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Wayne Newton and his wife, Kathleen McCrone, speak to reporters after a judge ruled in their favor that Steve Kennedy, developer and manager of CSD LLC, stay 50 feet from the Newtons and their home Thursday May 31, 2012. Kennedy had plans to turn the Newton’s mansion into a museum.
Monday, July 30, 2012 | 5:45 p.m.
Talk of death threats opened a hearing Monday before a Nevada state court judge, who is being asked to let Wayne Newton's landlord evict the Las Vegas Strip entertainer and his wife or dissolve the business plan to turn their property into a tourist attraction.
With the "Danke Schoen" crooner and his estranged business partner Steven Kennedy both in court for the hearing, Newton lawyer J. Stephen Peek lost a request for beefed-up courtroom security.
Peek alleged that Kennedy, of CSD LLC, had threatened him, Newton, Newton's wife, Kathleen McCrone Newton, and their associate and business partner, Geneva Clark, in heated arguments about their crumbling business relationship.
In a lawsuit and counterclaims filed since May, the two sides have traded allegations of breach of contract, fraud, mismanagement, animal abuse and sexual harassment.
CSD attorney Charles McCrea Jr. denied threats were made, or that extra security was needed.
Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez ruled that courthouse security was sufficient.
The back-and-forth about security underscored the acrimony that has developed in recent months over the stalled plan to develop Newton's 40-acre southeast Las Vegas estate, dubbed Casa de Shenandoah, into a public "Graceland West" venue commemorating the life and career of the 70-year-old "Mr. Las Vegas" singer. The Newtons have lived in the opulent home since 1968.
Kennedy bought the sprawling compound for $19.5 million in June 2010, with the intent of building a $2 million home on the grounds for the Newtons and converting the gold-trimmed main mansion into the centerpiece of public tours. His lawyers say CSD has spent more than $50 million on the project to date.
They've been before Gonzalez several times to resolve issues including the cost of upkeep of Newton's more than 50 Arabian horses. On Friday, for instance, Gonzalez ruled that hay deliveries should be made more frequently and with less volume so that flammable hay stockpiles wouldn't block breezeway doors in the horse barn in violation of fire codes.
McCrea and the CSD legal team allege in court filings that the Newtons were under "severe financial hardship" when they agreed to sell the property, and that the couple and their inner circle of family members and friends never really planned to cooperate with the development plan.
"Plaintiffs firmly believe that the actions of the Newtons have been calculated to ensure the museum never opens," McCrea said in a July 23 complaint.
"The purpose of this action is to compel the defendants to immediately vacate the mansion on the property," it said, "or to dissolve CSD and CSD Management and to recover damages from the Newtons."
Testimony is expected to continue Tuesday. Gonzalez has scheduled hearings to continue all week.
The project was supposed to have opened in February 2011, but the Newtons still live in the main house with their 10-year-old daughter. The Newtons hold a 20 percent interest in CSD, and Newton has said he regrets going into business with Kennedy.
Problems always follow Wayne. Always. The developer should have bought the property, kicked him out and built what he wanted. It sounds like this contract was written on a napkin. The devil is in the details. There were probably none documented.
Newton is a loser and he's out of his mind if he thinks he's going to have a Graceland West. For one thing he's not in the same league as Elvis even after 35 years after Elvis' death. Contrary to what he has said in interviews in the past he was not that close to Elvis and Elvis didn't think so.
He has always had a problem of keeping his word in any deal and I do believe the part that he made this deal because he needed money but now typically he's reneging on the deal.
He has always had diluusions of grandeur about himself he is an over the hill one hit wonder.
How this one old one hit wonder is still able to get press after all these years is beyond me.
When you walk into Graceland you walk into 1977. From the 1970's kitchen, furniture, TV's, decor....it's like being transported back in time.
What exactly is supposed to be the attraction at Casa de Shenandoah? It's a large estate with horses. That's the attraction?
Graceland will never be replicated or copied. There is no western Graceland. There was only one King.
Maybe it's me but do these people not realize how bad their plastic surgery makes them look. Wayne, Bruce Jenner, Kenny Rogers. Awful.
I liked his voice in the game "Fallout: New Vegas" though..
Beware *** anyone who has any dealings with Wayne Newton will lose. My advice if you are in the area as him, grab your wallet and run the other way!
The Newtons have spent more on plastic surgery than the renovation costs involved here, and it is obvious the Newtons are defrauding Kennedy.
I can almost guarantee the contract read "developer agrees to build high end home (5,000 sq. ft) for Wayne and his family within 24 months"
Wayne's idea of high end probably involved solid gold bathroom faucets. The developers idea was probably high end Kohler. It was never articulated in the contract.
The devil is always in the details and now they get exploited because no one put them down on paper. I fault both these knuckleheads for allowing this project to morph into a public embarrassment.
I'll start out with saying I do not know all the facts of the case and probably nobody does on the outside. I will say that I've met Mr. Newton a few times and he was so down to earth and a real gentleman. With that said I would back him.
How Mr. and Mrs. Newton handle their finances is nobodys business unless they owe YOU money. As far as his "Face lifted Bum" that's none of your business either. People in show business have to look good for YOU the public, regardless of what they want. Wayne has as much right to alter his aging process as any of the stars in the business. Where you really got me was the comment about his "Plastic wife". Kathleen McCrone is one of most down to earth, real people there is. Yes, I know both of them! Don't tread on people out of jealousy or meaness. My family has known Wayne for years and regardless of media input, they are good people. Now put that in your hat and smoke it! Or just shoot it straight in the vein, I don't care. I've stood up for wayne for 40 years, and I won't stop now.
I am an Australian living in China who has been a great fan of Wayne Newton since I first saw him perform at the Silver Spade room in Sydney when he was young and I was still a teenager (now 64). I am also an entertainer and ring announcer inspired by Mr Newton for many many years. He has spent his life helping to make what Las Vegas is today. and his love of horses depicts the type of man he is.Money is money but life is life and Wayne Newton has brought life to Las Vegas. Where would your city be if not for Wayne, Sammy Frank, Elvis and Dean to name but a few..but who is the ONLY one to make Las Vegas his home. Yes Wayne Newton. So let him keep his home and let him decide on how he wants to create the estate. Good Luck Wayne.You are the BEST. Phillip Player. China