Attempts to replace legal representation prior to Summerlin murder-suicide shooting failed
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — There is a “line” attorneys in Nevada are told to steer clear of when determining if a conflict of interest could prevent them from performing their roles competently and diligently. Concerns were raised about that line being approached before Summerlin’s murder-suicide shooting that left three dead – all with a family connection in some way – on Monday.
Richard Dreitzer, president-elect of the State Bar of Nevada and practicing Las Vegas civil attorney, said he tries to “stay far back from the line” when accepting work where his emotional attachment may convolute judgment. In family court especially, he says those emotions run high.
“You’re dealing with the outcome of a case determining whether someone gets to see their child and under what circumstances. That’s obviously the most, you know, emotional thing you could possibly imagine,” Dreitzer said inside the 8 News Now studios.
Mother was concerned about safety before Las Vegas law office shooting, documents reveal
But, emotions were already running high between Ashley Prince and Dylan Houston, a divorced pair that share two young children together and were amid a custody dispute for their two young children. Dylan’s father and attorney in this case, 77-year-old Joseph Houston II, shot and killed Ashley and her husband, who was also her attorney in this case, Dennis Prince.
The case spans prior to 2024. Court documents indicate Joe brought forth a motion in previous months to disqualify Dennis from representing his new wife, Ashley. The specific reason why is sealed, as is the presiding judge’s reason.
While no documentation showed Dennis attempting to remove Joe from his position in this case, divorce documents between Ashley and Dylan indicate he was barred from being present when the duo exchanged children. The order further stated the exchange must happen at a police station when school was not in session.
Though Dreitzer declined to comment on whether he considered there to be a conflict of interest in this case, he acknowledges no Nevada law or state-bar policy prevents an attorney from taking on a case due to an identified conflict of interests. The attorneys are the ones determining if there is a conflict.
“It’s always a case-by-case determination that you make,” Dreitzer said.
“The attorneys determining that themselves? There’s no outside person or entity deciding that?” 8 News Now asked, to which the president-elect confirmed.
On the day of the shooting, court documents show Ashley filed an emergency motion for sole custody of their children who was once split between the two. This was preceded by accusations in divorce documents that Dylan used cocaine and alcohol while in custody of their children.
Documents further state Dylan was eventually ordered to submit to alcohol testing four times a day while he was watching his children.
This happening during a custody dispute made the situation all the more contentious when a judge allowed the family to stay on the case involving family.
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