Lawyer / Attorney - Las Vegas Region

January 2010 -- Article about Neal Hyman and his Representation of Mesquite, Nevada Homeowners

On January 14, 2010, Lawyers and Settlements published an article about Neal Hyman and his representation of homeowners in Mesquite, Nevada for construction defects including hillside drainage defects against their developer and builder. To read the article, click here.

December 2009 -- Construction Defect Lawsuit Filed Involving Multipe Homes in Mesquite with Hillside and Drainage Defects

This law firm recently filed a complaint against a developer/seller and contractor which constructed multiple homes in a development in Mesquite, Nevada. The homes were built against a hillside and the homeowners were sold their lots and a portion of the hillside behind them (unknown to some of them). Various misrepresentations were made like: "you won't have any maintenance or repair obligations of the hillside, you don't own the hillside and the hillside is graded and constructed sufficiently so water will drain away from your homes." Everytime it rains, water flows down the steep hillside and floods the homeowners' backyards. Their backyards literally become a mud pit. Our experts have opined that the hillside was not graded properly, is defectively designed and/or constructed to drain water run-off away from the homes and does not have adequate retaining walls. There is evidence this developer/seller and builder knew of the defects prior to selling the homes. The developer/seller and builder recently filed an answer and it is anticipated they will sue various subcontractors soon through a third-party complaint.

October 2009 -- Article in Las Vegas Sun about Sexual Assault at Centennial Hills Hospital and this Firm's Representation of Patient Victim

To read article in the Las Vegas Sun dated October 12, 2009, regarding American Nursing Services, Inc.'s bankruptcy and this firm's continued lawsuit against Centennial Hills Hospital and Valley Health System due to its employee's sexual assault of a patient admitted to emergency room for seizures, click here


September 2009 -- Lawsuit Filed Against Nursing Home in Henderson, Nevada

A lawsuit was filed against a nursing home in Henderson, Nevada. Our client's deceased wife was a resident of this nursing home, which was supposed to take care of her and ensure that she was bathed and turned in bed regularly. Without prior notification, his wife was transferred to a hospital for a blood transfusion. When this occurred, the hospital promply identified severe level four pressure sores (bed sores) on her back and buttocks, and reported the nursing home to governmental authorities. Our expert has reviewed the records, which show that the nursing home knew or should have known of the bed sores prior to them becoming level 4 and prompt action should have been taken to cure them (the bedsores were not even noted in their records). It was noted by the hospital that she was lacking nutrition and hydration upon intake at the hospital. Due to her low protein level, the pressures sores were unable to heal on their own. There is also evidence she was not bathed and turned regularly. Our client and the Estate of his wife are suing the nursing home for negligence and intentional conduct, which include punitive damages. A claim for wrongful death is asserted.

July 2009 -- New Lawsuit Filed Against Steven Farmer, Centennial Hills Hospital, Valley Health System, LLC, Universal Health Services and American Nursing Services, Inc. due to Sexual Assault of Patient

On July 24, 2009, in the Las Vegas Review Journal (click here to read article), it is reported that a new lawsuit has been filed against Centennial Hills Hospital, Valley Health System, LLC, American Nursing Services, Inc. and other parties. that lawsuit involves a patient of Centennial Hills Hospital, similar to the one represented by this firm, who was sexually assaulted while admitted as a patient and while suffering from seizures. This new lawsuit is even more evidence that Centennial Hills Hospital, Valley Health System, LLC and American Nursing Services, Inc. were negligent and intentionally at fault for permitting Mr. Farmer, a certified nurses assistant, to work at the hospital and handle these patients. While handling and transporting them, he sexually assaulted them. The victim represented by this firm is currently engaging in discovery and Centennial Hills Hospital, Valley Health System, LLC and American Nursing Services, Inc. have made "no" efforts to try to resolve the case being handled by this firm, despite repeated attempts to mediate. Evidently they prefer to make victims of their employees spend considerable time and money prosecuting a case with clear liability and substantial damages. Recently, this firm filed a motion for spoliation of evidence against Centennial Hills Hospital and Valley Health System, LLC. It seeks striking of their answer and entry of summary judgment on liability as Centennial Hills Hospital and Valley Health System, LLC destroyed critical surveillance video tapes at the hospital after knowing there was a claim and after receiving certified letters demanding preservation of the tapes, which violates Nevada law and subjects them to severe sanctions.

