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twitterLawyers: Gibbons has no time for Mazzeo right now
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Sun Archives
- Governor’s lawyers seek dismissal of Mazzeo lawsuit (1-30-2009)
- Proving alleged cover-up won’t be easy (10-27-2008)
- The woman suing the governor (10-21-2008)
- New details emerge in suit against Gibbons (10-20-2008)
- She’s back, lawsuit in hand (10-17-2008)
- Former cocktail waitress sues governor, former sheriff (10-14-07)
- Mazzeo: ‘If he had apologized … it would have been done’ (2-10-07)
- New discrepancies in accounts from Gibbons, Mazzeo (12-28-06)
- Issue turns to possible cover-up (11-4-06)
- Mazzeo wants case reopened (10-30-06)
- Gibbons and Mazzeo step up dispute: He issues denial, she hires attorney (10-20-06)
Lawsuit
Lawyers for Gov. Jim Gibbons have filed court papers seeking to put off depositions and other evidence gathering in Chrissy Mazzeo’s federal civil rights lawsuit until several motions to dismiss the complaint are resolved.
Attorneys Pat Lundvall and Carla Higginbotham argued that it would be a waste of time for Gibbons, who is busy handling state government responsibilities, and the other defendants to deal with any gear-up for the trial before knowing whether a federal judge will order the case tossed out of court.
Within the past couple of weeks, Gibbons and several other defendants — including former Sheriff Bill Young, the Metro Police Department and Don Campbell, the governor’s criminal defense attorney — have filed motions attacking Mazzeo’s case. She has alleged that her reputation was smeared and her constitutional rights were violated in a wide-ranging cover-up. The governor’s top political strategist, Sig Rogich, is also expected to file a motion calling into question Mazzeo’s claims.
The suit stems from an October 2006 late-night encounter between Gibbons and Mazzeo outside a Las Vegas restaurant in which she alleged the governor, while a candidate, assaulted her.
A Metro Police investigation cleared Gibbons of criminal wrongdoing. But Mazzeo, a single mother and a former cocktail waitress, hired Las Vegas attorney Robert Kossack to go after the governor and the others in federal court.
Kossack said Tuesday he’s not surprised the defendants are trying to put off the collection of evidence.
“I doubt any of the defendants, especially Gov. Gibbons, want to be deposed where they would have to answer questions under oath or turn over their phone records, which would allow us to piece together a conspiracy among them,” Kossack said.
He also said he didn’t buy the argument that Gibbons is too busy to have his time wasted.
Gibbons seems to have plenty of time for other activities that have nothing to do with state business, Kossack said.
The civil rights attorney suggested that Gibbons and company would prefer to see the case moved to Clark County District Court, “where the defendants could try to exercise the same undue influence” alleged in the federal suit.
In their motion to dismiss, Lundvall and Higginbotham called Mazzeo’s claims against Gibbons “ludicrous,” saying the thrust of the complaint appeared to be aimed at “disparaging the reputation and character” of the governor.
The lawyers argued that the suit failed to state any legitimate legal claims against Gibbons, an argument echoed in the other motions to dismiss.
Last week attorneys for Campbell argued in court papers that Mazzeo’s complaint was “barren of well-pled facts giving any credence to (her) far-flung and vain conspiracy claims.”
Campbell contends he was brought in as a defendant so he wouldn’t be able to represent Gibbons in the case.
Discussion: 16 comments so far…
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How is Gibbons "busy handling state responsibilities?" He doesn't do anything, other than say "cut budgets." Jeez, a 4-year-old is capable of that. Sounds like just another excuse to weasel out of the real issues with this guy.
Buckley has plenty of time.
She has offered zero budget anything.
Attempted rape is an ugly thing. No surprise that Gibbons wants to avoid the issue.
Our Sexual Assaultist in Chief is of course wanting this to go away. That so many lay their reputations on the line to protect this good for nothing idiot is unreal. He will dump them in a heartbeat just like he dumped his wife, when he is done using them. He is a sick man.
The only political person that I am aware that has actually been accused of the crime of rape is Bill Clinton.
Nance, you sir are pathetic. Instead of discussing the issue at hand, Gibbons ducking a sexual assault charge from back when he was elected, you drag out Buckley and Clinton as distractions.
Your threadbare mantra of ignoring Gibbons' numerous failings and instead focusing on others is patently obvious.
Get over the fact that Gibbons is scum, the repugs lost the last election, and instead of trying to help the country, all you do is shout out non sequiturs and rant about how everything is wrong.
Teaser is the one that argued first about the lack of leadership on the budget. Gibbons is the only person showing leadership. The Democrats are hiding under rocks.
The law properly investigated the accusations against the then congressman and found no foundation to proceed. It is most likely that the suit against Gibbons will be dismissed, too.
Somebody threw out the "rape" word. Nobody is accusing the governor of rape. In fact, nobody is accusing the governor of sexual assault either. The only political person that I am aware that has been accused of rape is Bill Clinton.
"...saying the thrust of the complaint appeared to be aimed at "disparaging the reputation and character" of the governor."
Reputation. Character. Words that imply honor, integrity, moral and ethical strength, especially when used with "disparaging". Gibbons has none of these; so.....?
This lawsuit can't possibly have been filed with that intent; Gibbons has done that all on his own.
Gibbon's has now dumped both of his mistress's for another women, Gibbons will dump anyone who gets in his way. If the court lets this rapist get away with this crime, then Gibbons gets away with murder......
Are you sure you not talking about Clinton?
That sure does sound like Clinton. He would trashed any of his mistresses if that dare told anyone the truth about his affairs. He would drag their names through mud. He was a strong believer in women's rights.
The last time I check only Clinton has been accused of rape.
Who is accusing Gibbons of rape?
Nobody has even accused Gibbons of sexual assault much less rape.
Lastly, he is not being sued for assault.
Wow Nance,
Clinton's been out of office for almost a decade now, and you can't stop comparing everyone to him. Or excusing those people in light of Clinton. Get over the fact that except for you, NO ONE like Gibbons in this state.
The number of people that trust Buckley and Horsford to do a good job are just slightly above the number that approve of the job that Gibbons is doing.
So there are not a ton of political heros in this state, including Harry Reid.
I don't know what Nance is smoking, but I bet it isn't legal.
Actually, Nance, I know of only two people who think Gibbons is doing a good job: Gibbons and you. Buckley and Horsford think they are doing a good job, and so do I. That makes it 3-2. I'd be willing to bet there are more than the three of us. I'd be even more willing to bet there aren't more than two of you.
"I'd be even more willing to bet there aren't more than two of you."
I take that bet that I can find more than 2 people who think Gibbons is doing a good job.
Let's make it $100,000.
Nay......I do not take money from children.
I know you think your personal poll is highly accurate but there was a poll out the other month.
25% job approval of Gibbons
32% trusted Buckley and Horsford to do a good job
Your poll is suspect on methods used.
I think that I will go with the other poll results.
Why does the majority of the Nevada public believe that Gibbons as governor has the power to resize the amount of money (budget) taken in by the state?
He's a mere administrator, a poor one at that.
The real culprits over the budget and state revenues are the legislators in both Chambers in Carson City. They're all idiots up there, and we have to put up with Bottom 10 state results year in, year out.