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Kathleen Vermillion
Published Friday, Jan. 20, 2012 | 9:03 a.m.
Updated Friday, Jan. 20, 2012 | 12:29 p.m.
Related story
Former Henderson city councilwoman Kathleen Vermillion is suing Clark County and Commissioner Steve Sisolak, claiming Sisolak defamed her after ending their alleged romantic relationship.
An attorney for Vermillion filed suit Thursday in Clark County District Court, the same day news broke that Vermillion had been accused of financial improprieties at the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, where she is the CEO.
Sisolak, contacted Friday, said he felt bad for the children in Vermillion's charity who might be affected, and bad "that Kathy has placed herself in this position."
"There's no merit to any of these (lawsuit) claims," Sisolak added.
Vermillion, who has denied any wrongdoing involving the community organization, announced in November her plan to resign from the Henderson City Council. The resignation became official early this month.
Thursday’s lawsuit sheds more light on turmoil at the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.
The suit, filed by attorneys at the Las Vegas law firm Martin & Allison Ltd., says Vermillion's schedule was very demanding after she was elected to the city council, so she turned over many of her NPHY duties to Executive Director Arash Ghafoori.
But Ghafoori "had serious performance issues in the fall of 2011," and NPHY’s treasurer resigned "amid allegations there were some irregularities relating to NPHY finances," Vermillion's attorneys claim.
During a board meeting in late December, Vermillion and Ghafoori both agreed to take drug tests and Vermillion tested positive for a synthetic opiate, her lawsuit says.
The suit says Vermillion had recently taken some pain relievers for a migraine headache and that she had obtained a pain reliever from Sisolak’s sister, Susan Sisolak. It’s believed the pain reliever from Sisolak’s sister caused Vermillion's drug test to be positive, her attorneys said.
They further said an NPHY board member improperly disclosed Vermillion’s drug test results to Sisolak and that "Sisolak disseminated Mrs. Vermillion’s results to multiple individuals at the Clark County government offices."
Among other claims in Vermillion's suit:
• "Sisolak and Ms. Vermillion have been involved in an 'on and off' romantic relationship for approximately five years that Sisolak terminated in October." By disclosing her drug test results, Sisolak negligently disseminated private health records and invaded her privacy.
• "Sisolak in his role as Clark County Commissioner made defamatory statements about Mrs. Vermillion to other Clark County commissioners and department heads."
• Sisolak and Clark County, "acting under color of state law," violated Vermillion’s rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Sisolak's response: "I don't know anything about drugs, vacations, trips or anything else that's been mentioned," he said during an interview Friday.
Sisolak later issued a statement: "It is a sad day for Las Vegas when an organization that does good work for kids has its effectiveness undermined and reputation blemished by a complaint such as this one. It is truly regrettable. It is sad that Ms. Vermillion and the organization have placed themselves in this situation."
Clark County also released a statement on the suit, which demands damages that are unspecified but that top $20,000.
"The complaint is frivolous on its face, completely without merit, and is of questionable motivation since it acknowledges that people other than the defendants actually disseminated the information in question before it reached the county," the statement said.
Vermillion is seeking compensatory, consequential, special and punitive damages.
Sisolak in his campaign biography notes he has worked with the NPHY, NPHY’s website lists him as a donor in the $50,000 to $99,999 range and Thursday’s lawsuit notes the NPHY has appeared on Clark County Commission agendas as a grant recipient.
Women scorned, too bad she does not have a brain.
The Sun should be humbled to have missed a story broken by The View. This should've been investigated months ago. It started with an exec director resigning (who had previously worked for Greenspun). Then the next director getting fired. And Vermillion leaving her city council position. That is a flashing neon sign for an experienced professional journalist! This shows how reporter cutbacks at Stephens Media and Greenspun have adversely affected the entire community, diminishing the ability of the news media to act as a watch dog. Shame on Greenspun but congratulations to The View.
The truth is starting to come out. Two stories today about Ms. Vermillion, we should only be so lucky.
Thanks Vermillion.
Medical Review Officers consider use of controlled substances prescribed to someone else a positive drug test.
Wow, nice website, how much did that cost?
How hard can it be to help homeless youth? Anyway, is it just me, or are there a lot of foundations and programs in this valley that are more about collecting money than actually helping anyone? Let's spend money on building stupid trails nobody uses, and give out grants to organizations like this, but let's do little to help the homeless.
