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Summary Of City Of Reno V. Int’L Ass’N Of Firefighters, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 100, Scott Lundy

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court concluded that the International Association of Firefighters’ (IAFF) grievance was not arbitrable under the parties’ collective bargaining agreement (CBA) because the CBA explicitly stated the City of Reno’s statutory right to lay off any employee due to a lack of funds. Thus, the district court did not have authority under NRS Chapter 38 to grant injunctive relief.

Summary Of Stockmeier V. Green, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 99, Tom Stewart

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The court determined that Nevada’s Chief Medical Officer’s examination of inmate diets and her resulting report to the Board fell well short of what was required by NRS 209.382(1)(b) in that included no analysis of the diets of general population inmates, addressed diets at only one of Nevada's correctional facilities, and generally lacked any indication as to how the required examination was conducted.

Summary Of Sadler V. Pacificare Of Nevada, Inc., 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 98, Hayley Miller

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined (1) when stating a claim for a negligence action in which medical monitoring is sought as a remedy, a plaintiff may satisfy the injury requirement by alleging that additional medical monitoring is reasonably required beyond the standard recommendations.

Summary Of First Financial Bank V. Lane, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 96, Joseph Meissner

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined whether the definition of “indebtedness,” found in NRS 40.451, in conjunction with NRS 40.459, limits the amount a successor lienholder can recover in a deficiency judgment.

Summary Of First Financial Bank, N.A. V. Lane, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 96, Patrick Phippen

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that (1) the limitation in the second sentence of NRS 40.451 simply means a lender cannot recover in deficiency judgment actions for future advances secured but not paid at the time of default and (2) NRS 40.451 by itself does not contemplate successors in interest.

Summary Of Federal Insurance Co. V. Coast Converters, Inc., 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 95, Christian Spaulding

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

In a dispute between an insured manufacturer and its insurer, the Supreme Court determined that contract interpretation is a question of law, which should be decided by the district court. Further, to determine which policy limit applies, the court must determine on what date the loss became manifest. The manifestation date is generally a question of fact to be decided by the jury, which the district court will apply and determine, as a matter of law, which policy limit applies.

Summary Of Brant V. State, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 97, Jaymes Orr

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court upheld that the exclusion of expert testimony is left to the district court’s wide discretion, except in cases of abuse of its discretion. Expert testimony must be relevant and reliable to be of assistance to the trier of fact. Because Brant could not present scientific or other evidence that his interrogation witness would demonstrate that Brant’s brain injury caused him falsely confess, the district court’s discretion would not be disturbed and the judgment was affirmed.

Summary Of In Re: Cay Clubs, 130 Nev., 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 92, Adam Wynott

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court concluded that NRS 87.160(1) may impose partnership liability on a joint venture based on the partnership-by-estoppel doctrine and that the statute may apply to any claim that relies on the doctrine’s element of reasonable reliance. The Court clarified the statute’s meaning, stating that a partnership by estoppel requires (1) consent, manifested expressly or impliedly from the liable party’s conduct; (2) credit, not limited to financial credit, given by one party to the other; (3) and reasonable reliance by one party on the other party’s representation of a partnership or joint venture.

Summary Of Nevada Ass’N. Servs. V. Eighth Jud. Dist., 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 94, Michael Valiente

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The voluntary payment doctrine provides an affirmative defense to a claim for the recovery of money that a plaintiff voluntarily paid. The duress/coercion exception to the voluntary payment doctrine requires the plaintiff show no reasonable alternative to payment existed. Additionally, the defense of property exception requires the plaintiff show an imminent risk of losing the property.

Summary Of In Re Parental Rights As To A.L., 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 91, Stephanie Bedker

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that (1) when seeking to maintain parental rights, parents have a right to bring material evidence rebutting a NRS 432B.450 presumption that a child is in need of protection; and (2) that district courts cannot rely on juvenile court findings of intentional abuse to terminate parental rights where such evidence has been improperly excluded.

Summary Of State, Dept. Of Bus. And Industry V. Check City P’Ship, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 90, Daven Cameron

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court interpreted NRS 605A.425 and concluded that the statute unambiguously provides that a borrower’s deferred deposit loan is to be capped at 25 percent of the borrower’s expected gross monthly income. This cap includes both principal and any interest or fees charged.

