Rhino v. Hippo

  • Law
  • With A’s stadium referendum now before Supreme Court, supporters say “time is running out.” [TNI]
  • Weed and A’s baseball stadium land before state’s high court. [Nevada Current]
  • Ashley Prince requested and then cancelled security before deposition. [RJ]
  • Shooting provokes discussion of legal ethics of representing family. [8NewsNow; News3LV]
  • Nevada to pay $1.35M to family of prisoner whose suicide spurred wrongful death suit. [TNI]
  • Federal judge dismisses lawsuit over election worker protections. [TNI]
  • NJA suit alleges Uber-backed proposal to cap attorney fees would harm sexual assault victims. [TNI]
  • Dan Rodimer appears in court on murder charge. [RJ]
  • Vegas strip clubs wrestle in court over animal names. [Casino.org; PageSix]
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 10:37 am

Has anyone wondered if this was a videotaped deposition? I know guys like Prince love to record depos like this. Just makes me wonder if we have video evidence of the whole thing. Anyone know more about this?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 10, 2024 10:55 am
Reply to  Anonymous

None of the reporting on the attendees has a videographer identified.

7 attendees: (1) Dennis Prince; (2) Ashley Prince; (3) Joe Houston; (4) Shannon Wilson; (5) Katherine Houston; (6) Lisa Rasmussen and (7) court reporter.

Anything is possible. I sure hope there isn’t video.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 11:09 am
Reply to  Anonymous

I heard from at least one source that Joe asked the Court reporter to leave the room before he opened fire.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 3:02 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Incorrect. The court reporter ducked under the table when the shooting started. Joe Houston then motioned for her to leave. The court reporter and a couple of PLG employees sought refuge at Ogletree Deakins’ office down the hall.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 1:00 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Compared to 10 years ago, a pretty high percentage of depositions are now videotaped. That’s not just a Dennis Prince thing. But even if there was a videographer, typically the camera is aimed directly at the deponent. It’s typically a tight close-up shot of the deponent’s face. The camera wouldn’t have picked up anything except maybe Katherine Houston’s expression as her husband shot up the room. If some ghoul somehow gets ahold of the footage and puts it on Reddit, it won’t show much.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 11:15 am

Shannon Wilson had recently left Jones LoBello (co-counsel) to join DPLG when she was in this deposition.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 11:32 am

In the interest of injecting levity into today’s discussions, why would a strip club choose a rhino or a hippo as their animal name?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 11:35 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Curves

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 11:48 am
Reply to  Anonymous

U obviously haven’t been there. Some big girls dancing.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 12:25 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Rhino is a very masculine associated animal. Horn (think rhino horn alleged attributes). Strong. Powerful. The “Peppermint Hippo” is literally a takeoff on “Spearmint Rhino” that originated on South Park and then the local owners thought that they would be clever and rip off the name.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/the-strip/owner-of-new-las-vegas-strip-club-finds-inspiration-from-south-park-2606905/

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 12:52 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

The difference being South Park is parody. The active business is arguably unfair competition.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 11:51 am

Typically, how long does a written ruling take after the NV Supreme Court hears oral arguments?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 12:48 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

3 months to one year is typical.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 1:12 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Election and ballot question cases will tend to come faster given their urgency.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 12:58 pm

There has been a great deal of speculation about Dylan Houston on this page. One has to wonder about Kelly Houston. Did she know or have reason to suspect that her husband was bringing a gun to the deposition? Was she told the leave the room before this occurred? Obviously her being present for these horrific events either engenders extreme sympathy at witnessing the atrocities in front of her eyes or suspicion that she would know what was about to happen. As many of you know, she is a part of the court system as Judge Teuton’s JEA.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 10, 2024 1:04 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It is very very tough to imagine a wife (Kelly) and a son (Dylan) were told about what Joe was going to do. It is similarly tough to imagine they would have been okay with it and “went along with it.” The only fact that makes this a distinct possibility is Joe’s cancer diagnosis. If he recently got some very bad news (i.e., 3 months to live), that theory has a chance of being true. Otherwise, one cannot imagine that Kelly and Dylan knew about this and went along with it.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 1:10 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

There is possible evidence Joe verbalized his intentions to others. Has his office mate the perennial whistleblower chimed in?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 1:12 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Wasn’t Joe in process of selling his office just prior to tragedy?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 1:14 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