Everyday, it's something else...
Has anyone looked at her history while she was a member on the SN Health District, as the Henderson rep? There were very strange meetings that were inappropriate due to her actions or that of her Boy Friend of the time.
At least Steve has good taste in womens looks, she might be crazy but a cougar!
Yes, writer jafo is right on about the disgrace of Henderson wasting our taxpayer dollars on utter foolishness. My house in Henderson overlooks a "Trail Head" on Shaded Canyon drive that they built in 2007-2008. I have no idea what a "Trail Head" is, but no one ever uses it. For whatever reason. An I'm an ex Marathon Runner. Never seen a soul at the Trail Head. I think we're just keeping our Morman mayor and attorney looking like they are helping our fair city. Hey, Andy and Josh, don't forget the 10% for Salt Lake City. Paid by your taxpayers. Right?
Oops, that was The Southern Nevada Board of Health,
not the SN Health District
Has anyone looked at her history while she was a member on the SN Health District, as the Henderson rep? There were very strange meetings that were inappropriate due to her actions or that of her Boy Friend of the time.
Shameful that she represented residents of Henderson. I am guessing neither of these two are married? Hmm first she resigns from city council, then financial issues with a charity she was a part of and finally prescription drugs. What is the matter with these people.
It seems strange that Ms. V would call the release of results of a drug test "private medical" information; especially if she was taking a prescription drug that was not her own. I do believe in the state of Nevada that is what we call a crime, not medical information....Tsk Tsk - Ms. V - what goes around comes around. Kharma can be a b***h.
Thanks to The Sun for its article on proving "defamation" and "invasion of privacy":
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/jan...
The law in Nevada appears to be a bit different than it is in other states, especially when a "public person" like a former elected City Council person is involved.
In my dealings with Steve Sisolak, I've found him to be intelligent, motivated and concerned about saving the County money. Quite obviously that would make him a group of enemies. While Oscar wouldn't care about this kind of crap, Steve will be "wounded".
The real problem, however, is how to protect men like Steve as well as my own son from women who are liars, manipulators, thieves, druggies, cheaters, gold diggers, 'victims' of previous relationships with abusive fathers/husbands/boyfriends, and all around nut cases. The kind and smart guys always fall for the "ladies who need to be saved". (Pardon me while I barf at the thought of these types of women.)
Perhaps a support group like AA is needed for these kind and intelligent men, but call it "Suckers Anonymous".
In the category of "So weird I almost can't figure this out", below is the link to the website of the law firm which is suing the County and Steve Sisolak in the case described in the story above:
http://www.battlebornlaw.com/testimonial...
But then, I saw this story by Steve Green, and things start to make sense:
http://www.vegasinc.com/news/2011/oct/27...
"alleged romatic relationship" per Sisolak's buddy Joe Schoenmann, LVSun alleged reporter.
Yet in another paper Steve says that she was his girlfriend, sounds like someone can't get their story straight.
Sisolak gets millions in special interest campaign donations, but not a nickel from a single voter, just look at his campaign report.
http://api.ning.com/files/OBLIEY9Wrp5U-j...
He does not represent us! Never has and never will. He is out for himself and that's it!
Makes you wonder if he gets his drugs from his sister also.
Steve Sisolak, this is what you get for using County resources for your own personal gain. Sisolak also uses County resources as his own personal mafia. You don't want to piss off Sisolak. I would not be surprised if he sends code enforcement and the dog police to her house to harass her and take the attention away from him.
Approval from the Board to spend our money on his girlfriend! What a waste of our tax dollars. Sisolak has not even created one job, yet he asks for donations for his reelection touting that it is his priority to create jobs. There is always plenty of money to fund his pet projects to reap some personal benefit.
Sisolak is the worst CROOK ever. Even worst than x-commissioners Lance Malone, Erin Kenny, and Dario Herrera, who all went to jail for their own crookedness. The County Commissioners have had enough bad history. Just goes to show how history repeats itself.
Jeez, reading the article, she seems to have had more dicks than the white pages. But she sure has done well, except for her kids. Blondies can succeed in this town, but they wear out young. Ask Sisolak.
I warned you all about this years ago when she was running. How you behave in your personal life DOES affect how you will run your public life! In this case it is not who you know, it is what you know. Cathy Rosenfeld would still be in the job today and there would be less drama for the city of Henderson. I love Henderson, their politics, not so much.