BEAUMONT – In June, The Ferguson Law Firm obtained a temporary restraining order to preserve evidence surrounding the May 23 death of Dennis Reeves, the Kirbyville High School principal.
Reeves was found dead in his pickup shortly after being forced to resign from his job.
On Aug. 31, the Ninth Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal brought by the Kirbyville Consolidated Independent School District at the request of the Reeves family, court records show.
The family argued the appeal, which the district initiated after its plea to the jurisdiction was denied, was moot because they had non-suited all their claims in the trial court.
“While we are pleased with the ruling of the court, we are also mindful that KCISD used the appellate process to further delay any meaningful discovery on behalf of Dennis Reeves’ family,” said the Reeves’ attorney, Chip Ferguson.
“The school district’s dilatory tactics leave us substantially no closer to the truth than we were months ago. There is no legitimate reason or excuse for this behavior. I am mindful of this proverb: ‘Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth.’ Hopefully, KCISD will not keep the truth long hidden any longer.”
Ferguson says Hurricane Harvey’s unwelcome arrival in Southeast Texas delayed further action since the appeal was dismissed, but that a new lawsuit is in the works.
“We anticipate drafting and filing a lawsuit in the coming days on behalf of the family,” Ferguson said. “The Ferguson Law Firm’s mission in this case – to find out the truth about the events that led to Dennis Reeves’ tragic and wrongful death – continues. It may take a different form and KCISD may have delayed us, but the mission remains clear. We intend to keep our promise to Mr. Reeves’ widow, two sons and parents. We intend to pursue all avenues to keep that promise. And, we intend to provide a full measure of justice on behalf of Dennis Reeves and his memory.
“There is another proverb worth mentioning: ‘There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way and not starting.’ We have started down this road and, for this family, we will go all the way.”
Case history
Reeves’ wife, Tammy Reeves, and their two children filed the restraining order. Reeves’ parents also joined the filing, which sought to preserve evidence over a wide range of items including personnel records, emails and cellular phones.
The parties restrained include Kirbyville Consolidated ISD, its superintendent (Thomas Wallis) and its assistant superintendent (Georgia Sayers).
Also included are several school board members including the board’s president, Chad George. George is the son of Kirbyville mayor, Frank George.
The order was signed by Judge Baylor Wortham, 136th District Court, on June 6, court records show.