Thursday, January 09, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

In Brief

RENO

School district settles ex-teacher's lawsuit

Washoe County School District trustees have settled a 7-year-old federal lawsuit brought by a former teacher who claimed he was retaliated against for criticizing administrators.

John Ricciardi, who taught science at Wooster High School, sued then-Principal Serena Robb and the school district in 1996, claiming Robb harassed him because of his outspoken criticism of district spending and policies.

In 2001, a federal court jury ruled against Ricciardi.

But Ricciardi appealed, claiming erroneous rulings by the trial judge.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the jury's verdict and ordered a new trial that was scheduled to begin Jan. 21.

School district trustees on Tuesday voted to settle the case for $300,000 to avoid a second trial.

District officials said the judgment will be paid with insurance funds.

Ricciardi said he was satisfied with the settlement.

"It was a long, hard battle, and I really don't want to say anything else," he told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Ricciardi resigned from his position in 2000 and opened the Nevada Agency of Educational Reform, which he described as a research agency that provides educational information to parents and teachers.

LAS VEGAS

Insurance verification program changed

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has ceased mailing insurance verification cards to motorists renewing their registrations.

To address ongoing problems with incomplete insurance records, the DMV has since October required motorists with missing records to prove their vehicles are insured upon renewing their vehicle registration.

As a result, hundreds of insured motorists have received requests to verify their insurance information, officials said.

"We regret the inconvenience our effort to improve the insurance verification program has caused many longtime Nevadans and their insurance companies," DMV Director Ginny Lewis said in a prepared statement. "Our insurance database is only as complete and accurate as the information provided to us by the insurance companies."

The department will, however, continue to mail requests to motorists whose insurance companies have notified the agency that they've been dropped from their insurance or had a lapse in coverage.

Despite the inconveniences, officials said improvements to the insurance verification program have increased the agency's identification of uninsured motorists. In fiscal 2002, 46,773 motorists reinstated their vehicle registration after a suspension, compared with 19,582 reinstatements the year before.

LAS VEGAS

Man killed crossing street identified

A Las Vegas man struck by a car and killed Sunday night while crossing Boulder Highway has been identified as 53-year-old David Lawrence St. Denis.

St. Denis was pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:30 p.m. accident between Russell Road and Tropicana Avenue.

Police said 73-year-old Mary Rocco of Las Vegas was driving south on Boulder Highway when her vehicle struck St. Denis as he was crossing the road in a marked crosswalk, police said.

Rocco was not injured.

No citations have been issued, and the accident remains under investigation.

LAS VEGAS

Man, wife found shot to death at their home

An elderly man with cancer and his wife were found shot to death Wednesday at their Summerlin home in what Las Vegas police are investigating as a possible murder-suicide.

The bodies were found about 11:30 a.m. by officers who went to check on the couple at their residence, 10733 Shackleton Drive, north of the intersection of Lake Mead and Thomas Ryan boulevards, police Sgt. Rocky Alby said.

Concerned family members from out of town had notified authorities after they were unable to reach the couple, he said.

Officers found a 67-year-old man and his 64-year-old wife dead from gunshot wounds.

"He had been sick with cancer," Alby said. "As best we know, she was fine."

The couple's identities were unavailable Wednesday through the Clark County coroner's office.

A note at the scene indicates the couple had decided to commit suicide together, Alby said. Authorities are trying to determine who fired the fatal rounds.