Former Las Vegas Councilman Steve Miller is amending a lawsuit he filed against the Big Elephant Club to include Councilman Michael McDonald and his political consultant.
Miller claims that during the discovery process of his lawsuit he uncovered information suggesting that both McDonald and his consultant, Kent Oram, were behind a last-minute campaign mailer that Miller found defamatory.
But both McDonald and Oram denounced Miller's decision to add them as defendants, claiming simply that Miller's information is wrong.
"I had nothing to do with it," McDonald said Tuesday of the campaign mailer that reached 21,500 homes in Ward 1 just days before the primary election that pitted him against Miller and three other opponents. "Mr. Miller needs to grow up. The election's over, and he needs to move on with his life.
"He's just a bitter man."
McDonald easily won a majority victory in the May 4 primary, nullifying the need for a general election for that seat. Days later, Miller sued the Big Elephant Club, whose name was printed on the campaign mailer in question. The club is a special-interest group that supports Republican causes.
Miller claims the mailer was false and defamatory because it said, "Steve Miller even became the first person ever removed from the Opportunity Village Board of Directors. Miller was found to be exploiting the handicapped to advance his campaign."
Miller was elected president of the Opportunity Village board in 1985. He resigned from his post in October 1986 to run for City Council. He said he resigned to avoid being in conflict with the organization's bylaws.
Jim Tucker, president of Passkey Systems, has turned over a delivery receipt showing that 21,500 mailers were "sold to Michael McDonald." Tucker also included a photocopy of a check for $2,956.01 from Paladin Advertising Inc. paid to Passkey Systems for postage on the mailer, Miller said.
Paladin Signs is located at 2290 S. Jones Blvd., Suite 100 -- the same address as Oram's consulting business. McDonald lists Paladin on his April 27 campaign expense report as the recipient of $7,462 in campaign money for printed signs, posters, fliers, novelty items, T-shirts, buttons and brochures.
"I'm having serious doubts as to whether Big Elephant Club is involved," Miller said Tuesday amid rumors that other lawsuits are pending by both Big Elephant Club and Passkey related to the mailer. "I think the evidence we've uncovered so far points to McDonald and Oram."
Oram vehemently denied any connection between his business and Paladin related to the mailer. He is an investor in Paladin Signs. Paladin also rents its space from his business, he said.
"You can't stop people from suing, but he'll lose," Oram said, when informed Miller plans to name him in the lawsuit.
The Big Elephant Club, has repeatedly denied involvement in the mailer.
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