Conflicts At The Courthouse
There is a sickness in Corpus Christi, Texas. Compromised council members throwing money to their friends. But you should also be mad at an unelected judge named Sandra Watts because of her CONFLICTS AT THE COURTHOUSE.
Conflicts At the Courthouse
I grew up with the sounds of Italian singer Jimmy Roselli in my house.
Here he is on the Ed Sullivan show.
I’ve been to Italy just once… But I’ve never got to go to see the economic cliffside gardens in Ravello, Italy.
Maybe Doug Allison will tell me all about it someday.
I didn’t know Allison when he sent out invitations to his special event last May.
I’m sure that’s the only reason he wouldn’t have invited me to his wedding.
Ok. He doesn’t like me… But don’t worry… I’ve got wedding pictures to share.
Allison finally saying I do to his bride… Former Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales.
Look who posted them.
Watts is an uber rich Corpus Christi trial lawyer. The mere mention of his name and a lot of powerful folks in Corpus seem to get scared….
Watts gave us a blow by blow of the Allison nuptials… He was the first man to the woman marrying Allison and Canales.
His wife Tammy.
Here are the couple’s months earlier at the Waldorf Astoria in Los Cabos… must be fun to be rich.
Wonder who paid for the hotel… because Allison hadn’t paid more than 73000 in property taxes to Nueces County.
But I digress… Back to the wedding.
Brother Douglas gets his girl Watts shared on Facebook.
Mikal’s so-called brother Doug Allison is the lawyer for Ajit David, who sued taxpayers because he was mad and the city was giving his competitor the same thing had gotten.
Tax incentives for investment in new hotels near a dilapidated downtown.
The city council that is staged a marathon discussion.
didn’t even try to explain why they were settling the lawsuit for nearly half a million dollars
They seem to do this guy a lot of favors…don’t you wonder why.
“You are the biggest deflector I think I’ve ever met,” said Ajit David.
Ajits lawyer Doug Allison was also the lawyer for former corpus auditor George Holland when he was internally investigated for misconduct.
Allison saved Hollands job and then Holland accused the Homewood folks of likely fraud in getting two million… All because a meaningless date on a FEMA press release was redacted.
“It seems like something that should have been disclosed day one from right away, right?” said Philip Ramirez.
We agree… But there was another question we had… Did Allison give this public official legal help for free.
“I’m glad you’re here. You know, somebody’s coming from the outside that doesn’t live here, that doesn’t been looking at all this bullshit going on and coming in,” said Deven Bhakta.
“So how much did you pay Mr. Allison.” said Wayne.
“You’re lying you don’t know your facts,” said George Holland.
Holland never provided any facts… And he ignored allegations that Ajit David cheated taxpayers on building permits.
Or the use of tax incentives.
The crusading city council simply ignored the conflict.
We’ve now filed a criminal complaint against Holland after a former auditor in Hollands office claimed Allison did his legal work for this public official for free.
Corpus police chief Mike Markle has refused to talk with us… We will see him soon.
The city is hiding most of the public records you deserve to see… Including communications between Ajit David, Doug Allison and city council buddies.
But we have seen the records of the so-called auditor’s investigation and they are laughable.
And if you watched the mayor’s failed removal hearing on YouTube… You saw Doug Allison… Prosecutor… Lawyer for Ajit David.
Allison is the mayor’s political nemesis.
“The mayor should resign,” said Doug Allison.
In this town… If you are a fan of Allison’s wife Barbara Canales… Chances, are you think Mayor Paulette Guajardo is your enemy. The women’s political feud is no secret.
We found the pictures of Allison’s may Italian wedding as we expanded our investigation in Corpus Christi… Looking at conflicts in the courthouse… Taxpayers are spending so much damn on these legal fights at the very least they deserve a judge who’s not compromised.
It’s because Mikal Watts mom is playing a very big role in the town novella… For decades she has been a powerful local judge.
“Let us honor her as we honor all of our heroes,” said Barbara Canales.
Canales would give Watts a job after she lost hers due to age… Commissioners approving a 900,000-dollar auxiliary court.
