Today, OJ Simpson was back in court, this time for his sentencing hearing. OJ was convicted of several felony courts earlier this year. Judge Jackie Glass sentenced Mr. Simpson to 15 years in prison, with the possibility of parole in nine years. That means OJ will be in jail until he is at least 70 years old before he could even have the possibility of being released on parole.
OJ's luck has finally run out. Yesterday the jury came back with a verdict of guilty on 12 felony counts. OJ is in custody awaiting sentencing on December 5th of this year. Simpson is facing life in prison for kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges stemming from the incident at Palace Station back in September of 2007.
The Las Vegas trial was televised but lacked the media circus of the Nicole Simpson murder trial for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in Los Angeles. I'm sure we can expect an appeal.
If you have been watching TV at all, odds are you have probably watched at least a small portion of the new OJ trial. Like all sequels, it is showing elements of the first show. Thankfully this trial hasn't turned into a huge circus like the first one. However, like the first trial, the defendant's attorney is focusing on some of the police's comments. Will this influence the jury as it did in the first trial? Maybe.
I wonder if we'll see the same reactions in Las Vegas as they had in California. Of course, this being Las Vegas, there is betting going on about the outcome of the trial. Anyone know the odds on a conviction?
It seems that there are at least one group of professionals profiting from the real estate slump-----lawyers. The developers of Sullivan Square, a large green high rise project are suing their equity partner, Harcourt Nevada.
Now there is a suit pending against D. R. Horton filed by real estate developer and two other home builders. The suit is alleging breach of contract for failing meet funding obligations for the Park Highlands community in North Las Vegas. The agreement that they are claiming DRHI violated stated that they were to fund 20% of the backbone infrastructure costs via regular monthly payments. The plaintiffs are claiming DRHI is more than $4 million in arears.
Construction of Park Highlands commenced in January of 2007 and despite the lawsuit, the plaintiffs state that the project is going forward.
Earlier this month, several clinics owned by Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada were shut down due to a hepatitis outbreak at their Shadow Lane location. Now it’s come to light that the clinic’s majority owner, Dr Depak Desai has political ties to Nevada governor Jim Gibbons. Dr. Desai served on the governor’s health care transition team before he officially took office in January of last year, which may explain the governor's defense of the clinics early on.
Gibbons expressed his concern that Nevadans wouldn’t seek medical help over the media’s “buffoonery.” On the other hand, he asked that three members of the state board of medical examiners to step down that have ties to the hepatitis scare at Clark county endoscopy clinics. One of the three is also the Chief of the Bureau of Licensing and Certification. Gibbons also stated, ”more inspections by more state staffers may not have stopped clinic practices that led to a recent hepatitis outbreak in Las Vegas” last week, despite having fought for a plan for more medical surveyors in 2007. However, he had also stated about their actions "that does constitute a criminal act" and those responsible "must be held accountable." A flip flop of his other statements....
The latest case brings the total to 7 confirmed cases of the disease and the first death. James Cromwell passed away due to liver disease secondary to hepatitis C. His wife, Janice has filed a wrongful death suit against Endoscopy Center. As with the other cases, the victim’s blood work never showed hepatitis C before he visited the clinic. Mr. Cromwell had passed away in May of 2006. Mrs. Cromwell also intends to file a police report, hoping murder charges will be brought against the doctor involved.
Robert Cox may be the next person added to the list of victims. He underwent two procedures at the Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center on Burnham Avenue several years ago. Prior to those procedures, he had never tested positive for hepatitis. Mr. Cox was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2005 and sought additional testing after receiving a letter from his medical provider urging him to do so. Mr. Cox’s test came back positive for hepatitis B as well. The results have been forwarded to the health department for investigation. Mr. Cox said the doctor who performed the procedures was Dr. Vishvinder Sharma, who recently resigned from the State Medical Board on March 7 and was a partner of Dr. Depak Desai.
This type of outbreak is nothing new. Back in October of 2002, the New York Times ran a piece about 10 cancer patients that may have contracted Hepatitis C from a Nebraska clinic. The clinic was reusing hypodermic needles. The clinic owner, Dr. Javed fled to Pakistan and was not heard from again. The next month, a survey by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) in Illinois found that 1 in 100 healthcare providers were using the same needle on multiple patients. "There is no excuse for ever reusing a needle or syringe on different patients," said Rodney Lester, CRNA, PhD, president of the 30,000-member AANA. "It is most disturbing that even 1 percent of the healthcare providers surveyed do this, potentially exposing millions of patients each year to needles and/or syringes contaminated with Hepatitis, HIV, or other life-threatening infectious diseases."
So this has been a known issue, well documented and the consquences known. I have a feeling that if other states start inspecting clinics they might find the same practices.
It has been an "interesting" week here (think the chinese proverb) in Las Vegas to say the least. A highly toxic poison Ricin was found here in the valley. Metro and the FBI are investigating and stated that currently they are treating it as a public safety issue. The poison was discovered in Roger Von Bergendorff's hotel room along with some firearms and an anarchist textbook. Von Bergendorff is still in the hospital, although the cause of his illness hasn't been determined. The FBI have also searched storage units and a relative's house in connection with the investigation. Authorities have confirmed the man was a loner.
If that wasn't bad enough, a series of local clinics were shut down due to a hepatitis outbreak. Talk about feeding the candidates with an example of why health care should be provided by the government. Clinic operators decided to SAVE MONEY by REUSING syringes, single drug doses, etc. People that used the clinic are now being tested for Hepatitis B, C and HIV, because they wanted to save a few bucks.
My neighbor actually went to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada (located at 700 Shadow Lane) on the orders of his doctor for some tests the day before the outbreak occurred. The total number of clinics shut down is now up to six. Its estimated that as many as 40,000 people could be affected from just the one clinic. The clinic operates under the umbrella of the Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, which has several other clinics (some that have been shut down) across the valley. If you have used their services, its imperative that you get yourself tested. So far, six cases of Hepatitis C have been linked to the Shadow Lane clinic. But my neighbor has been told that they will need to be tested every six months for the rest of their lives.
Five certified registered nurse anesthetists who worked at the Shadow Lane location were asked to voluntary surrender their licenses. All five complied. Local police and county prosecutors have opened a preliminary criminal investigation this past Monday. Even with all these risks being front and center in the news during a recent inspection by the Nevada Health Division found unsafe practices at other clinics around the valley.
Local attorneys have started advertising for clients, you can hear the class action train coming.
The Southern Nevada Health District has set up a hotline. The number is (702)759-4636 (INFO) Call to schedule testing or if you have health questions. This past January the clinic was told to stop reusing syringes when administering drugs.
In other more positive news, the Las Vegas Planning Commission voted to allow the Moulin Rouge restoration go forward, approving the various permits, variances, etc that are needed. Final approval for their application will need to be granted by the city council and that may happen in early April. I seriously doubt that the project will not get it. Its one of the few historic landmarks left, although only the facade and sign survived the arson in 2003. But considering the commitment of the city and Mayor Goodman about the continued revitalization of downtown Las Vegas, its a safe bet that the Moulin Rouge project will be approved. According to the developers, if the project is approved they plan on breaking ground next year and have phase one completed by the end of 2010.
source: city of Las Vegas