Development in the Morrison lawsuit

[deewee]

I suspected there was other motivation for not accepting earlier offers to settle. IMO the reason they won't settle now is because of the amout of money spent suing...and self pride. I can certainly understand not wanting to back down now, with so much invested but then I would have never pushed it this far.

If memory serves me, I even remember a post made by the plaintiff that they've even spent their children's college money fighting this...or something to that effect. Does anyone else remember that post?

 

[mei lan]

Mei Lan, I am not going to flame you. But, I would submit that we don't know the whole story about the delays either. We don't know beyond a doubt that it's the county delaying the hearing of this lawsuit. Yet, they are getting all of the blame. I do know that Mr. Stinson battled cancer during a period of time.

I also know that while probably the most expensive attorney in Dallas (even higher than most Marietta attorneys), it's my opinion that he may not be the best. I, personally, would LOVE to see an itemized statement from Mr. Stinson that he would like the taxpayers to pay.

You may be right about him not being the best attorney. However, if there's a problem with the fees, let that come out in court as well.

RE: cause of delays - I'm not saying the county is at fault for all the delays, but it just doesn't make sense to me that the county has spent $1.5M trying to get the trial in front of a jury as quickly as possible. Not buyin' it.

 

[mei lan]

I suspected there was other motivation for not accepting earlier offers to settle. IMO the reason they won't settle now is because of the amout of money spent suing...and self pride. I can certainly understand not wanting to back down now, with so much invested but then I would have never pushed it this far.

If memory serves me, I even remember a post made by the plaintiff that they've even spent their children's college money fighting this...or something to that effect. Does anyone else remember that post?

Again, IMHO, this does not matter. Plaintiff is not obligated to settle. And again, what if it were something truly horrendous such as something that caused the death of a person. Would plaintiff be obligated to settle and possibly do away with the motivation to keep the county from doing whatever it was again? NO. Plaintiff is not obligated to settle.

I get that a lot of folks don't like the Morrisons. That's fine. But that's an entirely separate matter than their lawsuit against the county and the principles behind it. Six years is a ridiculously long time for a lawsuit to drag on with about $2M in legal fees. If a person cannot get satisfaction from the courts with $.5M in legal fees, there's no hope for the rest of us.

 

[mei lan]

Mei Lan, I meant to add, a judge can't simply throw out a lawsuit that he deems frivilous. It simply doesn't work that way.

If true, then I'd rather err on the side of citizens having the right to petition government for redress for grievances. Frivolous lawsuit or no. Let it go to trial and let a jury kick their arses to the curb.

 

[deewee]

I suspected there was other motivation for not accepting earlier offers to settle. IMO the reason they won't settle now is because of the amout of money spent suing...and self pride. I can certainly understand not wanting to back down now, with so much invested but then I would have never pushed it this far.

If memory serves me, I even remember a post made by the plaintiff that they've even spent their children's college money fighting this...or something to that effect. Does anyone else remember that post?

Again, IMHO, this does not matter. Plaintiff is not obligated to settle. And again, what if it were something truly horrendous such as something that caused the death of a person. Would plaintiff be obligated to settle and possibly do away with the motivation to keep the county from doing whatever it was again? NO. Plaintiff is not obligated to settle.

I get that a lot of folks don't like the Morrisons. That's fine. But that's an entirely separate matter than their lawsuit against the county and the principles behind it. Six years is a ridiculously long time for a lawsuit to drag on with about $2M in legal fees. If a person cannot get satisfaction from the courts with $.5M in legal fees, there's no hope for the rest of us.

I don't even know the Morrisons, so it's not a matter of whether or not I like them. I've read a few of the posts about the lawsuit, not all of them, but always had questions in my mind about why/how it had gotten this far (since I had not followed the suit from the beginning), why they spent so much money on this case, how it had originally started, what offers had been made previously...so on.

I agree that this should have been tried way before now & it's ridiculous that it hasn't. But, it is a fact that everything that's been put out there about this whole mess is one sided. You'd have to read EVERYTHING to get more of the picture, because sometimes little bits of info are posted that are left out of other posts.

I believe both sides are at fault for the expense of this lawsuit reaching the millions, and not just the county, as Mr Morrison would like everyone to think.

 

[Guard Dad]

Folks - In keeping with our rule concerning other sites, I would ask that we don't use screen names from other sites or reference posts from other sites.

We're trying very hard to not bring things from one site to another.

Thanks

 

[deewee]

Folks - In keeping with our rule concerning other sites, I would ask that we don't use screen names from other sites or reference posts from other sites.

We're trying very hard to not bring things from one site to another.
Thanks

:thumbsup
Changed my post to actual names, instead of screen names.

 

[Winchester]

Guys, the County WAS found at fault for SOME of the delays and had to pay fines for doing so. There was an article posted HERE on this board about this many moons ago. I remember reading it and it had to be here because I have not visited the other site in 4 or 5 years. If someone wants to do an archive search, you will find it.

 

[Madea]

Guys, the County WAS found at fault for SOME of the delays and had to pay fines for doing so. There was an article posted HERE on this board about this many moons ago. I remember reading it and it had to be here because I have not visited the other site in 4 or 5 years. If someone wants to do an archive search, you will find it.

I do believe both sides have contributed to the delays.

