Columnist Jeff German: Miller’s legacy secure

Friday, June 1, 2001 | 2:59 a.m.

Jeff German is the Sun's senior investigative reporter. He can be reached at (702) 259-4067 or by e-mail at german@lasvegassun.com

ONLY STEVE Miller could claim victory after losing a 10-year legal battle with former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones.

A jury last week found that Jones did not libel Miller in an 11th-hour campaign mailer in the 1991 mayor's race that falsely linked him to cocaine.

Miller, a former city councilman, had spent the past decade hounding Jones over the mailer, which he said cost him the mayor's race and damaged his reputation.

Anyone familiar with Miller and his antics knows the mailer did not cost him the race. Nor did it harm his wacky reputation.

What became clear at the end of the month-long defamation trial was that Miller himself was responsible for ruining his political career.

And he was to blame for losing his case.

Jury forewoman Judith Osterman told reporters afterwards that she wasn't impressed with Miller's testimony, which she described as self-serving.

Osterman said it appeared as though Miller was enjoying himself too much on the witness stand. It was classic Miller.

After years of not being taken seriously, this could have been Miller's finest hour. He could have joined the ranks of respectability within Nevada politics.

Instead he played up to the cameras and showed us why he may go down as one of the most pathetic political figures of all time in this state.

"I think the jury properly concluded that he had made his name in the media," said Reno lawyer Bruce Laxalt, who defended Jones. "He relishes the limelight to a very unusual degree."

Even after the verdict, though he insisted he came out a winner, Miller acted like a sore loser.

Asked by a reporter what the public can learn from this case, Miller said: "People should remember that at the end of a campaign, you don't Jones somebody."

It was a distasteful attack once more on the Jones campaign mailer that started all of this nonsense.

Laxalt refused to dignify the remark with a response other than to say, "He should give it a rest."

And Jones wisely wasn't around for comment. For her own sanity, she left town before the verdict to spend time with her family.

Jones was relieved that the trial had gone her way, Laxalt said.

"It's difficult to sit there for a month and maintain your composure while somebody says nasty things about you," Laxalt explained. "She did a wonderful job of doing that. I'm very proud of her."

Laxalt said the jury verdict helped preserve our campaign system.

"It would have been a chilling message for all politicians if it had gone the other way," he said.

The case may be over now, but we haven't heard the last of it.

Laxalt is weighing the possibility of asking District Judge Michael Cherry to force Miller to pay the former mayor's legal fees. That could be as much as $100,000.

Miller has offered not to appeal the verdict if Laxalt gives up the push for the fees.

Laxalt said he finds the offer interesting, but isn't sure whether he wants Jones to foot the bill now that she has prevailed in court.

Laxalt also may ask Cherry to look at the actions of several Miller cronies who allegedly made threatening phone calls to Opportunity Village executive Linda Smith just prior to her damaging testimony against Miller.

Cherry could instruct the district attorney's office to investigate the reported threats.

As for Miller, Laxalt doesn't believe we've heard the last of him, too.

"I don't think Mr. Miller will let this become the end of his career," Laxalt said. "The question now is, has he so marginalized himself?"

The answer is yes.

Do you know anyone else who would claim victory in the wake of a resounding defeat?