Casino mogul’s lawsuit against columnist dismissed

A federal libel lawsuit between Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith and Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson formally ended Thursday when the casino mogul agreed to a dismissal of the case with prejudice and to pay for Smith's costs associated with the three-year battle.

"They will walk away," said attorney Donald Campbell, who represented Smith.

Adelson requested the dismissal, but his attorneys appeared disappointed Monday when U.S. District Judge Bruce Markell placed conditions on his ruling. Markell said the case would be dismissed with prejudice, which prevents the plaintiff from bringing the same lawsuit against the same plaintiff in the future. The judge also deemed Smith the prevailing party and ordered Adelson to pick up the costs and expenses.

Campbell said Thursday that while the case is over, the bickering is not.

Campbell estimated that he spent more than $12,000 defending Smith. Campbell represented Smith pro bono, but racked up bills traveling, taking depositions and conducting research. Adelson is contesting those expenses, Campbell said.

"As we speak, Mr. (Ryan) Loosvelt, one of his eight attorneys on this matter, has sent an e-mail quibbling with the costs we submitted as directed by the court," Campbell said. Campbell declined further comment on the case.

Adelson filed the libel lawsuit against Smith in 2005 in Los Angeles after Smith published his book "Sharks in the Desert." Adelson took issue with a couple of paragraphs in the book, which was published by Barricade Books Inc. Smith moved the case to Nevada in 2007, when he filed for bankruptcy protection. The California case has been stayed since the bankruptcy filing.

"In light of Plaintiff's voluntary dismissal with prejudice, Defendant is deemed the prevailing party in both cases," Markell wrote in his Thursday order.

Campbell suggested that Adelson was eager to get the case dismissed to prevent confidential gaming records from becoming public during trial.

Adelson reached a settlement with Barricade Books, which also was sued for libel. A New York judge is expected to rule on the settlement agreement Nov. 20. Barricade Books agreed to a judgment of $250,000, but it is unlikely the publishing company has the ability to pay Adelson.

Campbell told Markell that Barricade doesn't have $250,000 and owes more than $1 million to creditors, who must be paid first.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.