Law Suit Filed Against Valley Health System LLC dba Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center, American Nursing Services and their Nurses Assistant Steven Farmer Who Committed Sexual Assault Against a Patient

See video of Channel 13 interview of Neal Hyman on September 4, 2008, concerning the lawsuit filed on September 2, 2008, against Valley Health System LLC dba Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center, American Nursing Services and their nurses assistant, Steven Farmer.  It concerns their mishandling of and failure to provide security for a patient, who was the victim of a sexual assault by a nurses assistant, Steven Farmer, who was working at the hospital.  Mr. Farmer is currently being criminally prosecuted for sexual assault and open or gross lewdness.  The lawsuit alleges negligence and reckless/intentional conduct and seeks punitive damages.Read story in Las Vegas Sun dated September 18, 2008 Read story by Channel 13 on September 4, 2008, about lawsuit filed by Neal Hyman on behalf of a sexual assault victim at Centennial Hills Hospital Read story in Summerlin Home News about forthcoming lawsuit by Neal Hyman on behalf of victim of sexual assault at Centennial Hills Hospital in Las Vegas See video of Channel 13 interview on June 11, 2008, of Neal Hyman and his client, a victim of sexual assault, at a local hospital Read story by Channel 13 on June 11, 2008, about Steven Farmer's sexual assault of a patient of a local hospital who is represented by Neal HymanRead story by Channnel 13 on May 20, 2008, about Steven Farmer and his sexual assault of a patient at a local hospital who is represented by Neal Hyman Read story by Channel 13 on May 16, 2008, about police investigation of Steven Farmer and his sexual assault of a patient at a local hospital who is represented by Neal Hyman.

Lawsuit Filed against National Pharmacy Chain For Filling Prescription at 10 Times the Dosage

A lawsuit was filed against a national pharmacy chain for filling a prescription at 10 times the dosage prescribed by our client's physician. The medication was to treat her thyroid condition. The pharmacy and its supervisors misread the prescription slip either due to negligence or conscious disregard for safety. Our client was immediatately seen by doctors in the emergency room for conditions similar to a heart attack. She has been traumatized by this gross error and is current under the care of a psychologist. She now fears all pharmacies even though she must get medications to treat her health conditions. The national pharmacy chain admits liability but denies that our client was serious injured or affected, and denies any reckless or intentional conduct that would subject it to an award of punitive damages. During discovery it will be learned how many other incidents this national pharmacy chain has had similar to this one and whether supervisors at this store had "red flags" which could have prevented this tragic incident. For example, this store was not busy (the prescription slip was dropped off and our client returned hours after it was left), the prescription slip went through the hands of multiple supervisors and staff, supervisors were on notice of the erroneous dosage as it does not come in dosages that high and was filled in two separate bottles (which is uncommon) and supervisors asked our client if she was sure this was the dosage as it seemed high, yet they failed to confirm the dosage with her physician. Punitive damages are being sought.

Automobile Collision Case Against MS Concrete Co., Inc.

