During the campaign, Schneider accused Tarkanian of setting up telemarketing companies that were later found to be running scams that victimized the senior citizens and that he turned "state's evidence" against the telemarketers to avoid being prosecuted.
Tarkanian practiced civil law until 1995 and admitted he helped set up the companies, but had no involvement in the day-to-day operations of any of them was not aware that any of the companies were already engaged in illegal activity at the time that he helped to set up them.
Schneider stood by statements he made in a 2004 debate with Tarkanian and in campaign ads and fliers accusing him of criminal activity.
Senator Harry Reid, testified that Tarkanian was not part of the investigation into the companies.
On July 31, a Clark County District Court jury ruled in Tarkanian's favor and awarded him $50,000 in damages.