Friends helping friends.
“It has never been about labels. It’s the law the facts of the case,” said Sandra Watts.
Watts is now an unelected judge… And she is refereeing one of the city’s expensive legal dramas… The hotel wars.
Watts was assigned the case by presiding judge Missy Medary after another judge recused.
Lawyers on both sides have given her campaign money. Our system almost expects it.
And it was well underway when we first arrived in town.
We have no reason to think Sandra Watts was at the Allison’s wedding… And I know it’s a small town… But she’s never mentioned in court that Doug Allison. Is like her son’s brother.
We had to find it during our social media investigation.
But there’s a much bigger problem. It has to do with Allisons first marriage.
We found out who Allison’s lawyer was for his personal divorce in the 90s. more than thirty years ago… Look it was judge Sandra Watts.
What a small world. While it was a long time ago… Judge Watts had an attorney client relationship with Allison.
Watts should have recused from the very beginning in our view… She didn’t even disclose it to every but maybe that’s exactly why she didn’t.
All those in favor. Any opposed so no, the motion carries.
In August the legal developments were fast and furious… The city’s economic board voted to settle the Homewood suites issue for good.
Promising to pay the developers 1.5 million dollars in tax incentives within three days.
The developers would pay as they had offered the other half a million to the city to help defray taxpayers’ legal bills.
Thanks to city council… Taxpayers could end up losing that too.
The settlement document also claims Doug Allison has confidential communications between city councilmen and the city’s lawyers.
Taxpayers deserve to know who the Benedit Arnold is.
New settlement video the city council is discussing what could come next.
Corpus city manager Peter Zanoni… Ajit David… and lawyer Doug Allison then took legal action to block the payment.
“I thought you didn’t like me,” said Wayne.
“I don’t,” said Councilmember Gil Hernandez.
Council man Gil Hernandez doesn’t like me, but he talked to local tv channel 3.
The Homewood folks went back to court again this time to get a judge to issue a restraining order against the city… To require the money, they were promised to be paid… And they won.
They signed court order says, “each day of delay compounds the injury to plaintiff”.
But here’s the twist… The Homewood folks didn’t go to judge Sandra Watts for that court ruling.
They went to another Judge Jack Pulcher, of the 105th district court.
The Homewood lawyers refuse comment… But I don’t think anyone thinks that was accident… It was intentional. Watts clear conflicts are now known.
And here’s why taxpayers should be mad at Judge Watts.
For months she has refused to rule on whether Ajit David could legally sue the city in the first place.
How he was legally injured because another hotel got tax money.
If that had happened months ago taxpayers could have saved a bunch of money… And the questions shouldn’t end there.
After Judge Pulcher said the city couldn’t block the payment for now… Doug Allison was back in judge watts court.
Wanting her to stop the payment again. Watts said OK. Ignoring what Judge Pulcher did.
Two judges… Same County… Completely different it makes you wonder.
When we asked to put a camera in the courtrooms to watch the next hearing.
Judge Pulcher said yes.
Judge Watts said we could video in the court before and after…. But not during the actual court hearing. Kind of defeats the point your honor.
After headlines that falsely accused them of being some kind of criminal.
After city council has now voted to rescind their tax incentives.
Now they believe the auditor targeted them for investigation as a favor to Doug Allison and Ajit David.
Don’t be surprised if there’s a brand-new legal fight about to happen.
One that targets city council members individually.
On social media this picture has gone viral… Allison on the right… The back of Ajit Davids head… And councilmembers Vaughn and Hernandez sharing a table at a building contractors luncheon.
Blogger Tito Ochoa said they are all “Sitting together like a nest of snakes.”
I’m sure Doug Allison will be counting his money… He should pay his tax bill immediately. He should send a thank you card to city councilmembers… It’s the biggest gift he’s got since his wedding.
Corpus Christi taxpayers shouldn’t have to wonder if weddings… Resort vacations…
Relationships that should have been disclosed… Are creating conflicts in the Nueces courthouse.
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