Continuance granted in lawsuit over fatal shooting

GALVESTON - The plaintiff in a 2011 lawsuit arising from a 2009 fatal shooting recently had her motion for a continuance approved.

Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss issued the order Sept. 25, allowing Shana Hansen's counsel to tend to an important medical matter.

Hansen is suing local bait shop owner Robert Stanley Ott for allegedly shooting her husband, Michael Wayne Hansen, to death on Oct. 22, 2009.

The widow claims Ott fatally shot Michael Wayne Hansen near their residence "without there existing any reasonable and justifiable cause for the use of deadly force.”

According to a March 2010 article in the Galveston County Daily News, Michael Wayne Hansen was banned from the bait shop after he allegedly threatened to kill Ott. Ott claimed Hansen went to his house armed, according to the article.

A grand jury declined to indict Ott on offenses of murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and the use of deadly force in self-defense. Ott filed an original answer stating "deadly force" was "immediately necessary for his protection."

In her motion for a continuance, Shana Hansen stated she needed additional time because her attorney, Michael L. Aldous, had major back surgery and required approximately two weeks to recover.

A hearing to discuss Ott's motion for summary judgment has been set for 2 p.m., Oct. 8.

Attorney Carlos Garza of Texas City is representing Ott.

Case No. 11-cv-1660