Venetian whistleblower files new libel lawsuits

Monday, Jan. 3, 2000 | 11:33 a.m.

John Prendeville has filed a libel suit against two lawyers associated with Lehrer McGovern Bovis Inc., the construction-management firm that served as general contractor for the Venetian hotel-casino.

Prendeville, a former procurement manager for Bovis, is seeking more than $35 million in damages each from Arthur Silverman, an outside attorney the lawsuit identified as Bovis' secretary; and Mark Melson, the company's executive vice president and general counsel.

The libel suit, filed in federal court in Las Vegas, alleges Melson described Prendeville an "extortionist" in an interview with a reporter for a construction industry trade magazine.

The suit also asserts that Melson and Silverman told Sam Singer, whom Bovis hired as a public relations consultant, that Prendeville was terminated from Bovis "because he could not do his job" and that he was an extortionist. Prendeville earlier sued Singer for libel, alleging he repeated the allegations.

Silverman, Melson and Singer couldn't be reached for comment.

Prendeville has alleged he was terminated because he complained the Venetian project was overrun with "illegal kickbacks, bid rigging, manipulations and payoffs."

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