Mediation ordered by federal judge over lawyer bills for Farmers Branch immigration litigation

[TexasTowelie]

Litigation over a failed ordinance against illegal immigration in Farmers Branch drew lawyers roughly accustomed to $370 to $800 an hour.

The tally for pending bills is about $3.1 million for three rounds of appeals for the winning teams of attorneys, as we reported here earlier this week. Under federal rules of civil procedures, “reasonable” costs go to the prevailing legal teams. That would be the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, two units of the ACLU and the pro-bono unit of the Dallas corporate law firm Bickel & Brewer.

U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle ordered all parties into mediation by no later than May 31, 2014. That’s a bit past the May 10th mayoral and council elections in this suburb just north of Dallas.

All sides will face retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan, who now works with a private Dallas-based mediation and arbitration service.

Already the city of Farmers Branch has shelled out $6.1 million in illegal immigration-related costs. About $850,000 was spent on the city’s defense in two Voting Rights Act suits. The last suit was won by 10 angry Hispanic plaintiffs and resulted in a federal judge ordering single-member electoral districts. That resulted in the first Mexican-American ever to sit on the city council.

More at http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2014/05/mediation-ordered-by-federal-judge-over-lawyer-bills-for-farmers-branch-immigration-litigation.html/ .

[font color=green]Really DMN, you have to describe the plaintiffs as 10 angry Hispanics? I see some race-baiting in the article.[/font]

[Gman]

1. What? They don't have the right to be upset

For being discriminated against ? Or we're not supposed to talk about it? I've never known and nobody that throws out the term "race baiting" will ever give a straight answer. It's happened with me many, many times over the years.

Otherwise a good OP.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I used that term because it seemed like a description of Hispanics being "angry" was inflammatory.

The Hispanic community was definitely being discriminated against and definitely have a right to talk about it and be upset.

I didn't see the need for the DMN to use that adjective because it gives the perception that Hispanics are the "angry" people and it would stir opinion (particularly white people) away from their cause. I apologize if there was any misunderstanding and am willing to remove it from my OP if you (or others) believe that I crossed the line. Please send me a DUMail because I thought that the characterization of Hispanics by the DMN was inappropriate and the adjective was unnecessary, but I admit that maybe I'm the one that made the inappropriate comment instead.

It's easy to offend others and that was not my intention.

[Gman]

3. Hey, no problem.

Had I paid closer attention the fact that it was you that posted this I know I would have seen it in that light.

I didn't mean to be jumpy there. You post great stuff. Sorry about the misunderstanding.

[Vogon_Glory]

4. The Origin Of The Ordinance

I believe that the Dallas Observer once ran an article as to the so-called reasoning behind this ordinance.

The motive wasn't simply xenophobic bigotry. The deeper reason was that Farmer's Branch had become an inner suburb of an ever-expanding Dallas. The minds behind this ordinance thought that they could improve their tax base by new development, but to make that happen, the inconvenient and non-white Hispanics had to go.

The ordinance was a (racist) first step to encourage Farmer's Branch Hospanics to leave.

Years later, some of the people behind this ordinance have been fired by Farmer's Branch voters.

[TxDemChem]

5. I thought you were going for that 12 angry men vibe.

So I work at the border of Dallas and FB, but I try really hard to not let any of my money go to FB. We have a McDonalds, Subway, Marshall's BBQ by us if we need to go out for breakfast or lunch, but I just can't do it. I say make them come up with the funds the hard way. They took on two very expensive cases to appease their older, racist constituents (my boss and her husband included).

Hat tip to TexasTowelie for kicking some good info our way!