Texas Supreme Court ruling sides with prolific donor
Fair Courts E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Source: Houston Chronicle
Date: 5/3/2008
Article reports that a recent Texas Supreme Court decision "that sided with the state's most prolific campaign contributor," has critics claiming that "big money [is] influencing elected judges." In a case over a defective house, a suburban couple sued Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, claiming that he refused to make repairs to their home in a legal dispute dating to 2000. Perry, who "has given millions of dollars to state and federal candidates," contributed over $260,000 to all "nine judges on the all-Republican panel" that overturned an $800,000 arbitration award to the couple. Alex Winslow of Texas Watch, said, "[t]he court today carved out a special decision for the man who gives the court more campaign cash than any other individual in the state."