Woman’s protest gives two attorneys prominent play

Dan Kulin

Friday, Feb. 25, 2005 | 9:08 a.m.

Ross Goodman, son of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, and business partner Louis Palazzo now have their names in big red letters on the building that is the center of their lawsuit.

Christina De Musee, an artist and daughter of the 86-year-old woman who owns 513 and 515 Las Vegas Blvd. South, painted "Save Christine Von Sturm from Goodman + Palazzo" on one side of the building, and "Save me from Goodman and Palazzo" on the front of the building under a large picture of Von Sturm.

There's a chance the city will order the painted letters removed because under city code, writing on a building that is not an advertisement is considered graffiti, said city Neighborhood Services Director Orlando Sanchez, adding that code enforcement officers would probably visit the property today.

De Musee said she wants to draw attention to Goodman and Palazzo's efforts to force her mother to sell the building, which is just south of Clark Avenue and next to city-owned land where private developers want to build a high-rise condominium building.

De Musee says the two attorneys are trying to take advantage of her mother, who she said was not competent enough to enter into a sales contract.

"What went on here was a travesty and a total shame," De Musee said. "If it was your mom, wouldn't you be a little upset?"

Goodman and Palazzo claim, in their lawsuit, that they had an agreement for the property and Von Sturm broke that contract.

Von Sturm has countersued Goodman and Palazzo and denies their claims.

The lawsuit is scheduled to return to District Court on Monday for a hearing on what the attorneys have described as largely procedural matters.

Von Sturm sat in front of her buildings early Thursday afternoon, a bright red umbrella shading her from the sun, while her daughter painted, and friends and passersby chatted.

"Those guys tried to steal the building. They thought I was alone," Von Sturm said.

Goodman and Palazzo did not return telephone messages left at their offices Thursday afternoon.