Court suspends law license of Las Vegas attorney Noel Gage

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010 | 5:38 p.m.

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the law license of Las Vegas attorney Noel Gage, who pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice involving the defrauding of clients.

The court referred the case to the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board of the Bar Association to determine the extent of the discipline for Gage, 72, who in June was placed on three years of probation, fined $25,000 and ordered to spend 90 days in home confinement.

He pleaded guilty in February to the obstruction charge involving a network of physicians and lawyers who allegedly defrauded clients by protecting doctors from malpractice suits and sharing kickbacks from legal settlements.

As part of the plea, he agreed to pay his client, Melodie Simon, $702,600.

The court said the rules require a temporary suspension and referral to a disciplinary board when an attorney has been convicted of a serious crime.

In another case, the court refused to temporarily suspend the license of Reno lawyer Donald Evans, convicted of a first offense of driving under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor.

The court referred the case to the disciplinary board of the bar association to determine if a penalty should be imposed on Evans, who has practiced law for 31 years.

The court said, “the seriousness of drinking and driving cannot be minimized; although first offense driving under the influence is not the type of offense for which professional discipline is typically imposed…”