In filing, lawyer says he finds breaches by N9NE manager

An attorney hired a year ago by Palms owner George Maloof to investigate the manager of restaurant and nightclub operator N9NE Group said in a court filing last week he found evidence of "both civil and criminal violations of law."

The Palms and N9NE Group have filed lawsuits and counterlawsuits in Clark County District Court.

N9NE Group head Michael Morton manages the joint venture between the two companies, which operates the trendy restaurants and nightclubs at the off-Strip hotel-casino.

Maloof believes Morton diverted company resources to develop a wine bar restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas called La Cave.

Attorney Donald Campbell was brought in by Maloof last year after Nevada Gaming Control Board member Randall Sayre, in a letter to the industry, said casino licensees were responsible for actions inside their gaming operations, including actions at independently operated nightclubs.