Gag Me With A Suit

No Winners In
Seabrook SLAPP Suit

Seabrook voters ousted the mayor and three councilman in February. However, the ousted officials remained in office until the May election. No contracts were signed with the Port of Houston Authority and the ousted officials dropped their libel suit against the petitioners.

So how did the recall petitioners celebrate their victory? By paying $55,000 in legal fees.

Perhaps Abraham Lincoln said it best: “Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser in fees, expenses and waste of time.”

Incidentally, the petitioners dropped their counter-suit.

Exercising civil rights in Seabrook could land you in court.

Angered over the city’s negotiations in the proposed Bayport expansion, several Seabrook residents launched a recall petition seeking the removal of the mayor and three city councilman. The city officials countered by filing a lawsuit against the petitioners, claiming the recall petition was libelous.

The city officials claimed their names were maligned by the accusation that they may have a possible conflict of interest between their official duties and personal business affairs.

Reportedly, the petitioners have racked up $20,000 in legal fees defending themselves. City Secretary Michelle Glaser has also been named in the suit for certifying the petition and the accompanying signatures of more than 500 Seabrook voters.

The city officials claim Glaser never presented the certified petitions to the council and therefore the recall vote, scheduled for February 12, should not occur.

Mayor Robert Robinson dropped his lawsuit on December 30. The recall effort remains.

The petitioners are seeking reimbursement of their attorney fees.

Click here to learn about this case in detail:

Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse

2500 City West Boulevard, Suite 300 • Houston, Texas 77042
E-mail: sosueme@ • Administrative: (713) 267-2302 • Fax: (713) 267-2267