre for district court 2026!!
The quotes on Kishner were *chefs kiss* She played the Ron Israel “they hate me because I hold them accountable” card. HAHAHAHA.
No.