This firm is prosecuting an automobile accident case against MS Concrete Co., Inc. for a crash which occurred in June 2004. Our clients are in the tiger business and used to travel the country with baby tiger cubs putting on educational seminars at schools and performing photo shoots with children and the cubs. They were traveling through North Las Vegas when the son of the owner of MS Concrete Co., Inc., one of the oldest and largest concrete construction companies in Clark County, was speeding and driving recklessly in a truck owned by the company. Nine independent witnesses stopped to give statements that the driver was reckless, spinning out his tires, fishtailing and possibly drag racing. The truck crashed into our clients' motorhome tearing it apart. Our clients were seriously injured and were taken to the hospital. Their baby tiger cub died a week after the crash. In addition to suffering from serious injuries, our clients' ultimately lost their tiger business, which has resulted in a lost earning/future earning claim in excess of $2 million dollars. Their two children, who were 4 and 8 when the crash occurred, will need medical monitoring and a healthcare plan for their entire lives. Our client who was driving injured his back and neck and may need a surgery. Their future health needs amount of over $1 million dollars. The son of the owner of MS Concrete Co., Inc. is now the owner and president of the company. His driving record consists of numerous convictions for speeding (some in excess of 20 MPH over the speed limit). Our clients contend that MS Concrete Co., Inc. negligently or recklessly entrusted the driver with a work vehicle and did not have adequate policies, practices and procedures in place to screen, train and discipline its employees with respect to driver safety. Punitive damages are being sought.

Trip and Fall Case Against Starbucks, Menemesha Development Group, Inc., Donahue Schriber Realty, United Rentals and Las Vegas Toilet Rental

This case is prosecuting a serious injury case involving a woman who was in a strip mall in Henderson who tripped at night on a dark and concealed forklift blade. The forklift was left in a parking space without any barricades, markings or cones, and the blades were dark and blended into the asphalt. The lighting in the strip mall was deficient and dim. Our client sustained major back injuries which have resulted in one surgery. She may need a follow up sugery as the pain as not gone away. She also sustained other injuries to her body, which could result in a third surgery. Her medical bills to date are roughly $200,000, and she has no medical insurance. Our experts opine that Starbucks and Menemsha Development Group violated numerous building and safety codes related to the forklift, and Donahue Schriber, the landlord and owner of the strip mall, failed to adequately oversee the construction and ensure that the strip mall was safe and properly lighted. A port-a-potty rented by Las Vegas Toilet Rentals was placed next to the forklift in another parking spot which added to the concealment and added shading to the already dark parking lot as it was placed near a light pole. Other witnesses reported that the construction was scattered throughout the small strip mall and created a disruption. Witnesses say they also tripped or almost tripped over the same forklift. Punitive damages are being sought.

Construction Defect Case Against KB Home and Pacific Pools

This firm is prosecuting a construction defect case against KB Home and Pacific Pools. It involves a new home in North Las Vegas. Our clients purchased the new home from KB Home and were told that they could construct a pool in their backyard, which was required to be compacted per code. They hired Pacific Pools to construct their pool, which was KB Home's preferred pool company. In fact, KB Home received a commission from the contract. The pool was completed and one month later large cracks in the pool shell began to develop. After superficial repairs were made, the cracks came back. A leak developed and the pool began to lose water. Pacific Pools waited two weeks to perform a repair. Concrete flatwork and the block walls around the pool have been damaged. The pool's shell is cracked and the pool has been drained for two years. This has caused these homeowners lost use of their backyard and pool for two years. KB Home and Pacific Pools both try to blame the homeowners saying that compaction and investigation of the geotechnical conditions in the backyard were their responsibility. Our experts say that is a pitiful attempt by these contractors to avoid liability and their repair obligations and blame innocent homeowners. In fact, when Pacific Pools was first made aware of this issue, the president issued a letter to the homeowners saying their warranty with it was voided as they failed to compact the backyard properly. This house was purchased new, and KB Home was required to compact it to code. Our experts performed geotechnical tests, which revealed the backyard was deficiently compacted. While finger pointing continues between KB Home and Pacific Pools, neither has stepped up to offer the homeowners a complete repair or adequate compensation, nor have they offered to pay other Chapter 40 entitlements which are required by statute. Homeowners will seek amendment of their complaint to allege failure to disclose defects and misrepresentation. That will entitled these homeowners to seek punitive damages.