By Steve Barket Las Vegas Nevada, August 21, 2013
The Theme Here is “Acceptance of Responsibility”
Let’s see how this plays out with John L. Smith.
(alleged actions by Smith)
I’m going to tell you a story about Smith, a libel suit, cancer treatment, divorce, and how it all ties together.
John L. Smith, the opinionist at the Las Vegas Review Journal, wrote a book published by Barricade Books in 2005 entitled, “Sharks in the Desert: The Founding Fathers and Current Kings of Las Vegas.”
Sheldon Adelson was a topic of discussion in the book. Adelson is the owner of The Venetian resort and one of the wealthiest men on the planet, worth billions. What Smith wrote about Adelson in the book was not truthful. Adelson didn’t like that. So he sued Smith and the book publisher for libel. His suit against Smith was for $15 million. And it wasn’t about the money.
This all happened during a time when Smith’s 8-year-old daughter was undergoing treatment for life-threatening cancer. Kind of a sad story so far, isn’t it? But there’s more.
And remember our theme here: acceptance of responsibility. Throughout this story, we have at its core a man who refuses to accept responsibility for his own actions.
Now, Smith is not Adelson by any stretch when it comes to financial resources. However, Smith was not without means. He had put away a nest egg of more than $200,000; he had well-valued real estate on Mt. Charleston, Sandy Valley and Goldfield; and a salary in the low six figures — somewhere in the $150,000 range. Not too bad, right? Again, not Adelson, but not too bad.
So with his daughter ill and facing a $15 million libel suit, what’s a guy to do? Well, you reject a $1 settlement and admission of guilt, which is the deal Smith was offered by Adelson. One dollar and an acceptance of responsibility. And Smith rejected it.
Smith could have been free and clear of the $15 million libel suit hanging over his head if he had just simply accepted responsibility. He could have used his accumulated wealth to help take care of his daughter. But he didn’t do that.
I know what it’s like to deal with a child’s illness. I had a child who was very sick for a long time, and who needed very expensive medical treatments and medicine. I sacrificed everything to pay for it. I lost my house, my car, I had to move in with my mother in law … I did what it took to get that treatment. I didn’t look for a freebie to try to save my money.
I guess Smith and I are different. Very different. I accepted the responsibility as a father to spare no expense, including the loss of most of my possessions, to make sure my son got well. Smith, well … there’s that responsibility thing again. Or the lack thereof.
Now comes the divorce. After all this transpires, Smith’s wife files for divorce from him. And what does he do? Now he dips into his nest egg of more than $200,000 to pay for the divorce.
Does this guy know how to work the system, or what?
Just Google: also L.O.L the corrections “clarification on 10/13/07, more excuses !
John L. Smith / October 12, 2007 / Columnist pursues bankruptcy protection
Responsibility, John L. Smith. You might try it sometime.