Friday, November 08, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

COLUMN: John L. Smith

Lawyers for plaintiff pull no punches in Crazy Horse Too affidavits

Lawyers for Kirk Henry, who suffered a broken neck after leaving the Crazy Horse Too topless cabaret Sept. 20, 2001, are having a field day at the expense of club owner Rick Rizzolo.

In court affidavits filed earlier this week, co-counsel Donald Campbell and Stan Hunterton, both former federal organized crime prosecutors, do a fandango number on Crazy Horse employees.

From Hunterton's affidavit: "With respect to the operation of the Crazy Horse, plaintiffs' counsel will establish that management currently employs numerous individuals with extensive criminal histories. Those histories include arrests and convictions for battery, robbery, extortion, burglary, fraud, and drug dealing. Many of these individuals have documented associations with known organized crime figures who frequent the Crazy Horse."

From Campbell's affidavit: "One of Mr. (Joe) Balzano's (former Crazy Horse manager) associates in drug trafficking was Mr. Ray Randazzo. I also indicted and convicted Mr. Randazzo. Upon his release from prison he, too, sought employment at the Crazy Horse where he today acts as a 'floorman.' "

LEAVITT 'FEUD': As parents of 11, Nevada Supreme Court Justice Myron Leavitt and wife Shirley have refereed their share of family feuds over the years, but this is the first time it's made national television.

The five Leavitt sisters recently won $23,000 over four days on the game show "Family Feud." The shows begin airing Nov. 20 on KFBT-TV, Channel 33. All college graduates, the sisters include Kathy Wright, Cindy Foote, Debrah Earl, District Judge Michelle Leavitt and Sue Abbatangelo.

The idea began as a lark during a family vacation when daughter Sue decided to apply for a tryout. They were selected last week.

Feud officials were elated to find out there were also six Leavitt brothers and dreamed of making an all-Leavitt showdown. But it appears the brothers might have been a bit intimidated by the sisters' performance.

Looks as if the Leavitt sisters have won bragging rights around the house for years to come.

POLL ACCOLADES: The folks at Magellan Research aren't into bragging, but they must be elated with the result of the sheriff's race, which they accurately predicted on behalf of newly elected top cop Bill Young throughout the campaign.

Other surveys looked wobbly on this race.

CHAMPAGNE CAMPAIGNS: Gary Gray and his political associates juggled 14 campaigns and pulled off an impressive 12-2 record, including the bloody battle between Jackie Glass and ousted District Court Judge Jeff Sobel.

In a tune-up for Mayor Oscar Goodman's re-election run, local political strategist Tom Letizia scored a pair of victories on Election Day when Dan Ahlstrom won the county public administrator's race, and Valerie Adair prevailed over Ron Israel in the fight for a seat on the District Court bench.

AMAZING MARCUS: On a night during which Republicans feasted at the polls, Democrat Marcus Conklin appeared to come from out of nowhere to defeat Republican Francis Allen by 134 votes in the Assembly District 37 race. It was truly amazing given the GOP's success elsewhere.

PARTING POLITICS: In a campaign that produced far more stench than statesmanship, attorney general candidate John Hunt delivered a memorable line after being defeated soundly by Brian Sandoval:

"I wish it would have gone differently, but as I've told people over and over, we're all Nevadans at the end of the day."

We're all Nevadans at the end of the day.

If only the whole crowd believed that.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Dario Herrera's political career is dead? Some people said that to Harry Reid when he lost a mayoral race two decades ago. ... Nevada Republican Liberty Caucus boss George Harris further distanced himself from the Guinn administration by posting hundreds of "Vote NOTA (None of the Above) for Governor" signs throughout the state. NOTA received 5 percent of the vote, which is a far higher percentage than the chances of Harris and Guinn ever mending fences.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.