Las Vegas to appeal $34M judgment in Badlands ruling

The Las Vegas City Council voted connected Wednesday to entreaty to the authorities Supreme Court a $34 cardinal judgement against the metropolis aft it was recovered liable for “taking” a astir 35-acre parcel connected the defunct Badlands Golf Club course.

District Court Judge Timothy Williams, who found the metropolis liable for the alleged authorities taking successful precocious September, awarded the multi-million dollar judgment precocious past period to 180 Land Co. LLC., a institution belonging to developer EHB Cos.

City lawmakers previously voted to entreaty Williams’ liability ruling, with the metropolis attorney’s bureau uncovering it to beryllium “legally improper.” It is the aforesaid justification that led the assembly connected Wednesday to entreaty the monetary judgement arsenic well, a determination that was expected.

EHB had sought to conception lodging connected the closed play people aft its 2015 acquisition of the 250-acre crippled winding done the upscale Queensridge vicinity adjacent Summerlin. But aft astir each of its plans stalled successful City Hall, it accused the metropolis of illegally interfering with improvement to the constituent that it made the onshore intolerable to physique upon and wiped retired its economical value.

Government-taking cases that impact parcels of 133, 65 and 17 acres stay undecided, raising concerns that the damages to metropolis taxpayers whitethorn importantly grow.

“I, on with the Las Vegas taxpayers, are getting much frustrated by the day,” Councilwoman Victoria Seaman said. “We indispensable get this settled erstwhile and for all.”

Seaman sought assurances that the metropolis was progressive successful progressive negotiations with the developer.

City Manager Jorge Cervantes said the metropolis met with EHB Cos. representatives 2 weeks ago, noting that “those conversations are ongoing.”

The metropolis has spent much than $4 cardinal defending itself successful astatine slightest a twelve lawsuits and successful unit expenses related to the politically charged Badlands dispute since fiscal twelvemonth 2015, according to city-provided figures. Councilwoman Michele Fiore, the lone dissenter to some appeals, has claimed the existent costs are astir $10 million.

Contact Shea Johnson astatine sjohnson@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-0272. Follow @Shea_LVRJ connected Twitter.