This is some bullshit. You have no basis for this speculation. It is ugly and nasty and disgusting. This is a massive loss. None of the adults in this situation are innocent. They all wanted to hate each other more than they loved those children and they’re all assholes for that fact alone. The non-family-member lawyers who were involved are just as big of assholes. This is the worst possible scenario to come out of the pit of hell that is family court. Stop speculating about these people who are no doubt in incredible pain right now and I’m including the assholes. They are no doubt suffering too. Enough! Go to therapy if all you know how to do is be an asshole on the internet.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 1:28 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Where was your anger when thousands of children were/are hurt through family lawyer favorites and the bar counsel that protect them? Are you sad for them too. What did YOU do about it?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 2:42 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

OP here. I’m very angry about family court. I’ve taken plenty of action regarding family court. I’m not going to post it here for fear of outting myself. If I wanted you to know who I was, I wouldn’t post anonymously.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 3:14 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Thank you. And I apologize for my tone. I too have done what I could but it feels like fighting city hall. Thanks for your efforts.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 4:24 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Hi KMac

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 3:31 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

How about Dennis Princes’ former appearing on national television expressing his respect and affection for Dennis when he was the one who fired him, banned him from his office and then reported him to the Bar. I bet Dennis would be surprised by his sudden affection but not by his love of publicity.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 3:41 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Yes the former partner claims they were very, very close friends for 30 years. I guess it was that 31st year when he decided to toss Dennis to the curb.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 4:07 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Best friends. Mr. Eglet asserts that they were best friends (not true). Aaron Ford likewise became a mouthpiece for someone who he has not very close with. Cedric Crear does the same. All politicians. I almost appreciated the public statement from VGK who is the only press release that did not claim any intimate relationship with Dennis and just expressed condolences.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 4:44 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

1:28 Why are you changing the subject of discussion? You are deflecting.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 1:51 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

According to 8 News Now Investigators:
Five days before the shooting, Dylan Houston, who is also an attorney, emailed Dennis Prince, “You have no idea what’s coming do you, all your cards are on the table and I haven’t played one [laughing emoji],” according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.
The email was sent at 1:28 a.m. on April 4.Ashley Prince expressed safety concerns before Monday’s child custody deposition.
“Do you have any private security you recommend?” she texted private investigator Hal De Becker. “Dylan has a ton of guns in that house.”
In another text, she wrote, “[I don’t know] if Dylan will be there but in case he is.”
On the Thursday before the shooting, Ashley Prince canceled the security.
“Nothing Monday — he will not be there,” she stated.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 2:13 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

This was also in the RJ this morning.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 3:13 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I mean Dylon could be talking about anything in that e-mail–from proof that Dennis and Ashley were endangering his children to proof of some sort of tax fraud. Feels a little disingenuous and reckless for people to insinuate that he was referencing his father’s subsequent attack.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 10, 2024 4:13 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I am all for giving Dylan the benefit of the doubt. But lets not be naive here. “You have no idea what’s coming do you. . . I haven’t played one” sent in the middle of the night followed by murder by a person with a very close relationship to the speaker. You have a not very thinly veiled threat, you have motive and now you have an event shortly thereafter. Is it an inference that they are connected? Sure. But its not a Grand Canyon sized leap.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 10, 2024 4:18 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Correct. And you can bet that there are numerous texts between Joe and Dylan discussing how much Dylan hates Ashley and her husband and wishes they were dead. Whether or not he actually meant for his dad to kill them, Dylan is going to answer criminally for this. Not a chance the judiciary and DA let him off. I’m still shocked he’s on Louis & Resnick’s website, but that firm does not have a great reputation either.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 10, 2024 3:35 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

If you’ve been in family court for a single second, you know this is par for the course. I’ve had litigants show up at my office with “security” for a depo. Every attorney that walks through those doors has heard some woman in a custody dispute whine to the judge that she’s scared. I had a case where the man had not even physically seen his ex-wife in 10 years and he lived on the East Coast and the wife went into court with her chin quivering, crying that she was scared of him while simultaneously arguing that dad shouldn’t get the kids for summer visitation because they were in a summer soccer league. The email Dylan allegedly sent could mean 100 different things and proves nothing. Her allegations are just allegations. A “court filing” is not a conviction, not evidence, and not a finding by any trier of fact.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 3:40 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Undoubtedly if this email means what is being speculated, there will be additional evidence that makers it more clear.

