Embattled former city manager files two suits against NLV

Lisa Snedeker

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1998 | 11:45 a.m.

Saying that the city of North Las Vegas used "retaliatory conduct to extort" embattled former city Manager Linda Hinson from pursing her legal rights, attorney John Moran Jr. said today he is filing two lawsuits on her behalf.

Moran said one suit, currently being prepared by his partner Jill Lynn, will sue the city in District Court for severance pay Hinson believes she is entitled to and the other will be a civil-rights suit filed in federal court.

"She is not going to bend over and go away," Moran said. "She has done absolutely nothing inappropriately or unlawfully to (support) a criminal complaint."

Meanwhile, District Attorney Stewart Bell says one last piece of evidence is needed to determine whether Hinson committed a crime while in office.

Bell said Tuesday that his office has requested a subpoena of Linda Hinson's bank records for a copy of a check involved in the building permits process for her home on Kenny Way.

"It will clearly be next week (before a decision will be made)," Bell said.

He added that while it normally would take two to four weeks for the bank to get the information, the records search has been put on the fast track.

It is that investigation that has triggered Moran and Hinson to go on the offensive with the city, which they allege got the probe rolling through the police department to dissuade her from filing a suit seeking benefits.

"That's not going to work," Moran said. The city has used "retaliatory conduct to extort her into foregoing her legal rights (to obtain benefits)."

Moran did not give a date when he plans on filing the suits. He also said that despite requests by Hinson she has not yet received a copy of the police report that was submitted to the district attorney.

Hinson's home is at the crux of the allegations of official misconduct.

The investigation by the North Las Vegas Police Department, which was turned over to the district attorney's office Friday, focused on the city's lack of rights of way for the property surrounding Hinson's home, which she shares with her husband Roger.

Hinson confronted members of the North Las Vegas City Council during their regular meeting last week about the investigation. She charged that council members wanted to discredit her and asked for a copy of the investigation report.

She did admit, however, that she did not sign over 30 feet of her property to the city for a $1 nominal fee.

As a result, if the city wants to improve the street in front of the Hinsons' home, it would have to condemn the street and purchase the property from the couple.

The investigation was spurred by acting City Manager Pat Importuna, who approached the district attorney's office with concerns about Hinson's actions while in office.

The case was sent back to the city attorney's office, which turned it over to the North Las Vegas Police to investigate.

Hinson, who worked for the city for 20 years, had served as city manager since 1994. She was placed on paid leave through Oct. 1.

SUN REPORTERS Ed Koch and Bill Gang contributed to this report.