North Las Vegas wins jail layoff, police firing decisions
The city of North Las Vegas has won two Nevada Supreme Court cases in less than a week.
On Tuesday, former city police officer Lazaro Ruiz was fired for “dishonesty and unprofessional conduct,” the city said.
After Clark County District Court ruled in favor of his reinstatement, the Supreme Court found “substantial” evidence to overturn the decision.
The city estimates Ruiz’ reinstatement would have cost the department about $1 million in back pay and benefits.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court voted unanimously to dismiss a lawsuit from 18 former detention center employees who worked at the office in administrative support positions, said City Attorney Sandra Morgan.
The ex-employees said the city illegally avoided paying leave when they were laid off after the 2012 closing of the city’s detention center. The city’s prisoners were moved to the Las Vegas jail.
The workers were members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 14, Morgan said.
But their case was thrown out by the Supreme Court because the former employees “lacked standing.” The union is the exclusive bargaining agent for terms and conditions of employment, an agreement signed off on by employees, Morgan said.
Contact Chris Kudialis at ckudialis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Find him on Twitter: @kudialisrj.