Summary Of Valdez V. Cox Commc’Ns Las Vegas, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 89, Stephen Davis

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that: (1) under NRCP 21, when claims are severed, two separate actions exist and severed claims may be appealed before resolution of the other, non-severed claims; and (2) a final order for severed claims need not be certified under NRCP 54(b) before appeal.

Summary Of Terry V. Sapphire Gentlemen’S Club, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 87, Walter Fick

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court adopted the “economic realities” test of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and held as a matter of law that performers at the Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club were “employees within the meaning of NRS 608.010, and thus entitled to the minimum wages guaranteed by NRS Chapter 608.”

Summary Of Fdic V. Rhodes, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 8, Aleem A. Dhalla

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that (1) 12 U.S.C. § 1821(d)(14)(A) (the “FDIC extender statute”)[1] preempts any similarly applicable state law, in this case NRS 40.4055(1)[2]; and (2) the Court refused to adopt a rule that a state statute of repose cannot be preempted by federal law.

[1] “Under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA),…the [FDIC] acts as a "conservator or receiver" for failed financial institutions. 12 U.S.C. § 1821(d)(2)(A) (2012). FIRREA extends

the time period for the FDIC, in its capacity as the failed institution's conservator or receiver, to bring a contract claim …

Summary Of Byars V. State, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 85, Katherine Frank

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that (1) pursuant to Missouri v. McNeely[1], the natural dissipation of marijuana in the blood stream does not constitute a per se exigent circumstance permitting a warrantless blood draw, (2) NRS 484C.160(7)[2], which allows officers to use force to obtain blood samples, violates the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution[3], and (3) when a warrantless blood draw is nonetheless taken in good faith, evidence obtained from the blood draw is admissible at trial.

Summary Of D.R. Horton V. Betsinger, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 84, Gil Kahn

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that even when a case is remanded only in order for a trier of fact to determine the amount of punitive damages, NRS 42.005(3) requires that same trier of fact to first determine whether such damages are warranted.

Summary Of Oxbow Constr. V. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 86, Erik Foley

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that (1) previously leased units become a “residence” under NRS 40.630 when their titles are later transferred to a home purchaser; (2) units previously leased prior to transfer of title to a purchaser are not considered “new” under NRS 40.615; and (3) where there is at least one “new residence” in a multiple unit building, relief is available for construction defects in the limited common areas assigned to that building.

Summary Of Artiga-Morales V. State, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 77, Janine Lee

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

In the absence of a rule or statute mandating disclosure of jury background information from the prosecution to the defense, no such obligation exists.[1] If policy considerations dictate that defendants should be allowed to see prosecution-developed jury dossiers, then a court rule should be proposed, considered and adopted as implicitly authorized by NRS 179A.100(7)(j). Such a procedure would allow the court to better assess the “scope of disparity, impact on juror privacy interests, the need to protect work product, practicality, and fundamental fairness

than this case, with its limited record and arguments.”

[1] This is the majority opinion. A …

Summary Of Guilfoyle V. Olde Monmouth Stock Transfer Co., 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 78, Chelsea Lancaster

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that (1) Nevada statutory law partially abrogates common law by making a stock transfer agent’s duty the same as the issuer’s in processing a request to register a transfer of securities; and (2) a transfer agent’s statutory duty to process legend removal requests does not arise without the stockholder’s request to act.

Additionally, the Court reaffirmed the liability of a transfer agent to a stockholder for common law claims asserting misfeasance.

Summary Of Henson V. Henson, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 79, Sydney Gambee

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that (1) survivor benefits must be specifically set forth in a divorce decree notwithstanding NRS 286.590, which does not automatically confer survivor benefits and (2) immediate payment of benefits to a former non-employee spouse must be requested by motion, in accordance with California’s approach in In re Marriage of Cornejo.

[1] 916 P.2d 476 (Cal. 1996).

Summary Of Copper Sands Homeowners Ass’N, Inc. V. Flamingo 94, Llc, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 81, Vincent Godinho

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that when a third-party defendant prevails in an action and moves for costs pursuant to NRS 18.020, the district court must determine which party (plaintiff or defendant) is adverse to the third-party defendant and allocate the costs award accordingly.

