The truth finally came out in Douglas County – and it’s not good news for the folks who tried to use the courts to get their way after losing at the ballot box.
In a major legal win, Nevada Judge Thomas W. Gregory ruled that the Douglas County School District (DCSD) must cover legal fees for trustees who were sued over their actions on the board.
Why? Because, as the judge made clear in his May 26th order, they acted in good faith, followed legal advice, and didn’t break any rules.
That legal advice came from conservative attorney and former Nevada gubernatorial candidate Joey Gilbert, who’s been at the center of the political storm swirling around the school district.
Gilbert didn’t hold back in his statement following the decision.
“This lawsuit was pure lawfare,” Gilbert said, “a political stunt by sore losers who lost the school board election and their control.”
Let’s break it down in plain English.
Some former school board allies didn’t like the direction the newly elected board was going – especially after they got rid of the previous superintendent and started undoing changes made during what Gilbert calls the “plandemic.”
So instead of accepting the will of the voters, these critics tried a different tactic: burying the board in legal complaints and public records requests.
If that sounds familiar, it’s because this is a trend we’re seeing more and more across the country.
It’s what happens when people can’t win at the ballot box, so they try to punish their opponents through the courts. It’s politics by other means – and it hurts kids and taxpayers in the process.
Gilbert explained that he was hired to do three things: remove the superintendent, restore the board’s original rules (which had been changed during COVID), and start an investigation into district operations.
That special counsel investigation found some serious problems, which were addressed. After that, Gilbert says, his job was done and he resigned.
Critics claimed his legal services cost the district over $500,000. But Judge Gregory’s ruling suggests that number was more political fiction than fact.
The court agreed that Gilbert and the trustees acted within the law, and that the legal costs were driven not by Gilbert’s billing but by the flood of politically charged complaints they had to defend against.
In his statement, Gilbert was blunt: “Joey Gilbert Law never charged these alleged exorbitant fees the media hyped; we conducted business, delivering results – you get what you pay for.”
And those results? The district is now in a better place, according to Gilbert, with new Superintendent Frankie Alvarado leading the way.
This case is about more than just Douglas County. It’s about what happens when conservative school board members start making real changes and challenging the status quo.
In this case, they were hit with a wave of legal attacks meant to stop that momentum.
But the court saw through it – and ruled that these trustees should be protected and reimbursed for following legal guidance and doing their jobs.
To be fair, critics of the board say the trustees were too aggressive, moved too fast, or didn’t include enough community input. And sure, it’s fine to disagree on policy. That’s democracy.
But as Judge Gregory’s ruling confirms, disagreeing with someone isn’t a license to drag them through the mud with baseless lawsuits.
In the end, this story is about accountability – and not just for elected officials, but for those trying to weaponize the legal system for political revenge.
As Gilbert put it, “Justice has prevailed.”
And for the taxpayers and parents in Douglas County, that’s good news. Instead of wasting more time and money fighting political games, the district can now focus on what really matters: educating kids.
Let’s hope more courts follow this lead – and send a message that lawfare isn’t just unfair. It’s wrong.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