 

[deewee]

Guys, the County WAS found at fault for SOME of the delays and had to pay fines for doing so. There was an article posted HERE on this board about this many moons ago. I remember reading it and it had to be here because I have not visited the other site in 4 or 5 years. If someone wants to do an archive search, you will find it.

I don't doubt that. Hence, my saying that BOTH sides are guilty for things getting to this point.

I don't doubt that the developer, BOC, and the county did things they shouldn't have. I also don't doubt that there was a motive for the initial offers not being accepted by the Morrisons either. I'd really just like to have the case heard and be done with.

 

[Madea]

Guys, the County WAS found at fault for SOME of the delays and had to pay fines for doing so. There was an article posted HERE on this board about this many moons ago. I remember reading it and it had to be here because I have not visited the other site in 4 or 5 years. If someone wants to do an archive search, you will find it.

I don't doubt that. Hence, my saying that BOTH sides are guilty for things getting to this point.

I don't doubt that the developer, BOC, and the county did things they shouldn't have. I also don't doubt that there was a motive for the initial offers not being accepted by the Morrisons either. I'd really just like to have the case heard and be done with.

I'll give that an AMEN!

 

[mei lan]

Folks - In keeping with our rule concerning other sites, I would ask that we don't use screen names from other sites or reference posts from other sites.

We're trying very hard to not bring things from one site to another.

Thanks

Yeah, whatever. So cut my pay for this month. :snicker:

 

[deewee]

Guys, the County WAS found at fault for SOME of the delays and had to pay fines for doing so. There was an article posted HERE on this board about this many moons ago. I remember reading it and it had to be here because I have not visited the other site in 4 or 5 years. If someone wants to do an archive search, you will find it.

I don't doubt that. Hence, my saying that BOTH sides are guilty for things getting to this point.

I don't doubt that the developer, BOC, and the county did things they shouldn't have. I also don't doubt that there was a motive for the initial offers not being accepted by the Morrisons either. I'd really just like to have the case heard and be done with.

I'll give that an AMEN!

:hug

 

[ShoeDiva]

Folks - In keeping with our rule concerning other sites, I would ask that we don't use screen names from other sites or reference posts from other sites.

We're trying very hard to not bring things from one site to another.

Thanks

Yeah, whatever. So cut my pay for this month. :snicker:

I :love you! ha ha ha ha ha

 

[Winchester]

Guys, the County WAS found at fault for SOME of the delays and had to pay fines for doing so. There was an article posted HERE on this board about this many moons ago. I remember reading it and it had to be here because I have not visited the other site in 4 or 5 years. If someone wants to do an archive search, you will find it.

I don't doubt that. Hence, my saying that BOTH sides are guilty for things getting to this point.

I don't doubt that the developer, BOC, and the county did things they shouldn't have. I also don't doubt that there was a motive for the initial offers not being accepted by the Morrisons either. I'd really just like to have the case heard and be done with.

Oh I'm sure also there were delays on the plaintiff's side also. I was just saying that the County was found at fault and paid a fine for it. Why there was a delay I cannot say. I totally agree that it should have went to trial a long time ago. Everyone has a right to their day in Court, regardless if the "big boys" like it or not!

 

[LisaC]

Okay, I've read through Madea's link on my computer (my eyes couldn't handle it on my iphone). Something that this appeal has brought to light is that the Morrison's appear to have been saying that simply because the defendants added a "wherefore" sentence asking for attorney's fees, that this was a violation of the anti-SLAPP law. Now, this is just based on what I've just read, but that's bull. In EVERY lawsuit that we answer for EVERY defendant, we always put in the Prayer for Relief (or "wherefore" clause) a request for attorneys fees "and such other and further relief as this Court deems appropriate." That's standard - it's not an attempt to prevent a plaintiff from having their day in court or to stretch out the lawsuit.

 

[Solo]

I am pass tired of hearing about this. I know there is a lot more to this than the one side i have heard. I also know that from all the reading I have done on the one side that as much as I try 1+1= 2 not the 5 or 6 that they want is us to believe. I am to logical for all this and I do pay attention to all the details and they just do not add up. It is pass time for all this to end.

 

[Foxmeister]

Thad has spent a lot of time attempting to try this case in the court of public opinion. Look at how many people already believe the county is guilty of everything he claims. Does anyone think a jury could be seated on this case and not already have any bias formed in favor of the Morrison's? One thing is certain, a jury doesn't need to be seated in all civil cases. A judge alone can hear the case.

 

[ShoeDiva]

Thad has spent a lot of time attempting to try this case in the court of public opinion. Look at how many people already believe the county is guilty of everything he claims. Does anyone think a jury could be seated on this case and not already have any bias formed in favor of the Morrison's? One thing is certain, a jury doesn't need to be seated in all civil cases. A judge alone can hear the case.

No. Whether for the Morrison's or against, no way you could do a jury trial here.

 

[LisaC]

Thad has spent a lot of time attempting to try this case in the court of public opinion. Look at how many people already believe the county is guilty of everything he claims. Does anyone think a jury could be seated on this case and not already have any bias formed in favor of the Morrison's? One thing is certain, a jury doesn't need to be seated in all civil cases. A judge alone can hear the case.

A judge alone can hear the case UNLESS a party requests a jury trial. A judge can, however, rule on summary judgment or other dispository motions and dismiss the case before it gets to the jury. But, a judge cannot call the case to trial without a jury, without the consent of the plaintiffs and defendants.