New Badlands lawsuit targets Clark County over $8.2 million in property taxes
Developer Lowie claims county illegally collected taxes on land taken by City of Las Vegas
The costly Badlands Golf Course saga has entered a new phase, with developer Yohan Lowie now suing Clark County for allegedly collecting more than $8 million in property taxes on land that courts ruled he no longer legally owned.
In an unusual twist, the City of Las Vegas—which just paid Lowie $286 million to settle their years-long dispute—has been forced to join the lawsuit on Lowie’s side due to a court order. The previously unreported case was filed in April 2025.
The basis for the lawsuit
Lowie’s company, 180 Land Company, claims it continued paying property taxes to Clark County on the Badlands property even after the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the City of Las Vegas had taken the land through “inverse condemnation” in 2017.
According to the lawsuit, despite multiple court rulings establishing that Lowie no longer owned the property after August 2, 2017, Clark County continued to bill and collect property taxes totaling approximately $8,239,388.23 through March 2025.
The lawsuit argues that Clark County:
- Violated state law and court orders
- Was unjustly enriched by collecting taxes it had no right to receive
- Refused to remove property tax liens even when asked by both the City and Lowie
Why the City joined Lowie’s side
The City of Las Vegas finds itself in the awkward position of suing another government entity alongside its former adversary. City officials explained their involvement stems from a judge’s order after 180 Land Company filed a motion to join the city as an “indispensable party.”
“The reason for the judge’s order, simply put, is that Clark County may be required to reimburse previously collected property taxes from the property to 180 Land and the city,” a city spokesperson said.
The City and Lowie were forced to pay the disputed taxes “under protest” to complete the $636 million sale of the Badlands property to avoid breaching their purchase agreement. If Lowie wins, the City could recoup some of its tax payments.
The costly Badlands timeline
The Badlands dispute has become one of Nevada’s most expensive land battles:
2015: Lowie purchases the 250-acre golf course intending to build housing
2017: Courts rule the City effectively “took” the property by denying development rights
2018-2024: Multiple lawsuits result in judgments exceeding $285 million against the City
December 2024: Las Vegas City Council approves settlement framework
March 2025: City purchases Badlands for $636 million, immediately sells to Lennar Homes for $350 million, pays Lowie $286 million
April 2025: New lawsuit filed against Clark County over property taxes
Financial impact spreads
The Badlands settlement has already forced Las Vegas to implement a citywide hiring freeze to offset the massive payout. The city used its liability insurance and property damage funds to cover the $286 million settlement.
Now, with this new lawsuit, the financial ripple effects could extend to Clark County if the court orders the return of millions in property tax revenue collected over nearly eight years.
What’s next
Clark County has not commented on the pending litigation. No hearing dates have been set as of Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the 254-acre Badlands site remains vacant while Lennar Homes prepares to build 1,750 new homes on the property. The Las Vegas Planning Commission has already approved land-use entitlements for the project.
The case represents yet another chapter in what has become a cautionary tale about the costs of land-use disputes. What began as neighborhood opposition to a housing development has resulted in hundreds of millions in taxpayer liability and continues to generate new legal battles nearly a decade after Lowie first purchased the golf course.
For Queensridge residents who fought the original development, the irony is stark: not only will housing be built on the former golf course, but taxpayers—including themselves—are footing a massive bill for the city’s failed attempts to stop it.
Image Sources: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/legal-battle-erupts-over-las-175149841.html
Category: Local News
Subcategory: Legal/Courts
Date: 07/29/2025
