NSAC Reduces Chavez Fine

ESPN

Remember that marijuana joint that cost Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. $900,000? The price has been reduced to $100,000. While Chavez was willing to serve the suspension, he and his team viewed the fine as excessive and his lawyers, Don Campbell and Colby Williams, were preparing a lawsuit against the commission over the size of the fine, believing that it violated the United States constitution's eighth amendment, which bars excessive fines. They had been in negotiations with the commission to reduce the amount of the fine, which the commission was willing to do, especially after a May 11 decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency to revise its policy on marijuana use which increased the threshold for what constitutes a positive test. Under the new rules, Chavez would not have tested positive.

Samuel MirkovichBy: Dan Rafael
Judge Rejects Adelson’s Request for No Cameras in Court

The Daily Beast

Sheldon Adelson went to great lengths this week to keep cameras out of the courtroom, even hiring Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz to argue his case, but the American casino star’s desperate anti-camera measure—which he claimed was for safety reasons—was an undeniable flop. Although Judge Bare didn’t publicly comment on whether Adelson’s security concerns had merit, he took the unusual step of forgoing a ruling from the bench in favor of requesting that Donald Campbell, the prevailing attorney for the media outlets, read some of his commentary: “What better way to demonstrate to the public that its courts are fair and just than to say to the public, ‘Come and view the proceedings yourself and judge for yourself,’” Campbell said.

Samuel MirkovichBy: John L. Smith
In The Battle Between Epic Legal Titans, Score One For The First Amendment

Las Vegas City Life

Few people were allowed to see the epic confrontation of legal titans that played out over the past few days in a local courtroom, but it was every bit as tense and exciting as any fictional drama. On one side was legendary Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz.  On the other side was a local legal titan who’s likewise championed media freedom and has defended many of the best-known Nevada scribes (including Knappster). Former federal prosecutor Don Campbell was hired by the Review-Journal for what might seem a counterintuitive assignment: to defend the right of the RJ’s competitors — namely KLAS Channel 8 and KTNV Channel 13 — to have a camera in the courtroom to record the proceedings, including any testimony by billionaire Sheldon Adelson.

Samuel MirkovichBy: George Knapp
UFC® and Dana White demand retraction from Cagepotato website

The Ultimate Fighting Championship

Zuffa, LLC, dba the Ultimate Fighting Championship® ("UFC®), today announced that it served a demand for retraction upon the parent entities and executives of the website CagePotato regarding certain false and defamatory statements attributed to UFC® President, Dana White, in an April 14th website posting.

Samuel Mirkovich
Aspen financial’s ethics accusations lack one minor detail: facts

Las Vegas Review-Journal

It turns out I know a few of the characters in the malodorous melodrama swirling around local television news producer Dana Gentry, who isn't being sued but nevertheless finds herself accused of ethical impropriety in connection with her reports on the upheaval at Aspen Financial Services. Gentry, the executive producer for "Face to Face With Jon Ralston," is accused of biased reporting and too-cozy relationships with Aspen investors who are suing its principal owner, Jeff Guinn, son of former Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Samuel MirkovichBy John L. Smith
JUDGE TO REPORTER: DON’T COVER STORY AND I’LL BE NICE

Las Vegas Sun

How do you know when a judge is threatening you? When he says it isn’t a threat. Just a “wish.” A “gentle wish,” even. Stick around long enough and you think you might cease to be surprised by the behavior of elected officials. But what Judge Allan Earl did during a hearing on Nov. 7 stuns me — I have just obtained a transcript — and should disgust, terrify and outrage anyone who cares about freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Samuel MirkovichBy Jon Ralston