Court briefs for February 20, 2002

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

Nevada to get $1.7 million

Nevada will receive $1.7 million as part of an out-of-court settlement in an antitrust suit filed against six international vitamin makers, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said Tuesday.

Nevada joined 21 other states in filing the suit. The federal government is expected to approve the agreement Feb. 25, and District Judge Michael Griffin in Carson City is expected to give final approval April 18.

The three European companies and the three Japanese firms were accused of reaching agreements to fix prices.

The money received by the state will be divided among a statewide pilot school breakfast program; "Meals on Wheels" across the state; agricultural science programs at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and University of Nevada, Reno; statewide dietary education programs and nonprofit, charitable and government programs to help seniors, low-income residents and the homeless.

Carson woman given probation

District Judge Mike Griffin of Carson City Tuesday placed Raylene Sue Golden on eight months' probation after she pleaded guilty to nepotism for hiring her sister at the day-care center at Western Nevada Community College in Carson City.

Elizabeth Stuart, Golden's sister, drew a paycheck yet didn't show up for work.

Golden, who was manager of the center, is required to pay $5,633 in restitution, obtain a psychological evaluation, notify her present employer of the conviction if she has a fiduciary capacity in her job and maintain full employment.

Deputy Attorney General David Neidert, who prosecuted Golden, said the case "puts the tiny minority of public employees who might consider such behavior on notice that we take such cases very seriously."