Getz
A petition filed by Beaumonter's Embracing Transition Toward Election Reform hoping to take the depositions of the founders of BEST was dismissed Monday.
BETTER filed the petition April 8 in Jefferson County District Court, seeking to investigate a potential lawsuit and take the depositions of Oveal Walker III and Paul Jones.
The litigation stemmed from campaign flyers BEST, a BETTER opposition group in support of the Beaumont Independent School District, distributed before the May election.
In its petition, BETTER alleged that BEST pamphlets included false information about the group's mission.
"Petitioner is a specific purpose political action committee ... for the purpose of supporting a measure to be place on the May 14 election ballot to change the manner in which BISD trustees are elected," the petition states. "The potential claim involves allegations of slander and libel."
BETTER sought to change the BISD school board from seven single member districts to five single member districts with two at-large positions – a goal that has been accomplished.
With the purpose achieved, BETTER attorney Mike Getz filed a motion to non-suit on June 27, court records show.
That same day, Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court, approved the motion, dismissing BETTER's allegations of slander and libel.
Port Arthur attorney Langston Adams represented Walker and Jones.
Case No. A189-745