“STORM” clouds breaking up in oyster fight
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A Houston Appeals Court has dealt a major blow to that Chambers County “backroom deal” giving a company called “STORM” control over half the oyster production in Galveston Bay.
Ever since the Chambers-Liberty County Navigation District leased 23,000 acres of Galveston Bay to a company run by a local judge, the huge legal fight has been underway. If the sweetheart deal was approved, the company would control reefs always open to all Texans. STORM would also take over reefs that have been leased from the State of Texas for decades by families who have invested millions to cultivate them.
The battle has been waging over where this legal fight would be fought. Chambers County, where the politicians who cut this deal hold their meetings, or Galveston County, home to the reefs STORM is trying to take over.
Justice Laura Higley of the 1st Court of Appeals has ruled the legal battle over the oyster fight should absolutely remain in Galveston County, including the ultimate fight over whether the Chambers Liberty County Navigation District ever had the right lease the land for oyster production in the first place. The State of Texas has already filed suit, accusing the Navigation District and STORM of cutting an illegal deal.
“Thank God, a victory for the people of Texas,” that was the reaction of Lisa Halili, of Prestige Oysters, one of several oyster companies fighting the legal battle against the Chambers County deal. “We know we will get a fair trial in Galveston County,” says Lisa Halili.
“STORM had a two-pronged plan to make millions,” says Wayne Dolcefino, President of Dolcefino Consulting. “First, cut a secret backroom deal with the local good ole’ boy politicians, then fight the battle in front of the home town judge. Not going to happen.”
“Every day we discover more and more evidence that this deal stinks worse than a bucket of oysters left in the sun.”
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