An ex-wife of a slain Las Vegas attorney shot in a Summerlin law office nearly two years ago is suing his killer’s family and law firm, alleging they helped plan, or had prior knowledge of, the attack.
Joseph Houston, 77, shot and killed attorney Dennis Prince, 57, and Dennis’ new wife Ashley Prince, 30, before turning the gun on himself in April 2024. Dennis Prince was representing Ashley Prince in a contentious custody dispute with her ex-husband Dylan Houston, who was being represented by his father, Joseph Houston.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in Clark County District Court by Nancy Bernstein, the mother of Dennis Prince’s son, against Joseph Houston Law, the estate of Joseph Houston, Dylan Houston and his mother Katherine Houston. The complaint claims Dylan Houston participated in his father’s plan to kill Dennis and Ashley Prince, while the other defendants knew of Joseph Houston’s plan.
“As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ conduct, (Dennis Prince’s son) lost his father and has been deprived of the love, companionship, comfort, affection, society, solace, moral support, training, guidance, education, and financial support that Dennis would have provided,” the lawsuit claimed.
The Metropolitan Police Department’s final report on the shooting, released in September, found no evidence of Joseph Houston telling anyone his plans to kill Dennis and Ashley Prince.
Son knew father’s plan, lawsuit alleges
Four days before Katherine Houston’s April 8 deposition, the complaint alleged that Dylan Houston emailed Dennis Prince, writing, “you have no idea what’s coming do you, all your cards are on the table and I haven’t played one.” This email demonstrated Dylan Houston’s foreknowledge of and participation in a plan to kill Dennis and Ashley Prince, the lawsuit claimed.
Dylan Houston told police he had no knowledge of his father’s plan to kill the two, according to Metro’s final report on the shooting. Metro ruled him out as a suspect in their homicide investigation in July 2024.
The complaint claimed Dylan Houston had also sent threatening messages to Ashley Prince in the midst of their custody and post-custody hearings, writing, “I don’t want to see you unless you’re in a casket,” “I will chisel you down to a weaker and worthless sack of bones” and “I’ll crush you in ways you don’t even comprehend.”
Joseph Houston and Houston Law were aware of Dylan Houston’s threatening behavior toward Ashley Prince, the complaint claimed.
Prior to Katherine Houston’s deposition, the lawsuit claimed, Ashley Prince texted private investigator Hal De Becker. She wrote him, “Do you have any private security you recommend? Dylan has a ton of guns in that house,” according to the complaint.
Ashley Prince canceled security before Katherine Houston’s deposition because she was told Dylan Houston would not be in attendance, according to the lawsuit. The complaint claimed Dylan Houston communicated that he would not be at the deposition “as a means to further the planned attack.”
After Joseph Houston shot and killed Dennis and Ashley Prince during Katherine Houston’s deposition, the complaint claimed, Katherine Houston left the room without checking on either victim and did not try to talk to Joseph Houston about his actions before he shot and killed himself.
The lawsuit requested a jury trial and that Bernstein and her son be awarded over $45,000 in damages.
Last February, Ashley Prince’s parents, Paul and Julie Page, also filed a lawsuit in Clark County District Court claiming civil conspiracy over their daughter’s killing. It is scheduled to go to jury trial in September 2027, court records show.
A lawyer representing Katherine Houston in that case did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Monday evening.
Contact Spencer Levering at slevering@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0253.
