The owner of a medical spa in Nevada has sued a former employee and her husband, claiming they performed discount cosmetic surgery on the premises.

In her complaint, Tracy Hurst, owner of the Spa at Summerlin, said that to add insult to injury the couple diverted her clientele to the business they ran late at night and on Sundays, The Las Vegas Sun reported Friday.

Hurst charges that Nancy Vinnik, a nurse, and her husband, Dr. Charles Vinnik, performed procedures like Botox injections and laser skin treatments. The Vinniks allegedly allowed other surgeons to use the spa to insert breast implants and other cosmetic surgery.

A nurse told The Sun that at times the operation was bringing in $30,000 a night.

Michael Stein, a lawyer representing the Vinniks, said the couple would never risk their medical licenses for “chicken feed.” He also said they would have been taking a stupid risk.

“So the owner decides to go back to her office to get something and you’re sitting there working on patients? It’s ridiculous!” he said.
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MedSpa, Medical Spa, Nevada Spas, Spa Legal Issues

Hundreds of Locals Furious Over Day Spa Closure

Nine spa employees are without their paychecks, and dozens of their customers out some money after a local salon shut down unexpectedly.

The employees from the former “Utopia Day Spa” say it happened on February 5th, shortly after the owner complained about high rent costs and then suddenly moved her salon to a new location. Now they say she owes tens of thousands of dollars to locals who paid for massages and pedicures, but got nothing in return.

The spa owner had been in business here in Reno for about a decade. Her customers and employees say they never saw this coming.

Utopia used to be in the Mayberry Landing Shopping Center off McCarran, but the mall owners say the tenant left in January without any warning. Bill Warner spent $15.00 on gift certificates for his wife and co-workers, only to find out Utopia had disappeared.

“I’d like to see what the legal proceedings are and if we can get some or all of that money back,” said Warner.

The landlords say while a new spa owner is already occupying the old space, they still see dozens of angry victims at the center each day. They say they too have been hurt and that the former Utopia owner owes them thousands of dollars in unpaid rent money.

“It’s very tragic. Everyone has gotten hurt who has trusted that business would stay here. It’s tragic,” said Mayberry Landing owner, Amy Gerbus.

After leaving Mayberry Landing, the spa owner moved her services across town to the “Hotte Skin and Nail Lounge,” where she planned on renting a space. Although the owner of that spa says she also never received any rent.

The former Utopia receptionist, Katie Krueger, who is now working at the new location, says her old boss sold gift certificates to hundreds of people over the Christmas season, totaling more than $67,000 dollars.

She then left without honoring them, and without giving nine employees their last paychecks. Krueger says her former boss owes her more than $700.00.

“Pretty hurt. We were very surprised and shocked. We had no idea this would be happening. We’re hurt,” said Krueger.

Krueger says she feels for the unsuspecting customers who’ve lost hundreds of Christmas gifts to their loved ones, massages, facials, and pamper treatments that they’ll never be able to redeem.

We tried to reach the former Utopia owner on her personal cell phone several times, although there was no answer.

The owner of Hotte Skin and Nail Lounge says she feels for the customers who were taken by Utopia, although she is not able to honor the their gift certificates at her store. After all, she too is just another small business owner trying to make it in this economy.

If you were a victim of the Utopia Spa, the Nevada Attorney General’s office encourages you to file a complaint with “The Bureau of Consumer Protection.”

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Spavelous Reported warning last year prior to the holidays that in this economy, you should never purchase a spa gift certificate from a single spa or a chain of spas.  Spa gifts are a wonderful gift, but do so by giving your loved ones a Spa Gift Card back by VISA like the Spavelous Gift Card.  As you can see, it does not matter if the spa has been in business 1 day or ten years, there always is a chance of a business closing.  Give a spa gift card to the ones you love with care.

Nevada Spas, Spa Closing, Spa Closings Reno Spa Closed

The Harmon Hotel & Spa Opening to Be Postponed

CityCenter Holdings, LLC, a joint venture between MGM MIRAGE and Infinity World Development Corp, announced certain scope changes related to The Harmon Hotel & Spa which include postponing the opening of the hotel to late 2010 and cancelling The Harmon residential condominium component.

CityCenter Holdings, LLC is currently developing a spectacular 67-acre vertical city on the Las Vegas Strip. The Harmon is just one component of the CityCenter complex. Once complete The Harmon Hotel & Spa will feature approximately 400 rooms and suites. The Harmon as developed would have had approximately 200 residential units, of which 88 are under contract to be sold.

Purchasers will be entitled to receive refunds of their deposits, but will be given the opportunity to purchase units at the Residences at Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, Vdara and Veer Towers. Construction at The Harmon will continue through completion of the structure and exterior, with interior fit out to be deferred.

With the cancellation of The Harmon residential component as well as other additional cost savings the company now anticipates total cost savings of approximately $600 million up from its previously stated $400 million. In addition, by postponing The Harmon Hotel by one year CityCenter will defer approximately $200 million in construction costs to complete the interior fit out of The Harmon.

“By cancelling The Harmon condominium component, we will be able to avoid the need for substantial redesign of The Harmon resulting from contractor construction errors,” said Robert Baldwin, President and CEO of CityCenter. “In taking these steps related to The Harmon we can remain focused on maximizing the operating performance of Aria, Mandarin, and Vdara to their desired levels.”

All other components of CityCenter remain on schedule for a December 2009 grand opening. Aria Resort & Casino is a dramatic soaring hotel tower designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli architects and is CityCenter’s centerpiece. The sophisticated, contemporary design will be demonstrably different from any building that has preceded it and will provide a rich variety of experiences at street level. The resort will feature approximately 4,000 rooms and suites, 150,000-square-foot casino, fine dining and world-class entertainment. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel & Residences will feature 400 hotel rooms and 227 residential units and will be managed by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Veer Towers will contain 670 residential units in two towers surrounded by the best retail, restaurants and entertainment. Vdara is a 1,495 hotel-condominium tower designed by Rafael Vinoly. Crystals retail and entertainment complex will offer approximately 76 outlets featuring high-end fashion, boutiques, dining and entertainment venues.

“The construction progress to date on this enormous project is nothing short of incredible,” said Mr. Baldwin. “Over the next 11 months we will begin energizing these architecturally beautiful buildings with the hiring of more than 12,000 individuals for this dynamic resort complex. Creating this many jobs will have a tremendous impact for both Las Vegas and the State of Nevada for many years to come.”

“We have full confidence in the long term future of the Las Vegas market and the success of CityCenter,” said Chris O’Donnell, Chief Executive Officer of Infinity World Development Corp. “This is an appropriate action in the current circumstances.”

In October 2008, CityCenter secured a $1.8 billion senior bank credit facility which can be increased to $3.0 billion. Both sponsors continue to actively pursue additional financing for the project.

“These scope changes received overwhelming support from our CityCenter bank group,” said Dan D’Arrigo, Executive Vice President and CFO of MGM MIRAGE. “CityCenter has two supportive sponsors who are fully committed to this project. We will continue to seek financing that is in the best interest of CityCenter as well as its sponsors.”

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Las Vegas Spas, Nevada Spas