Post-Patriot Bowl 2017

  • Law

  • Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson faces a disciplinary hearing this week. [RJ]
  • In the wake of Robert Graham, did you know that the Client Security Fund pays out a maximum of $50,000, provided there are sufficient resources. [RJ]
  • The Nevada Legislature kicks off today! [RJ]
  • A look at the legislature and transparency. [TNI]
  • The first of three Bunkerville standoff cases goes to trial today. [RJ]
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 4:27 pm

There is a probate-guardianship bench bar today at noon. Much to discuss including recent reassignments, BDR's & Graham.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 4:33 pm

$50,000 per claimant or $50,000 per attorney.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 5:25 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

From the article: "By rule, the maximum amount any individual victim can recover from the fund is $50,000, provided there are sufficient resources."

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 4:34 pm

Filing deadline for the 3 open Muni Court seats was Friday. Looks like it's mostly incumbents and perennial candidates, nothing too exciting.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 5:12 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Link?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 5:37 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Won't link up to the specific page for some reason. Here's the list:

ALPHABETICAL LISTING BY OFFICE

CITY COUNCILMAN WARD 2 – 4 YEAR TERM
*Bob Beers
Laura Feher
Christina Roush
Steve Seroka

CITY COUNCILMAN WARD 4 – 4 YEAR TERM
*Stavros S. Anthony
Jon Edge
Deborah Harris
Sean Lyttle

CITY COUNCILMAN WARD 6 – 4 YEAR TERM
Ryan M. Alarid
Adam K. Christian
Matthew G. Consoli
Michele Fiore
Christine “Chris” Garvey
Joel Jarvis
Allen Jordan
Reid Rasner
Kelli Ross
Thaddeus A. Ynigues

MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE, DEPT. 2 – 6 YEAR TERM
*Susan Roger

MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE, DEPT. 3 – 6 YEAR TERM
*Heidi Almase
Cara Campbell
Robert Kurth

MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE, DEPT. 5 – 6 YEAR TERM
Crystal Eller
Bruce L. Gale
*Cedric Kerns

*Denotes Incumbent

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 4:45 pm

It's hard for me to believe that justice court judges make $167k. Fucking ridiculous

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 4:46 pm

Re: Andress-Tobiasson. It took THREE YEARS to get a disciplinary hearing on this?!?
Shameful.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 5:41 pm

No good deed goes unpunished. Helping out a dying friend who mislead her.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 7:25 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Mislead her into thinking she was a Family Court Judge and not a Justice Court Judge? Come on.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 9:26 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Really? Is that how it went down? how would you know outsider? it was a big mistake but intentions were pure so screw you whoever you are.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 10:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Her "big mistake" shows she doesn't belong on the bench.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 10:39 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

1125 here. I am an outsider, but it is pretty basic. Family Court Judges handle divorces. Since you are so much in the know, please provide some details so everyone can fully understand why a Justice Court Judge should handle divorce matters ex-parte. Alternatively, you can just call be names and spew alternate facts.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 11:00 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I suspect that the ex parte nature of things has a lot to do with the discipline

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 12:25 am
Reply to  Anonymous

11:25. It wasn't "pretty basic" in 2014, when Family Court didn't handle same-sex divorces because same-sex marriage wasn't recognized. Here's Judge Gordon's Order finding in favor of Judge Andress-Tobiasson: https://casetext.com/case/wright-bolton-v-andress-tobiasson

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 1:55 am
Reply to  Anonymous

1125 again. I agree with Judge Gordon's order, but I am still confused as to why a Justice Court judge could issue an ex-parte order, but a Family Court Judge could not issue an order. I think it is hard to claim Judge Andress did nothing wrong.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 4:21 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Isn't using one's judicial position to help a friend pretty much the basic definition of improper behavior by a judge? That she had "good intentions" matters zero – any judge has "good intentions" towards the friend he or she is trying to help. That's precisely the point. Those who are friends with a judge are not supposed to get better access/treatment by the courts than those who aren't friends with a judge.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 4:44 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Of course Vivian fraudulently ran off to Canada and tried to have a Canadian court tie up the case until Jennifer dies and Vivian could get the death benefits. Sorry equity demands equity. Tobiasson should have known her jurisdiction but admittedly was not an expert on Canadian divorce jurisdiction and had proceedings placed in front of her which appeared to show obstructionist behavior. Rare is the Judge who believes that they do not have the power to do something that they are being told that they have the power to do.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 2:11 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Judges see awful behavior in numerous cases ina daily basis, but that does not mean they should violate their oath. We as lawyers see shitty behavior. Should a criminal defense lawyer not fully def no his client because he is a piece of shit woman abuser and murderer? We have obligations, whether you are a judge or a lawyer. If the Judge was unfamiliar with the law that was the first clue she should have done nothing.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 3:52 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

or she could at least have done some research. Or had the staff attorney do some research. We all have perfect vision in hindsight but it was a rough situation all the way around. And somebody is still grinding an axe.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 5:10 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

And that somebody is a bitch who tried to capitalize on her dying wife all the way to her grave.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 6:06 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

8:44. So if her spouse filed for divorce in Canada, any reason why Jennifer could not have hired counsel up there to challenge the venue? It seems she was trying to shortcut the process. And what death benefits are we talking about? Life insurance (which can easily be changed or canceled)?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 8:32 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Seems that the comments so far are missing the elephant in the middle of the room on this issue…

Justice Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, not general jurisdiction. Judge Andress-Tobiasson knew, or should have known, that domestic law issues are not within the jurisdiction of the Justice Court but rather in the District Court (whether it was at that time in the Family Division or the Civil Division is a different discussion). She had no business entering any orders related to an issue for which she had no jurisdiction under NRS Chapter 4.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 5:46 pm

Like when Cal Potter tried to sue his former best friend Pitaro for a highly suspect claim (preexisting condition)by Pitaro's now deceased brother. Nice priorities putting phony $$$$ over friendship.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 5:47 pm

I only sue Pitaro for his lousy selections of lunch places. legit claim

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 6:33 pm

The vast majority of clients who come to my office because they've been treated poorly by their current attorney are represented by Cal Potter. I can't even think of another attorney who comes second. Bad guy or terrible guy?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 6:35 pm

I like Cal Potter.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 10:50 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Cal is good at what he does but is hard on those around him. He is not the only one of his ilk.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 6, 2017 10:21 pm

Just another year in Las Vegas–we almost always have a judge under investigation and there is at least one lawyer making headlines for having done something stupid.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 12:26 am

Does anyone have any experience with Judge DavidJones, the new judge assigned to Dep't 29? If so, what is your impression of him?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 1:06 am

I appeared in front of him two weeks ago. I was impressed. He had read everything and he had even done some outside research to address one of the arguments raised in a reply brief (saving me the hassle of requesting leave to file a Sur-Reply). He let everyone say what they had to say but he clearly had decided the matter before the hearing even started. If you are strong on the law, I think you'll like him. If you are one of those attorneys who talks for an hour but says very little that is meaningful, I think you might be better served in a different department.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
February 7, 2017 1:24 am
Reply to  Anonymous

It's funny — I feel exactly the same about every judge I have always won in front of.