WilCo Seeks To Cut General Counsel's Job

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Williamson County Commissioners Court members voted last week to eliminate the general counsel's six-figure salaried position at the county attorney's office from the proposed budget over a conflict of interest.

In a 4-1 vote, commissioners voted August 11 to transfer the nearly $178,000 budgeted position to the general budget. Instead of having Jason Nassour handle litigation the county is embroiled in, outside contract attorneys will be retained, as commissioners voted. Nassour has worked for the county since November 20, 2017.

Responding to a Patch request for information on Monday, county spokesperson Connie Odom said Nassour's current annual salary is $111,999.94, not including benefits. Odom was out of the office last week, and was not available to immediately answer questions from Patch.

Commssioner Russ Boles introduced the motion to cut the position after Nassour declined to shut his Austin law office as he had pledged in order to work for the city free of a potential conflict of interest. Contingent on budget approval, Nassour's position is slated to be terminated once the new budget year starts on October 1.

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell was the sole dissenting vote, saying he would have preferred to discuss the matter with Nassour beforehand. But Boles said Nassour is now "adverse" to responding to commissioners' outreach efforts.

During discussion on the matter, Boles suggested the conflict of interest extends to County Attorney Doyle "Dee" Hobbs, who sued commissioners over a past relationship the county sheriff had with the now-canceled "Live PD" program. In that role, Hobbs essentially represented Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody against the commissioners court as the latter sought to continue his department's involvement in the taping of the reality show.

Commissioners ultimately were successful in cutting the county's ties with the show, but not before Chody reignited the relationship unbeknownst to them — prompting a suit of their own to compel Chody to end his department's participation with the show.

The ties ultimately were cut in dramatic fashion when the show was canceled by producers in the wake of the uproar over police brutality in America following the death of George Floyd.

In calling for the vote to cut Nassour's position from the budget, Boles noted litigation against the county has grown exponentially during Nassour's tenure — lawsuits sometimes coming from Nassour's own hands as assistant to Hobbs. "Yes, it is fair to say litigation against the county has risen," Odom wrote in a reply to questions from Patch. Asked by Patch to provide a list of suits personally filed against the county by Nassour in his role as its general counsel, Odom provided the following examples:

• In 2010, Nassour assisted prior County Attorney Jana Duty with a suit to remove prior County Judge Dan A. Gattis. The suit was unsuccessful and ultimately dismissed. Ultimately, the matter cost the county $87,000 in taxpayer money as part of a settlement, Patch learned.
• Also in 2010, Nassour assisted Duty with a suit against the commissioners court, county auditor and county budget officer relating to budget decisions. The suit was also unsuccessful and ultimately dismissed.
• Nassour is currently assisting Duty's successor, Hobbs, in a suit against the commissioners court about budget decisions again. Judge David Peeples ruled in the commissioners court favor and dismissed the suit. Hobbs has appealed and it is currently on appeal.
• Nassour also represented two plaintiffs against the county in 2006 or 2007. The matter was settled.

In the last agenda of the Williamson County Commissioners Court last week, a long list of lawsuits and claims were listed for discussion behind closed doors in executive session. The list further illustrates the growing level of litigation under Hobbs/Nassour legal representation.

"It is not possible to provide the amount that is sought in each case," Odom wrote to Patch. The executive session litigation-related items in last week's agenda included:

• Litigation or claims or potential litigation or claims against the County or by the County.
• Status Update-Pending Cases or Claims.
• Employee/personnel related matters.
• Other confidential attorney-client matters, including contracts and certain matters related to county defense issues in which the duty of the attorney to the governmental body within the attorney/client relationship clearly conflicts with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.
• Civil Action; American Stewards of Liberty, et al. v. David Bernhardt, et al., In the Western District Court, Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
• Case No. 1:17-cv-00290, Rodney A. Hurdsman v. Williamson County Sheriff Deputies Gleason et al, In The United States District Court For The Western District of Texas – Austin Division.
• Application to Obtain New Municipal Solid Waste Permit – Proposed Permit No. 2398 (Applicant - Lealco, Inc.).
• Civil Action No. 1:18-CV-49, Troy Mansfield v. Williamson County, In The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
• Cause No. 18-0903-C425/Court of Appeals Number: 01-19-00025-CV; Dee Hobbs, Williamson County Attorney v. Bill Gravell, Jr., Williamson County Judge, and Terry Cook, Cynthia Long, Valerie Covey and Russ Boles, County Commissioners; In the 425th District Court of Williamson County, Texas.
• Cause No. 19-0850-C368; County of Williamson vs. Purdue Pharma, LP et al., In the District Court of Williamson County, Texas.
• Valerie Adams - EEOC Charge No. 450-2018-03807.
• Civil Action No. 1:17-cv-01114-LY, Elizabeth Saucedo and Tettus Davis v. Jonathon Hodgkiss, In The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
• Case No. 19-0466-CC1; Billy Baskett v. Williamson County Sheriff’s Office et. al; In the County Court at Law No. 1 of Williamson County, Texas.
• Cause No. 1:18-CV-0198; Officer Mary Teague v. Williamson County, Travis County and City of Giddings, In the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
• D-1-GN-19-005511; Brian Johns v. Williamson County, Texas; In the 53rd Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas.
• Civil Action No. 1:19-CV-1163; Amanda McCoy v. Williamson County, Texas et al., In the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas Austin Division.
• Claim of Regina Wright.
• Cause No. 19-0406-C368; Anthony Garcia and Victoria Garcia et al. v. Stephen Wade Freeman et al. v. Wayne Finch et al.; In the 368th District Court of Williamson County, Texas.
• ivil Action No. 1:20-CV-00062; Jaivonte Roberts v. Williamson County, Texas et al., In the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas Austin Division.
• Case: 1:20-CV-255-LY; Jay Kreper v. Williamson County et al.; In the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
• Cause No. 20-0752-C26; County of Williamson, by and through the Williamson County Commissioners Court v. Robert Chody, Individually and in his Official Capacity as Sheriff of Williamson County; In the 26th District Court of Williamson County, Texas.
• Legal matters relating to Javier Ambler.
• Heather Vargas - Texas Workforce Commission/EEOC Charge.
• U.S. Department of Labor - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Veteran's Employment and Training Service Case # TX-2020-00017-20-G - Brooke Kronmiller.
• Case No. 1:20-CV-00842; SonWest Co. v. J. TERRON EVERSTON, in his official capacity as Williamson County Engineer, et al.; In the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
• Civil Action No. 1:20-cv-836; Heather Fiery v. Williamson County; In the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas Austin Division.

Neither Boles nor Nassour responded to messages left by Patch seeking comment.