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SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Our courts are not the place for playing games

Last month, we editorialized on a civil suit in which we found it impossible to sympathize with either party because both sides were thoroughly unappealing.

Consequently, the question of who was right and who was wrong held no interest for us. “We have no idea and we couldn't care less,” we acknowledged, “but we would like to see both parties punished for bringing this childish dispute into our courts.”

That's how we feel about the barratry suit Michael Youngblood filed last April in Jefferson County District Court against Kubosh Bail Bonding, the Kubosh Law Office, and the owners thereof, alleging he was illegally solicited for representation to settle his traffic citations.

Though scheduled to go to trial this month, the case was removed from the court's docket after defendants Paul and Michael Kubosh accused a Houston attorney associated with the plaintiff of orchestrating the seeming entrapment.

Andrew Sullo, Esq. was present when plaintiff Michael Youngblood telephoned Kubosh Bail Bonding – ostensibly to get a quote for posting bond on three traffic tickets in warrant status – and alleged was solicited for legal representation. Youngblood's call originated from, and was recorded at, the Provost Umphrey Law Firm in Beaumont.

On the recording, Sullo can be heard in the background coaching Youngblood sotto voce, according to court records.

On Nov. 21, Judge Gary Sanderson of the 60th District Court granted the Kuboshes' motion to designate Sullo as a responsible third party. Three days later, Sanderson granted Youngblood’s unopposed request to remove the case from his docket.

Sullo is represented by fellow attorney Brian Zimmerman, who is currently representing another party in a barratry suit against the Kuboshes.

Much like the case last month that left us uninterested in the outcome and unwilling to take sides, this one seems to have no innocent parties, but only “players” abusing our legal system for some personal advantage or vendetta.

As we said before, we hope for an outcome in which plaintiffs and defendants both lose.

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