Summary Of Renown Reg’L Med. V. Second Jud. Dist. Ct., 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 80, Leesa Goodwin

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that before a court may grant summary judgment sua sponte, the defending party must be given notice and an opportunity to defend itself. Thus, summary judgment cannot be granted on claims for which no party sought summary judgment in their pleadings or arguments.

Summary Of Mason Mcduffie Real Estate V. Villa Fiore Development, 103 Nev. Adv. Op. 83, Jessica Gandy

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that a commercial tenant may not be constructively evicted without “first providing the landlord notice of and a reasonable opportunity to cure the defect”, even when the defect persist after repeated failed attempts to cure by the landlord.

Summary Of Watson V. State, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 76, Lindsay Liddell

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that (1) a Batson objection to peremptory strikes should be analyzed with reference to the amount of allegedly targeted-group members within the venire; and (2) that a jury instruction is not issued in error when there was a reasonable likelihood that the jury did not understand the instruction incorrectly, even if the rule does not comprehensively explain the underlying doctrine, so long as it accurately states the law.

Summary Of Déjà Vu Showgirls V. Nev. Dept. Of Taxation, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 73, Joseph Meissner

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

Exotic dancing establishments sought a declaration that Nevada’s Live Entertainment Tax (NLET) violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution because it singles out small groups based on the content of their speech and taxes them in an effort to suppress their ideas. The Supreme Court of Nevada found that NLET does not discriminate on the basis of speech, target a small group of speakers, or threaten to suppress viewpoints or ideas in violation of the First Amendment because appellants failed to show that NLET is not rationally related to a legitimate government purpose.

Summary Of Zohar V. Zbiegien, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 74, Scott Lundy

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that an expert affidavit attached to a medical malpractice complaint, which otherwise properly supports the allegations of medical malpractice contained in the complaint but does not identify all the defendants by name and refers to them only as staff of the medical facility, may still comply with the requirements of NRS 41A.071 ]“if it is clear that the defendants and the court received sufficient notice of the nature and basis of the medical malpractice claims.” In order to make this determination, courts should read a medical malpractice complaint and the plaintiff’s expert affidavit together.

Summary Of Franchise Tax Board Of The State Of California V. Hyatt, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 71, Stacy Newman, Jennifer Odell, Jaymes Orr, Patrick Phippen

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court (1) affirmed the intentional tort and bad faith exceptions to discretionary-function immunity under NRS 41.032; (2) recognized the common law tort of publicity in a false light; (3) adopted the sliding-scale approach to proving a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress; (4) determined comity does not demand granting immunity from suit to foreign state government agencies if immunity would be available under that state’s laws, but not under Nevada law; and (5) determined comity does not require extending statutory caps to foreign state government agencies even if provided by law to Nevada government agencies.

Summary Of Déjà Vu Showgirls Of Las Vegas, Llc V. Nevada Dep’T Of Taxation, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 72, Hayley Miller

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court (1) determined the sole remedy for a taxpayer aggrieved by a final decision from the Nevada Tax Commission concerning a tax refund request under NRS Chapter 368A (the Nevada Live Entertainment Tax) is to file a petition for judicial review pursuant to NRS 233B.130 and (2) reaffirmed its judicial estoppel doctrine.

Summary Of Sfr Investments Pool 1, Llc V. U.S. Bank, 120 Nev. Adv. Op. 75, Amber Lilienthal

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

The Court determined that (1) an HOA receives a true superpriority lien on a homeowner’s property under NRS 116.3116 making an HOA lien, with limited exceptions, “prior to all other liens and encumbrances” on the property, including first deeds of trust recorded before the dues became delinquent; and (2) an HOA lien can be foreclosed on nonjudicially.

Summary Of Major V. State, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 70, Christian Spaulding

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

In a child abuse case, where a family court has previously imposed an obligation on the defendant for the costs of supporting a child placed in the care of social services, the Supreme Court of Nevada determined the district court has jurisdiction to grant restitution to the State for the cost of such child care but must be offset the restitution amount by the amount of the support obligation imposed by the family court.