Hearing delivers a low point for a high-profile restaurant
In the end, rowdy Ronen Nachum got Vegas lucky.
You know the Vegas luck. A gambler with Vegas luck says things like, "I'm up $50,000 and walk away a $500 winner."
Vegas luck. It's what happens when a guy doesn't realize he has the best of it.
So it is with Nachum, whose name entered the news in May in connection with a series of troubling occurrences at the posh Beso restaurant at CityCenter. Beso and its Eve nightclub are known best because they are owned in part by actress Eva Longoria Parker. With their prime locations inside the Strip's newest mega-resort, they're good places to do business.
Nachum's wife, Mali Nachum, is a percentage owner of record, but you'd forgive Beso employees for thinking her husband was the man in charge. According to eyewitness testimony, Ronen threw his weight around -- a lot. He intimidated the hired help, yelled and screamed, and even slapped a customer.
It's not the kind of behavior likely to place your business on a list of America's most beloved companies. But it did attract the attention of CityCenter security, Metro police, and Parker's aggressive security and legal team led by attorney Donald Campbell.
Campbell and part-owner Jonas Lowrance's attorney James Pisanelli successfully slapped a temporary protective order on Nachum, who fought the legal restraint through attorneys Michael Stein and Tom Pitaro.
The battle between Campbell and Pitaro was one of the most entertaining I've witnessed.
Pitaro's problem was simple. He had neither the facts nor the witnesses in his favor.
Eve nightclub security host Eric Brown: "Ronen Nachum exited the elevator, then immediately seemed to turn around and dive back into the elevator, reach back with his left arm, open-handed, fingers spread and violently bring his arm down four times, striking a young lady inside the elevator."
That woman filed a security and police report. Nachum denied striking her.
Beso chef Matthew Piekarski described an incident that arose over misplaced champagne bottles: "He picked up the two champagne bottles, threatened my job, told me I'll (expletive) fire you, you have no say here. And then threw the champagne bottle right alongside me."
Nachum downplayed the incident, which was captured on security video.
Piekarski described Nachum's treatment of a Beso handyman: "He repeatedly would threaten him to leave, go back to L.A. Threw tools at him. Tell him he didn't need to be there. Just for no reason apparently."
Campbell: "Did he engage in similar threatening behavior with respect to restaurant staff, including busboys?"
Piekarski: "Yes."
In fact, the incidents described during a protracted hearing before Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo painted a picture of Nachum as a tyrant. He didn't help himself by admitting he really didn't own a piece of the place.
Beso operations manager Roy Saunders described multiple incidents in which Nachum threatened and intimidated employees. He testified Nachum's antics generated complaints "on a daily basis."
With District Judge Mark Denton considering ongoing litigation between the parties in business court and the Israel-born Nachum already arrested on a possible immigration violation, Abbatangelo did the prudent thing: He had rowdy Ronen agree to stay away from the businesses and allowed the TPO to be stayed pending the outcome of the lawsuit.
Nachum forfeited his role in what promises to be a popular restaurant and nightclub. He was exposed as a lout and a bully.
But, so far, ample troubling evidence hasn't resulted in criminal charges. No public testimony linked him to nefarious business associates. He might even escape a deportation hearing.
He's lost a lot, but the not-so-wise guy has a chance to walk away.
That's Vegas luck, and what could be luckier than that?
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.
