Lawsuit response puts district judge on spot
Bailiff Johnny Jordan made District Judge Elizabeth Halverson’s ice water just right.
But getting it to the correct temperature through the perfect ratio of ice to water was one of the judge’s lesser demands, according to a human resources report released to the public Wednesday.
Halverson, who uses a motorized wheelchair, also had Jordan put her shoes on for her, rub her feet and give her back massages.
He had to make sure her oxygen tank was filled appropriately and was required to clean the floors of her chamber when it was littered with sunflower seeds and cookie crumbs.
"Johnny is ordered to cover her up with a blanket when she lies down," the report says.
The very unflattering picture painted in affidavits, memos and interviews with human resources was included in Chief Judge Kathy Hardcastle’s response to the lawsuit Halverson has filed against her. Halverson wants the Nevada Supreme Court to reverse measures Hardcastle has taken against her since April.
The justices will review Hardcastle’s response and decide whether to have a hearing on Halverson’s allegation that Hardcastle overstepped her authority.
In her filing, Hardcastle told the justices she was forced to take action for numerous reasons, including Halverson’s "seemingly volatile, angry, paranoid and bizarre behavior toward staff."
In addition to requiring that Halverson seek guidance from veteran judges, Hardcastle took Halverson’s criminal cases away from her.
MONDAY
Auditors critical
of Krolicki’s work
State auditors said Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki broke state law by not depositing $6 million in state-earned fees into the state treasury during his two terms as state treasurer.
The audit will be turned over to the attorney general’s office for a follow-up investigation, said Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, chairwoman of the Legislature’s audit subcommittee. Twice during the audit presentation hearing she said Krolicki’s office was guilty of "sloppy" accounting practices.
TUESDAY
Lawyer surrenders after indictment
Las Vegas personal injury attorney Noel Gage surrendered to the federal government after he was indicted on charges related to a wide-ranging scheme that involved inflated medical costs and jacked-up settlements.
Authorities said those fraudulently boosted costs allowed Gage, local physicians and an out-of-state medical consultant to pad their pockets illicitly.
Gage is the second person indicted in connection with what authorities allege was a multimillion-dollar ruse. Gage faces 18 felony charges including conspiracy, mail fraud, money laundering, aiding and abetting and obstruction of justice.
WEDNESDAY
Residential power rates going up
The price of keeping air conditioners running and the lights on will increase about $24.70 monthly this summer in Southern Nevada, after an estimated 11.5 percent power rate increase was approved.
The Public Utilities Commission voted 3-0 to boost the typical single-family residential customer’s summer monthly bill to $239.48 for 2,000 kilowatt hours, starting June 1.
THURSDAY
Mabey introduces Gibbons’ road bill
Assembly Minority Leader Garn Mabey, R-Las Vegas, agreed to introduce Gov. Jim Gibbons’ proposal to use hotel room, sales and entertainment taxes to tackle the state’s $3.8 billion highway construction shortfall.
"In my opinion, this is like giving the governor a car," Mabey said. "He has to put the gas in, make it run. It is his proposal."
Gibbons complained during a news conference Wednesday that neither house of the Legislature had introduced his road plan, which he unveiled on May 10.
FRIDAY
Probation ordered after fatal shoving
A Las Vegas chiropractor won’t spend a day behind bars for shoving an older man to his death two years ago.
Stephen Shaw, 38, received probation for causing 60-year-old Lawrence Weiss to fall and suffer fatal head injuries on March 11, 2005.
"The sentence contained absolutely no penalty whatsoever," Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens said.
District Judge Donald Mosley said both the victim and the defendant exercised poor judgment in the altercation at Fabulous Freddy’s car wash and gas station at Fort Apache Road and Charleston Boulevard.
The sentence outraged Weiss’ family and friends.
COMPILED BY MICHAEL SQUIRES
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