Lawyer/Lobbyist Harvey Whittemore in for the fight of his life

Former Lionel Sawyer & Collin's partner, Harvey Whittemore, is in for the fight of his life on a number of fronts. After having departed quietly from LSC some time ago, on January 27, lawyers James Pisanelli and Kent Robison filed suit against Whittemore, in Clark County, on behalf do their client, Wingfield Nevada Group Holding Company (controlled by Tom and Albert Seeno, Jr.), alleging Whittemore had embezzled millions of dollars for his personal and political benefit. Whittemore fired back days later in Federal Court with a complaint of his own, claiming he was owed over a billion dollars by the Seenos while also alleging that the Seenos (who maintain and interest in several Nevada casinos, including the Peppermill in Reno) had been engaged in racketeering and making death threats against Whittemore. It looks like it will be an all out brawl as Whittemore has hired his former LSC partner and litigator Dan Bowen. The competing complaints are juicy and make reference to a Who's Who of Nevada lawyers including Whittemore's convicted attorney brother. Just last week, a new twist to the story as the FBI investigates Whittemore for engaging in illegally funneling money to many politicians, including Harry Reid, Shelley Berkeley and Dean Heller, among others. Whittemore tries to down play the investigation by stating the wreck less allegations in the Seeno suite have spurred on the inquiry. Even if that is true, Whittemore isn't taking any chances and has hired Las Vegas criminal defense attorney Dominic Gentile. What, no Oscar Goodman? Makes for an interesting start to 2012, but watch out, a lot of people will get caught in the cross fire on this one.