In and of itself, its nothing.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 3:50 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I’ve handled many criminal cases where similar statements are rolled out by the State as absolute proof of conciousness of guilt and would therefore disagree it amounts to “nothing.”

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 11, 2024 7:33 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Thais ain’t a criminal matter, bub. This is a blog.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 5:09 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

3:40 PM is pretty much the only reasonable take on all this.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 5:33 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Disagree. This text message is certainly something by itself. Too close in time and message to the events in question to be disregarded. Look at it this way…. If we did not know who the shooter was, would this text message create reasonable suspicion against Dylan for the ensuing events? Of course it would. It is a threat that shows motive.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 11, 2024 7:47 am
Reply to  Anonymous

340 here. I didn’t say that it should be disregarded. But, your analysis is weak and in an of itself means nothing. I don’t even think that message (again, without more) would be “reasonable suspicion” rising to the level of a threat let alone demonstrating motive.

I would destroy it in front of a jury, AGAIN, without more.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 11, 2024 9:30 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Nice bravado but entirely incorrect.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 3:54 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Is your point that women do be whining?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 4:08 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

My point is that family court is full of liars.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 8:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Please let us all know if there will be a funeral or a memorial service.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 9:34 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It isn’t that hard. In fact, the real issue is to what extent. They knew je was hot-headed, armed, hated Dennis Prince, had a specific grudge at the time and nothing lose. Hell, Ashley was afraid of the Houstons enough to want security.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 2:04 pm

screw uber

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 2:10 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

That was my ex wife’s name – u know – bc everyone…

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 2:16 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Now that is a business idea that would make a fortune. An uber for screwing.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 2:28 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

There is a Mile High Club service here in Las Vegas under the name “Love Cloud.” I will not share the link but am sure savvy Google users can find it.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 4:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

How about “Screwber?”

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 6:33 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

We needed a laugh today. Good work. I vote yes on screwber because the name is too good.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 5:31 pm

In the Prince/Houston matter, a maternal aunt was granted emergency custody. Does anyone else think that she does not have standing?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 6:10 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It kind of doesn’t work that way in family law. Standing is kind of different in practice as judges make it up. 20+ yrs in that shithole.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 6:56 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

That’s a very temporary order pending a hearing next week. But, yes, it’s quite likely it would be overturned by the NVSC

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 7:12 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

As it should be. Family court judges need to stop jumping when those feckless liars say so. Completely unlawful.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 8:16 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I have no clue, but it seems like the person with standing is the kid and the court is placing the kid with the place the court thinks is best for the kid. So I don’t see it as a standing issue. But again, I know nothing about this.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 8:28 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

As former family law clerk in that hell hole I can tell u they never discuss standing and might not understand it. They can give temporary custody to a friend of family in another state. Seen similar countless times.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 10, 2024 8:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Children should not be with father until any issues regarding his knowledge or involvement have been sorted out, together with the issues that led to the custody motion to begin with. Put them with the aunt, put them in foster care, put them with the next-door neighbor, put them with some rando from this list serv.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 8:42 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Guilty until proven innocent right 8:27

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 8:50 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It’s not really that it’s that family law lawyers would argue – why take a chance. I’m the clerk who posted above. The judges will usually go with the most well know lawyer or friend. It feeds their ego. I would love to see an empirical study of that. Also, those lawyers weed out the smaller ones through bar counsel connections. It’s really a sad system.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 11, 2024 9:59 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Absolutely correct assessment of family court. It’s disgusting.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 10, 2024 8:51 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Yes, essentially.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 11, 2024 7:30 am
Reply to  Anonymous

First of all, that is exactly what the judge ordered. However, your over the top assertions are unwarranted and without basis in anything beyond your myopic personal feelings.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 11, 2024 7:55 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Best interests of the child standard creates a lot of weird situations (many of which are not actually in the best interests of the child).

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 11, 2024 9:34 am
Reply to  Anonymous

But some of which are in the best interests of the child. Think about cases where CPS swoops in and takes the children for months or years. This is 10 days while everyone investigates who knew what.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 11, 2024 9:36 am

You know OJ got terminal cancer and never killed any…..wait. Nevermind.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 11, 2024 9:37 am
Reply to  Anonymous

good one.