Las Vegas Injury Lawyers Blog

Written By Las Vegas based Law Clerk: Robert Maxey (Las Vegas, Nevada)

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is an institution of higher learning. During the years of our youth in school, we are taught to obey and follow instructions. However, once students are in college they face in a world of choices. Most freshmen in college are considered adults, and therefore are treated as such. Students take on the reasonability of picking out their career and life paths. Here they embark on a journey of education, to achieve a degree that will open up the doors to the opportunities they desire.

Students are expected to make many choices regarding the rest of their lives while in college. It is perhaps the most advanced learning a person will experience within their lifetime. The boundaries of college learning are not confined to textbooks and classrooms. Universities offer students a wide array of areas of learning through clubs, organizations, fraternities and sororities, lecture series, athletic teams, campus events and student government. All of these areas offer the student an additional way to enhance their education, and experience something unique.

Recently a student attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, however, has enhanced their learning through a different means, in the form of a settlement of $20,000. Robert Maxey, a junior studying philosophy and economics, has settled his lawsuit against the Consolidated Students of the University of Nevada (CSUN), which is the branch of student government at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV).

The state of Nevada has some of the strictest Open Meeting Law requirements, which help maintain an open and honest government. These laws ensure that all people have appropriate opportunity to participate, and witness their government taking place. Maxey had been elected student body president in 2010, but quickly after his election found himself in a sham meeting to disqualify him. The meeting had been prompted by his opposition, with the intent to remove him from office. In the lawsuit that Maxey filed, he alleged that the CSUN meeting violated not only Open Meeting Laws, preventing students from being fully aware of the actions of CSUN, but also due process.

The lawsuit lasted the entire term that Maxey would have served as student body president. Lawyers representing CSUN (despite previous requests for settlement from Maxey's attorney Peter Goatz) agreed only at the end of Maxey's would be term to settle. Although the matter had been settled, Maxey laments that no real justice has been performed and the denial of such a great opportunity is regrettable.

Full information the story can be found here: UNLV student wins $20K after suing student senate

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Written By Las Vegas based Law Clerk: Robert Maxey (Las Vegas, Nevada)

When I was little, I was taught that sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. While comforting as a child, this is sometimes not the case as a Las Vegas adult living, in a vibrant and sometimes ugly, world of communication. Words have amazing power and can change the course of someone's life. However, this power is not found in the word, but rather from the person who is communicating the message. The message that is being transmitted when we communicate with words is filled with our thoughts and emotions. It is a child's folly to believe that what people think about us does not matter.

For better and for worse, we are subject to people's opinions. They can carry us through tough times or push us directly into them. It is for these reasons that jokes, snide remarks, and harassment can have a real impact at the work place. However, sexual harassment may have a greater impact, being that it is often harassment regarding a sensitive nature. When executives in charge participate in sexual harassment, the damage can be much worse.

A sexual harassment case has been settled in favor of Londi Lindell for $1,000,000. Lindell worked as the Mercer Island Deputy City Manager for several years. In her legal claims, she alleged that City Manager Rich Conrad fired her because of her objection to how he conducted a disciplinary matter. Further, she claims that several employees of the city participated in inappropriate behavior and jokes regarding human anatomy.

Lindell's case was settled with the city's insurer. Under the settlement agreement, Lindell work records will say that she resigned from office, she will receive a letter of recommendation, and the city will pay a job search firm to find a new job for her. Lindell says the reason she sued, was because of the careers of those who had to work within the conditions at the city.

While the parties worked out a solution in this particular case of sexual harassment, it has not alleviated the problem. Sexual harassment is a form of actual pain that causes actual suffering. When people are forced to work within these conditions, they are being forced into a form of torture. Sexual Harassment is actually a form of sex discrimination (see What's Wrong With Sexual Harassment?). Preventing sexual harassment is not just a good thing to do, it is the right thing to do.

A full article can be found here: Former Mercer Island official settles harassment suit for $1M

Continue reading "$1,000,000 For Sexual Harassment" »

Written By a Law Clerk for Parker Scheer Lagomarsino: Robert Maxey

Our living quarters are some of the most cherished and remembered places in our lives. They provide us with a place to dine, sleep and relax. Our housing is where we live our lives it is where we settle down. They offer a shelter from the hardships of life and provide stability. It is something that stays the same day in and day out regardless of the numerous changes taking place elsewhere in our lives. It is not unheard of for people to spend their entire lives in the same house. Our residences hold some of our fondest memories and our closest family moments. A home is not just a building it is something sacred it is a home.

With rising foreclosures and high unemployment housing has become even more meaningful. The fight to keep our homes is strong but the desire to have a safe place to live is even stronger. No one would be willing to let a robber into their home and walk out their valuables. However in the city of Sioux Falls in 2004 flooding due to backed up sewage lead to extensive damage in hundreds of homes. This was not the first case of such damage and homeowners recalled it had happened several times in the past.

The damage inflicted was the equivalent to letting a thief come in and steal thousands of dollars out of your home and walk out the front door without attempting to stop them. A class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of over 150 residents for the problems with the sewage system. In this situation the city of Sioux Falls is not entirely the bad guy it is the insurance provider for the city. A claim was filed with the provider on behalf of the city but the claim was denied, instead of standing up for its citizens Sioux Falls did not pursue it further.

It was the result of the city's impotence that civilians took matters into their own hands and sought legal action against the company. After having the lawsuit dragged out over a period of seven years homeowners were relieved to finally reach a settlement with the provider. A $1,950,000 fund was settled upon to help pay for damages inflicted in the 2004 storms. In order the fix the drainage system the city is looking at spending around $50,000,000.

A city like all forms of government has a duty to those they represent. Not only must a city provide adequate public facilities they must provide adequate protection and fight for its citizen's rights. If a government ceases to appropriately serve those it was established to serve then a government ceases its reason to exist.

A full article can be found here: $1.95M settles lawsuit over 2004 sewer backups

Our law firm does not represent anybody in this incident. The commentary is for educational purposes only. If you or someone you know has had your rights violated and would like to be represented by a great Las Vegas Lawyer, contact our office for a free confidential case review and receive a response within hours. Call Toll Free 866-414-0400.