Recent local business-related lawsuits, rulings and dismissals

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001 | 9:30 a.m.

Except where noted, the defendants either couldn't be reached for comment, declined comment or haven't responded to the allegations.

*A Clark County District judge issued a restraining order blocking the Las Vegas Valley Water District from entering into new agreements to provide power companies in Apex Industrial Park Inc. with water drawn from Hidden Valley.

Dry Lake Water LLC, a Las Vegas water provider for Apex, had sued the water district, alleging it violated an deal to give the company superior claims to the water, which it said is vital to its development.

Clark County District Judge Nancy Saitta said construction of the industrial park should continue and that the order doesn't apply to companies in Apex that already have existing water agreements with the water district.

* Key Bank National Association sued the Las Vegas real estate developer Saxton Inc. and its president, James Saxton, in a dispute over a $10 million loan allegedly in default and over representations about the solvency of the collateral for the loan.

* Forbes Magazine sued Thomas Puckett Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Inc. in a dispute over a $265,395 bill for advertising.

* More than 40 Las Vegas employees of the Division of Child and Family Services sued builders of the eight state office buildings where they work, alleging construction defects led to their exposure to toxic mold. The defendants include Spanish Trail Ltd., Standard Pacific Industries, SPI Manufacturing Inc. and Joseph Blasco.

* A Clark County District judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against BankWest of Nevada by the owner of a Las Vegas company who claimed he was defamed by three bank employees when he tried to access $1.44 million in funds from his account.

David Story, owner of E-financial.com, alleged BankWest caused one of his business ventures to be terminated when the bank failed to wire the funds or give him access to his account.

But BankWest disputed the allegations, saying the money was transferred after the bank completed its due diligence.

* Jeannie Sutherland, the largest creditor of Anil Kumar Gupta, a Las Vegas man who gained notoriety with a failed bid in 1998 to buy the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, dropped her lawsuit against Gupta over a failed deal in which he had agreed to buy her home for $1.19 million.

* A Clark County District judge dismissed claims against the landlord of a Henderson psychic and her husband who were accused of cheating a Las Vegas woman of more than $20,000.

David Brian Spears, the defendants' landlord, was accused of negligently entrusting his property to them for their alleged criminal activity.

But Spears argued "the act of renting property ... didn't give him any right to manage the use of the property." He said the lawsuit against him was frivolous because it "suggests the improper purpose of extorting sums from him as a replacement target for the defendants from whom (the plaintiff) might expect difficulty collecting judgment."