Fraud case reinstatement tests Gage’s promise to fight to the end

And now, back to the ballgame.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday reinstated the federal fraud case against attorney Noel Gage and medical consultant Howard Awand, reversing U.S. Senior District Judge Justin Quakenbush's eyebrow-raising earlier decision.

The decision of Quakenbush to toss the indictments of Gage and Awand threatened to dismantle the FBI's lengthy investigation into allegations of fraud involving doctors and personal injury lawyers specializing in medical malpractice litigation.

Although Gage has said he'd fight allegations of corruption to the end, you'd think at some point he might be tempted to check his calendar, cut a deal, and go on with the rest of his life.

DUNNE'S DEATH: Dominick Dunne was more than a keen observer of the celebrity scene. He was, in my opinion, one of the nation's best writers.

Dunne, who died Wednesday at 83 in Manhattan after a long bout with bladder cancer, had an uncanny ability to work rooms filled with the famous and infamous, publish bruising articles, and somehow remain on the A list. He collected facts, distilled truth, and held up a mirror that revealed the hypocrisy and human tragedy of the beautiful people.

Known as a crime writer and regular contributor to Vanity Fair, he was capable of powerful and compelling storytelling. I heard echoes of John O'Hara in Dunne's insightful prose.

I also appreciated his tenacity.

Despite obviously being very ill, Dunne covered the O.J. Simpson case last year in Clark County District Court. With his note pad and pen, he listened closely to the give and take of the defense and prosecution, scribbling here and there. Simpson's memorabilia robbery case lacked the drama of his murder trial, but Dunne was a pro. Rather than phoning it in, he stuck it out and worked as hard as his ailing body would allow.

He also fell asleep in court more than once. He was chaperoned by his friends from Court TV and local freelance writer Steve Friess, who wrote a lengthy profile of Dunne for The New York Times Style section.

Dunne had difficulty maintaining his interest in a case with no corpse.

At one point, he whispered to Friess, "I need a body. This is so boring. I don't care about this shit."

If he didn't care, it never showed in his remarkable writing.

SUBSTATIONS SECURE: Metro Capt. Mark Tavares wasted no time in delivering good news to Mount Charleston residents Thursday evening at the area's town board meeting: Their prized police substation would remain in place.

"Nothing's going to change," was the message Tavares delivered, calming the nerves of not only the mountain's residents (myself among them), but acknowledging the substation plays an integral role not only for neighbors but for the mountain's more than 1 million annual visitors.

Tavares said other rural substations, which he supervises, would be safe during the department's ongoing budget analysis.

"Right now and for the foreseeable future" the resident officer program would provide service to the outlying areas of Clark County.

VEGAS LOVE: When Virgil wrote "Love conquers all," perhaps he had Michael Jelinsky and Kristie Gulia in mind.

Jelinsky was convicted and sentenced on federal charges related to the multimillion-dollar, international illegal bookmaking ring he operated with his brother, Jeffrey Jelinsky, and a crew of other wiseguys in Las Vegas. They ran a lot of their action out of the sports books at the Palms and the diminutive Poker Palace in North Las Vegas. As part of the government's investigation and prosecution, agents and accountants rounded up the Jelinsky crew's substantial cash holdings. It amounted to millions.

In the process, the feds also plucked the diamond ring from the finger of Michael Jelinsky's fiancée, Gulia.

Talk about a bad beat. She loses her rock, and now her man is breaking them.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Whenever I hear someone say double-tough former brothel owner Jimmy Miltenberger "knows where the bodies are buried," I'm not sure it's a metaphor. Now Miltenberger, who is in his 80s, is very sick. Consider this an interview request, Jimmy.

BOULEVARD II: Those expecting fireworks Wednesday at the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce luncheon with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid must have been disappointed. The atmosphere inside Four Seasons was absolutely cordial.

The questions were tame. The overflow audience, filled with business owners and people who are probably concerned about federal deficits and health care reform costs, uttered not a peep of protest. Reid even received two standing ovations.

Obviously, this isn't your father's chamber of commerce.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.