Swimming With The Fishes

  • Law

  • The American Bar Journal published an article on legal malpractice claims by local attorneys Joseph Garin and Jessica Green of Lipson Neilson. [Nevada Business press release]
  • A family whose property was affected by eminent domain seizure near Area 51 claims the government is refusing to pay them what they’re owed. [RJ]
  • Here’s the obituary for Mitch Cobeaga. A funeral mass will be held at St. Viator’s on May 12 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a celebration of life at noon at the Las Vegas Country Club. [RJ]
  • A minor win in court for Save Red Rock. [RJ]
  • A body was found covered in concrete near Nelson’s Landing. [Fox5Vegas]
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 3:38 pm

Likely the unintended consequence of publishing that kind of article: unfortunate PR for Mr. Heaton.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 4:36 pm

Absolutely! Good job Garin promoting yourself and bringing greater attention to your own client's malpractice. You must be so proud of yourself that you can get your stubby little arm to pat yourself on the back. Since when does this blog just reprint press releases?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 4:55 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

As if promoting a press release on the blog were not pathetic enough, The article was not published in the "ABA Journal". It was in a newsletter for an ABA Section. A mere step above claiming that your Letter to the Editor constitutes being a published author.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 5:39 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

This is the like the self-styled "Verdict Reporter" being passed off as the New York Times. Its a Press Release.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 5:55 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It is called "Fake News" or "Manufactured News." News stories today are put together by publicists who give them to reporters who then publish them as their work.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 6:45 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I think the point of the blog including it was to get people like you talking about it. Looks like it worked.

anonymous
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anonymous
May 3, 2017 7:54 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I think everyone understands that these types of things are not law review articles, and are more like infomercials for the authors. You get some potentially useful information, and the authors get a little free publicity. That holds true whether it is the ABA Journal, a Section newsletter, the Nevada Bar Journal, DRI, AAJ, or any number of other trade publications. That's the nature of the beast, so stop being all offended that it's just a "press release," etc. And I've been opposite Joe Garin on a couple of cases. He's always been straight-up and decent to deal with.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 8:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I have been opposite Joe Garin on a number of cases and have found him to be a pious piece who does not live by the same rules that he preaches. So his self-aggrandizement at the expense of his client surprises me not at all.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 10:11 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Joe Garin represents Karen Ross on several cases. It's like having a crappy person representing an even crappier person.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 11:16 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I litigated a case against Joe Garin a few years ago. He quickly pushed the case down to one of his associates. I filed a motion against their client that had a strong chance of winning, but the opposing attorney apparently disagreed with some of the facts. She filed an opposition with a request for sanctions against my client, and against me personally. This really pissed me off and the judge quickly disposed of her request.

I got a good laugh about two months later when Martindale sent me an email notifying me that the attorney had requested that I rate her. Here's a tip: if you ask for personal sanctions against opposing counsel, it's probably not a good idea to ask for them to rate you on Martindale.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 11:28 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

hey 4:16p was that attorney you speak of Jessica Green? The person who is listed in the article with Garin?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 4, 2017 12:20 am
Reply to  Anonymous

No, it was a different associate there.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 4, 2017 2:23 am
Reply to  Anonymous

If the point of the blog including it was to get people talking about it, the blog is more pathetic than I thought.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 4, 2017 2:40 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I've had multiple cases against Joe Garin and Jessica Green. I've always found them both to be professional, reasonable and effective advocates for their clients. I can't speak for the other associates there, but these two are good lawyers and in my experience, not deserving of some of these posts.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 4, 2017 2:57 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I agree with 740. I have found Joe Garin to be an excellent attorney. I have not had dealings with others there, but he was professional and smart.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
May 3, 2017 5:53 pm

Love it how the judges don't care that paralegals are practicing law without a license.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 6:07 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Follow up from yesterday: State Bar now prohibited from going after paralegals by a US Sup Ct case in, I think, 2015 (North Carolina Dental vs. FTC). SBN can regulate attys, but UPL is criminal. Don't know why they've still got a UPL form on website; they of course have a "task force" looking at it.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 8:28 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Because the SBN is smart enough to know that if you do not package it up for the DA that they will do nothing about it.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 8:57 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

If a paralegal is UPL, file a complaint against the supervising attorney. SBN will do something about it if you have evidence.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 9:49 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

If the paralegal is not supervised by an attorney, like a doc prep agency or something, contact the client directly and explain the paralegal is violating the law and they need a real lawyer. it's not unethical to directly contact the other party if the other party is not actually represented by an attorney.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 3, 2017 10:45 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

If you're dealing with a feralegal that isn't licensed as an attorney anywhere, and doesn't have a supervising attorney, the feralegal's communication with his "client" isn't covered by attorney-client privilege. Notice his deposition. RFP his file. You want the word to get around not to use these jackwagons? See what happens when the feralegal's entire file – including all sorts of things that would and should have been privileged if they used a real attorney – is compelled.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 4, 2017 2:36 am
Reply to  Anonymous

From a technical standpoint, it is probably not a RFP as the proper vehicle re: the feralegal's file, but rather a subpoena duces tecum that would be the proper vehicle. Since there is no attorney-client relationship between them and the opposing party, I would equate it similar to any vendor that the opposing party contracts with (banks, doctors, telephone service, social media, etc.) Wouldn't want them to be able to slither off the hook because the wrong bait was used.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 4, 2017 3:29 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

The State Bar has a paralegal section. The paralegals have an association. Paralegals are certified but not licensed. Many are upstanding professionals.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
May 4, 2017 3:46 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I would 100% agree with that, 8:29. But a paralegal, by definition, works under a supervising attorney. If you don't have a supervising attorney, but you're still working for "clients", you aren't a paralegal. You're just some asshole engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.