Silver Linings Playbook

  • Law

  • Justice Abbi Silver announced she is resigning from the Nevada Supreme Court effective September 29, 2022. [TNI; RJ
  • Opinion:  MyPillow Mike seeks a long-shot lifeline in his Dominion defamation case. [TNI]
  • Some documents from a lawsuit involving the estate of Tony Hsieh provide new details. [8NewsNow]
  • Court documents show the Pinball Hall of Fame was built over property lines. [RJ]
  • Nevada officials weigh in against case that threatens to erode Indian Child Welfare Act. [Nevada Current]
  • Las Vegas Justice Court issued Administrative Order 22-07 putting all DUI cases into one department. [CCBA]
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 4:41 pm

I think it is sad that a successful business man like Mypillow Mike would involve himself in the 2020 election. Even if he believed what Trump was claiming, it would have been smarter, business wise, to avoid commenting about the election integrity. Why piss off half of your potential clients by stating the election was stolen? Democrats are going to believe that the election was sound and fair. Republicans are going to believe that the election was rigged and stolen. There is nothing he could say that would have changed the result or peoples' minds.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 4:57 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Sometimes one's "morals" can be more important than one's "money".

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 5:01 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Also proof that success doesn't require intelligence.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 5:13 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It was absolutely a good business move. Sure he alienated 60% of the population but he now has a captive market in 40% of the population. That's a lot of pillows.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 5:15 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

They are very good pillows.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 5:24 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Original poster here. I am not sure morals require one to involve themselves in politics. "Render unto Caesar that which is of Caeser's." For me, I try to live my life such that it does not matter who is president. It seems that we cannot elect good people anyway as the choices we are given are a joke. Trump is a person who I would not want to have any affiliation with, and Biden appears to be just as corrupt.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 5:35 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

@957 here
Please reference the strategic placement of "quotes". They reference his "morals" as he sees them. Not the objective and universally applicable "morals".

Apologies for assuming that was obvious.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 4:48 pm

Did anyone else get the Richard Harris marketing circular discussing runners and cappers? I found it quite interesting, at a minimum. I know that a lot of folks have heard about the tow truck drivers and use of emergency room personnel, but there seems to be next to zero action by the state bar against this. Why is that? What could be done to remedy this? Further, I am not sure I see how Harris' claim that he can pursue recovery of fees from the capper-enabled attorneys after the fact. The use of runners and cappers violates RPC, but I'm not sure if that necessarily renders the agreement illegal as he argues.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 7:18 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

NRS 7.045

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 8:03 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

9:48, I've always liked Harris and have a solid opinion of his ability and ethics(wish I had that same opinion of many other P.I. firms) but I noticed something about some of his recent advertising.

The spots feature Harris and his son, a young attorney who also works at the firm, exchanging what I consider to be cornball, hokey, wholesome banter.

I assume it's meant to be homey, warm and endearing, but I don't believe they pull it off.

Many potential P.I. clients are often desperate, not overly sophisticated, and are probably susceptible to advertising focusing on getting them the highest settlement possible within the least amount of time.

I doubt they will be delighted and persuaded by spots of Harris and his son exchanging lame attempts at humor.

Some of these spots are on YouTube. Harris and his son do seem relaxed, natural and likeable before the camera, so they are certainly capable of producing good spots. But they are best advised to save the one liners for open mic night.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 8:13 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Many firms' advertising is just for show, so they have real invoices to justify the 200+ cases they get per month from paying tow truck drivers and Uber/Lyft drivers with scanners to solicit victims right at the scene.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 8:15 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I have known Rick and Josh personally for decades. They have a solid loving father / son relationship and are both genuinely good people.

Unfortunately, they aren't actors and it doesn't translate well to the screen. Nonetheless, I never hesitate to send them cases of the type that I don't handle.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 8:23 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

1:03–I've seen those spots. I believe the spots succeed in giving a "face" to the firm, personalizing matters, making Harris and his son seem quite likable, accessible, skilled, conscientious, hard-working, concerned, successful,and some clients would be attracted to the personable, family-owned approach.

So, at least with some potential clients, the ads will succeed in conveying all that.

But, yes, the "humor" is about on the level of those No Bar Open Mic Nights(or whatever they call it. The shows are held at various locations in Utah). At those events, the humor is really clean, wholesome, lame–nothing edgy in the least.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 8:28 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I think the humor, in the Harris ads, actually succeed because the players seem quite self-conscious, and fully aware that they are exchanging such lame banter. So, they are pretty much in on the joke.

It's like Johnny Carson's approach and demeanor after delivering a lame joke that he knew had bombed.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 9:49 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Yeah, I think the advertising works because they're trying to distinguish themselves as different from the other folks. It's just a strategic decision that won't attract every prospect, but will attract those who aren't interested in Saul Goodman types

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 30, 2022 3:44 am
Reply to  Anonymous

You miss the obvious. There has to be a transition in the near future to the next generation.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 30, 2022 2:20 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It will work. Josh is good people.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 5:03 pm

I was sorry to read about Justice Silver. I had mixed experiences with her on the bench, but generally thought she was pretty good. Better than most. Hopefully this is nothing life-threatening or anything like that.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 5:05 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Seconded. It's disconcerting that she is stepping down so suddenly. Hope she has some amazing opportunity and not something bad. Whatever, I think she's had a good run. Impressive to have been elected to every level of court in the state.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 5:26 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Where are we getting information that Silver is having health issues? Are we just assuming so because she suddenly stepping down. Maybe she got one of those tv deals that Glass got.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 5:53 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

OP here. If it was some “amazing opportunity” then I think we would have heard about it. When I read a letter like that, I always think either health issue or some scandal that hasn’t broken yet. More likely the former in her case I think. But nothing more than speculation of course.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 7:25 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

If you know, you know. It is none of the things mentioned here–no scandal and no personal health issues personal to her. Justice Silver will be sorely missed. No one has her experience and level of expertise. She was always very bright and a capable jurist. She has served on every court–muny, justice, district, court of appeals and Supremes. A nice person who is dedicated to her family.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 7:44 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It's difficult to know what is actually in operation, except to the extent, if any, that she decides to eventually disclose it. She's probably said everything she intends to, or she would have already disclosed it.

Whatever personal or professional info. someone in this position decides to disclose will occur at the time of the resignation announcement, while the situation is newsworthy and garners attention. No one waits months or years after their retirement and then issues a news release "no wait, there's more."

But, as for me, I'll never resign from anything to "address family concerns" or "to spend more time with my family." I want to be with them as little as possible, and they feel even more strongly on that point.

It's not all a result of my grumpy, abrasive personality, although that's a big part of it.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 7:46 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

The post by 12:44 reminds me that although I love my spouse and children, I was probably at my happiest stage of life when I was a young, single unattached attorney. Those were some fine years in many respects(except, perhaps, for the 18 months when I was a billing drudge for an insurance defense firm).

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 8:53 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Her years of accumulative service entitle her to a hefty retirement, and years served over what is logged, don't make it bigger.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 10:31 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I did not like her as a judge, but I wish her decent. She screwed over my clients,but I don't wish her ill. She is better than many of her other Nevada Supreme Court colleagues

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 30, 2022 4:21 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Why do people just make things up about someone else? Why even speculate her stepping down was for a "bad" reason? The commenter obviously had zero knowledge. So why say it? Why not ask openly, does anyone know why she's stepping down?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 30, 2022 5:07 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

She was a substandard jurist on every level that she served and made no secret of her lust to politically climb, starting with her run against David Roger for DA If her reasons for retiring are tragic, then I will wish her well personally because no one deserves tragedy. But I will not lionize her as a great (or even good) judge, because candidly she was and is not.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 30, 2022 5:30 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Substandard? Sorry amigo. She was without question, better than most.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 30, 2022 5:42 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

What made her better than most? I am truly curious because my experience with her at every level (well JC up) has shown quite the opposite. She has been politically savvy but judicially weak.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 30, 2022 5:54 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Having appeared in front her probably 75x since her LV Muni court days (I don't do appeals), she always was judicious, efficient and dramatically more often than not, legally accurate in applying the law. Better than most.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 30, 2022 8:22 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Not on the Court of Appeals was she ideal. But,I honestly think the Nevada Court of Appeals is directed by Nevada Supreme Court as to how to rule. Silver,Tao,and Gibbons are form order judges

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
August 29, 2022 5:39 pm

The ICWA case is concerning. I've def seen it abused in family court so I know there are issues with it, but the firm representing the challengers and the people bankrolling this give me pause. Shady AF

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 7:12 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

As they should. People often wonder how seemingly insignificant Indian cases like this become so large and who pays for them. It is far more sinister than many realize, It has nothing to do with ICWA or the child themselves, but is about larger questions of sovereignty. Few big oil and gas or mining companies would be dumb enough to outwardly attempt to get at resources on Indian land in court or otherwise. The Optics would be terrible. But if you erode sovereignty little by little in other areas where people don't suspect a thing, like family law issues, then you have a precedent you can use elsewhere. So next time you hear about a case involving an Indian Child at the US Supreme Court and wonder who on earth took it there, now you know. It was probably (through various PACs and shell companies) big oil, big mining, big gaming, or some combination thereof.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 29, 2022 7:13 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

12:12 here, *as it should, it should give you pause.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 30, 2022 4:01 pm

All I have to do is sit back and watch for the monsters to be taken down in this profession

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 30, 2022 5:43 pm

Speaking of the Pinball Hall of Fame– could not have bad luck befall more deserving people than the nasty people there.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
September 1, 2022 7:32 pm

Judge Silver was one of the most caustic jurists I’ve ever appeared before. Glad she’s no longer on the bench although I don’t personally wish her or her family any I’ll will.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
September 1, 2022 7:34 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Its true that she had little tolerance for BS. But, I never had any problems with her and she was always professional and mostly legally correct in my experience.