Another lawsuit filed against developer in Henderson arena project
While embattled developer Chris Milam was answering questions under oath Wednesday about his alleged land fraud in Henderson, another lawsuit that involved Milam began winding its way through the local court system.
Atkins North America, Inc., an engineering and project management consulting company, sued Milam’s Las Vegas National Sports Center LLC for unpaid wages of $168,378.72 for work related to Milam’s proposed Henderson arena project. Atkins North America and Las Vegas National Sports Center entered into the work agreement Sept. 30, 2011, according to Feb. 26 court papers filed by Atkins’ lawyer, Peter Dubowsky.
On Wednesday, Milam was questioned by lawyers for the city of Henderson about the city’s bait-and-switch fraud allegations that Milam is trying to buy 480 acres of federal land to flip to residential developers instead of building the arena, as promised to the city. Milam answered questions at the Las Vegas law office of Bailey Kennedy.
During the deposition, Milam explained the city’s lawsuit is delaying his ability to pay Atkins North America, said one of Milam’s lawyers, Jay Young, a partner in the Las Vegas law firm of Marquis Aurbach Coffing. Young also noted Milam, during the deposition, said he still wants to build an arena on the property and is looking for tenants.
The city is asking a District Court judge for a preliminary injunction that would prohibit Milam from using the land for anything except an arena or stadium if the U.S. Bureau of Land Management sells the property to Milam for $10.56 million.
Milam’s lawyers have asked the court to dismiss Henderson’s lawsuit.
Contact reporter Alan Snel at asnel@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273.
