Mon, Jul 23, 2001 (11:11 a.m.)

A Northeast Las Vegas master-planned community association sued its builder, two retailers of outdoor gas lighting and Southwest Gas Corp., alleging they installed defective gas lamps at the development that burn even during the day.

Solitude is located near the intersection of Hollywood and Charleston boulevards.

Solitude Homeowners Association Inc. sued the Developers of Nevada LLC, Southwest Gas Corp., which allegedly installed and maintained the outdoor gas lighting, U.S. Gaslight Co. and L&R Sales Inc. in Clark County District Court. The suit alleged the gas lamps, which were designed with a photo cell so that they would turn on at dusk and turn off at daylight, failed to function properly after installation.

The suit said the gas lamps have been burning 24 hours a day, which exposes the development to a potential risk of fire or explosion and personal injury and also increases operation costs.

Southwest Gas, which was accused of incorrectly installing the gas lamp poles and bases so that these can be easily pushed down and cause potential gas leaks, allegedly failed to correct the problem, the suit said.

Solitude said it seeks damages of more than $80,000 to replace the allegedly defective gas lamps with electric lights and to terminate gas service to each gas lamp by capping the gas service where the lines enter homeowners' properties.

The defendants either declined comment or couldn't be reached for comment on the allegations.