Ethics case leads to complaint against Palazzo

Tuesday, March 28, 2000 | 10:36 a.m.

A complaint against attorney Louis Palazzo has been filed with the Nevada State Bar Association in connection with a letter Palazzo wrote to the state Ethics Commission on alleged ethical violations by Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald.

The complaint was filed by Las Vegas resident Lee Haynes, who found two main points of contention in Palazzo's letter to the Ethics Commission on McDonald's behalf.

The ethics complaint was filed by former City Councilman Steve Miller, who alleged that McDonald had a conflict of interest when he voted for a new city contract with Republic Silver State Disposal.

Miller alleges that McDonald was dating Silver State employee Jennifer Simich at the time the vote was taken.

Palazzo wrote to the Ethics Commission that McDonald was not dating Simich at the time of the vote. Haynes in his complaint to the state bar points to published reports that they were dating at the time and says that Palazzo lied in the letter.

Haynes also noted that Palazzo alleged in his letter that Miller was connected to a libel and defamation lawsuit against McDonald. Haynes said the suit was filed against the Big Elephant Club, not Miller.

Complaints to the state bar go through two screening panels and if found to have merit, an investigation is conducted and the matter goes to a hearing panel of attorneys and non-attorneys, Executive Director Wayne Blevins said.

In 1999 1,232 grievances were filed, down from 2,400 in 1994. Of those filed last year, 222 went to the screening panel and 40 went to formal hearings, Blevins said. Seventeen cautionary letters were sent to attorneys and eight cases went to the state Supreme Court for disciplinary action.