LOS ANGELES  -- "Desperate Housewives" co-star Eva Longoria is being sued for at least $4 million over her financially troubled Las Vegas nightclub.

A former partner in the Beso club, Mali Nachum, claims Longoria violated California usury laws. The suit was filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Longoria lent Nachum $1 million for the venture in 2009 and was promised repayment at 8 percent annual interest and a large stake in the club.

But according to the suit, Nachum discovered in December that the terms violated California usury laws. He estimates damages of at least $4 million and is seeking three times that figure.

A statement from Longoria's publicist calls the suit merit less and blames her former partners for forcing the nightclub into bankruptcy protection last week.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

LAS VEGAS - Las Vegas has the glitz and glamour conventioneers at the Consumer Electronics Show desire. The city also offers some of the finest hotels in the world, and for the next several days, room rates are pricey.

"The Wynn, I think, was around $269," said Canadian visitor Stan Ossias.

"They're expensive for these conventions. That's what they do. They just raise the prices," said visitor Matt Hill.

Applied Analysis principal Brian Gordon says the higher room prices provide much-needed income for the local economy. That helps keep casino workers on the job. Gordon says a weekend like this generates enormous public revenue from gaming and hotel room taxes.

LAS VEGAS -- CES, the Consumer Electronics Show begins Thursday. It is one of the valley's largest conventions. It's expected to draw 126,000 visitors. It's also keeping thousands of local teamsters and laborers busy.

The convention center's recovering business is giving local workers some job security. Inside the center, CES will highlight the latest in consumer electronics and bring the eyes of the global media to Las Vegas.

The laborers and teamsters who construct much of the inside were glad to keep their jobs during the recession and are now breathing a little easier.

With 2,700 exhibitors filling 1.6 million square feet of space, somebody's got to lay the groundwork for the CES kickoff on Thursday. Convention contractor GES was able to keep their employee numbers even at 1,500 through the recession. James Coburn is one of their journeymen.