Last Friday’s Reno Kazoo-Journal carried a screaming front page headline about Washoe District Judge Brent Adams stepping aside in another major case. The story quoted a San Francisco lawyer who said he personally discovered campaign contributions to Judge Adams from defendants. However, he admitted in a sworn affidavit that he was tipped by a non-involved Renoite.

I got the story first. A longer version of the following was uploaded to my websites and targeted mailing lists (including the RGJ) the morning before the Reno paper hit the streets: Late Wednesday, attorneys filed a thick motion in Washoe District Court demanding the disqualification of Judge Brent Adams in decade-old litigation between warring U-Haul millionaire heirs.

The plaintiffs allege that because Adams received substantial amounts of campaign cash from the defendants and their interests while the case was before him, he cannot effectively handle the case.

“In 2008, Judge Adams received $36,000 in campaign contributions from several of the Defendants (including $10,000 from non-party U-Haul International, Inc., a subsidiary of one of the Defendants). Despite Plaintiff’s previous request for reassignment to another judge, neither Defendants nor Judge Adams disclosed these campaign donations to Plaintiffs,” the motion reads.

Plaintiff lawyers stand to be very embarrassed for not having noticed publicly available campaign expense reports for almost four years.

Judge Adams recently recused himself from a case involving lawyer-developer Harvey Whittemore after noting that in 2008 he received $10,400 from Whittemore business interests and family members.

Lawyers and judges have been dancing the recusal rhumba in the high-stakes Whittemore vs. Seeno brothers litigation. Judge Steve Elliott (former Sparks city attorney) was randomly selected to replace Adams but defendants’ lawyers used a peremptory challenge to disqualify him. The case was then randomly assigned to Judge Jerry Polaha who received $3,000 from Whittemore in his 2000 election campaign. Polaha has not announced whether or not he will step aside.

If Washoe County runs out of jurists, might the long-missing Judge Crater come out of a long retirement to save the day?

I know several of the guys involved in the above screwed-up mess and hereby serve notice that if any of the parties are looking to cut costs, I’d be glad to screw up at least as badly for just half the price or less. How hard can it be?

All lucky 13 documents are exclusively available for viewing at http://DoctorLawyerWatch.com/

El Día de César Chávez

Nevada’s tenth César Chávez Day will be over by the time you read this. Last month brought two events at UNR and my March 31 extravaganza. See CesarChavezNevada.com.

Gov. El Brúte Obtúse seems to be emulating his predecessor, Jim the Dim. Both forgot their legally mandated duty to proclaim March 31 as César Chávez Day. To save them embarrassment, I reminded Gov. Gibbons in 2010 and Gov. Sandoval last year and last month. As I write this at 2:11 a.m. Saturday, the governor’s website shows no proclamations issued since Jan. 20. Democratic Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung got a unanimous resolution from her four Republican colleagues and Assemblymember Olivia Diaz, D-N. Las Vegas, did the same from the Nevada Hispanic Legislative Caucus. Proclamations might only be ceremonial gestures, but they mean a lot to people and there’s no downside — especially given Republican weakness among Latino voters. Gov. Sandoval declined two invitations to speak at my event.

Toljaso Department

Last summer, I broke the news that St. Mary’s Hospital was on the market. The final buyers, Prime Healthcare, are apparently a bunch of law-breaking, union-busting, profit-gouging sleazoids. In an interview with KRNV TV-4, their PR guy blamed his workers.

“Unions control the Democratic Party in California,” he groused. Maybe he doesn’t know that nurses at St. Mary’s are represented by the California Nurses Assn. and other staff by my union, Communications Workers of America Local 9413/AFL-CIO. Lord, please bring back sainted Sister Seraphine.

Support the Nevada Citizen TV Project

To help re-establish a people’s TV channel hereabouts, you can contribute via ReSurge.TV or call me. Thanks to those who have already anted up. The Barbwire TV show is still in reruns. Check the expanded web edition of this column at NevadaLabor.com.

Sometimes, cars fight back

George “Battling” Nelson, boxing guru of United Auto Workers Local 2162/AFL-CIO, is recovering from painful ribs after overdoing macho stuff, namely moving snow tires. I resemble that remark. I was down for more than two weeks last month having sprained my back lifting a heavy 16-ounce jar of Paul Newman’s Own Spaghetti Sauce. I thought about suing the charitable company started by the great actor, race driver and humanitarian. Then it occurred to me that the package bore a proper warning: “Industrial Strength.”

If Tribune subscriber Nelson wants to sue the tire manufacturer, I know some local lawyers greatly more capable and far less expensive than the suedeshoe California yahoos noted above.

Thanks for loving this fool

On April Fool’s Day 1976, Andrew Barbano met his only wife. Betty Joyce Donlevy (1941-2005) was Carson City manager for Sparks-based Pauline’s Sportswear. Barbano was emcee of a Pauline’s fashion show at Pastor Thunder’s (his real name) church. That April Fool’s Day lasted 30 years. Betty rests with her firstborn, Debra Joyce Donlevy (1959-1978) in the capital city.

Be well. Raise hell.

Andrew Barbano is a 43-year Nevadan and editor of NevadaLabor.com. Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Tribune since 1988. E-mail barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us.