Opinion ID: 709238
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pierce's Background

Text: 4 To understand the plaintiffs' allegations regarding Pierce's bias, it is helpful to step back several years. 1 In the mid-1970's, Pierce was employed as a private investigator, polygraph examiner, and process server for Russ Jones and Associates, a private security and investigation firm that was at that time owned by Russ Jones. When Jones refused to permit Pierce to become a co-owner, Pierce became angry and resentful. While Jones was away on vacation, and had temporarily left Pierce in charge of Jones' company, Pierce started his own business in direct competition with Russ Jones and Associates. Not surprisingly, the two men exchanged angry words upon Jones' return. During their heated exchange, Pierce threatened to run Jones' company out of business. 5 After leaving Russ Jones and Associates, Pierce's own business prospered. Dick Pierce and Associates soon becoming the largest private security company in Northern Nevada. In 1986, Pierce became one of the five members of the Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board. A creature of Nevada Statute, the Board consists of the Attorney General (or his designate) and four members appointed by the Governor. Nev.Rev.Stat. Sec. 648.020(1). Of the Governor's appointees, one must be a private investigator, one a private patrolman, one a polygraph examiner, and one a representative of the general public. Nev.Rev.Stat. Sec. 648.020(2). The Board is responsible for licensing and regulating private investigators, private patrolmen, process servers, polygraph operators, repossessors, dog handlers, and companies providing these services. Nev.Rev.Stat. Secs. 648.030, 648.060, 648.070. No person or company may engage in any such business unless licensed by the Board. Nev.Rev.Stat. Sec. 648.060. As a member of the Board, Pierce had authority to vote on the licensing of companies which would compete directly with Dick Pierce and Associates.