Woman sues federal judge over condo flooding

A woman has filed a lawsuit against Senior U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson, saying his bathroom above her condo flooded and caused "severe damage" that she has not been able to completely repair for more than five months.

Alejandra Rossignoli says the July 20 flooding damaged her unit at Big Horn at Black Mountain Condominiums in Henderson, along with the furniture, appliances and personal belongings inside. She paid a restoration company to extract standing water and dry the property to prevent molding. That meant industrial fans and "other equipment" caused her energy bill to "sky rocket," according to her lawsuit.

Rossignoli rents out the unit as an investment property "and since the flood has been unable to rent the property, which has caused her to lose months of income," according to the complaint, which was filed Monday in Clark County District Court. She said she does not have the money to make the repairs, and has tried to recover her losses by contacting the Dawsons and their insurance company, "to no avail."

Both Kent and Ruth Dawson are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

"The defendants have failed to act reasonably and promptly," the document states. "The defendants had a duty to exercise ordinary care as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances."

The lawsuit, which claims the Dawsons were negligent and acted with "a careless disregard for the rights, welfare and safety" of Rossignoli, asks for at least $20,000 in damages plus attorney's fees.

Rossignoli, who is represented by Henderson attorney Rena McDonald, said she sent the judge a letter in November requesting reimbursement in the amount of $59,337.

The Dawsons, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, sold their unit for $76,500 earlier this month, according to online records from the Clark County assessor's office.

Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker