Despite lingering questions over district boundaries and key dates, Texas’ 2012 election cycle is in full swing. Grassroots activism will play an important role in many races. Allegations of Williamson County public corruption and rampant cronyism have abounded over the last 18 months with these concerns now manifesting in an aggressive, diverse grassroots movement that Keep Reading…
The holiday season is providing no break in attention to Williamson County’s ongoing political turmoil that reached a new peak last week with Michael Morton’s exoneration in a false murder conviction that kept him wrongfully incarcerated for nearly 25 years. With Morton’s legal team requesting a formal Court of Inquiry action to determine if now-District Keep Reading…
In the year since Williamson County lawsuit suggests county not so “safe” for all described that county’s strong culture of cronyism, who would have predicted Michael Morton’s exoneration of a false murder conviction and nearly 25-year wrongful incarceration would even moreso reveal the public corruption threats under which Williamson County residents appear to live. And Keep Reading…
The “forgiveness doctrine” is a little-known Texas statute that serves as a legal loophole to provide incumbent county officials, upon re-election, a “clean slate” with regard to acts of misconduct. As incumbents across Texas prepare for the 2012 elections – including some with controversial or questionable records – voters should be aware that re-election coupled Keep Reading…
Estate of Denial® provides news, analysis and commentary on abusive practices occurring in probate courts and via probate instruments (wills, trusts, guardianships, powers of attorney). We provide original perspective to educate the public regarding this growing threat to both individual freedoms and property rights.Celebrity gossip websites ran a story last week claiming that Whitney Houston is “broke as a joke.” They even quoted an unnamed (of course) source claiming that Whitney would be homeless if not for the generosity of friends. She called someone to ask for $100, the story goes. If true, that would be quite a fall Keep Reading…
Sam Manzo, the Southington caretaker on the old Smoron farm, is still without his inheritance and still living in probate hell. I stopped by to talk with Manzo on Tuesday because it’s been two years since I first heard about the elaborate scheme that sought to disinherit Manzo and take the broken down old Smoron farm Keep Reading…
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. – Heir to a Texas air conditioning fortune and founder of his Wellington polo club, John Goodman is now fighting on multiple legal fronts. Investigators say Goodman drove drunk at twice the legal limit, sped through a stop sign and killed 24-year-old Scott Wilson. The lawsuit filed by the victim’s parents reveals Keep Reading…
Over the past months we’ve posted several stories about a dispute between heirs of Elizabeth Beall Banks, the former Belward Farm property owner known also for her anti-development activism, and Johns Hopkins University. A condition of the 1989 property sale requires “the property would be used only for academic purposes, research or medical care with Keep Reading…
As problems with the Tennessee judiciary are a regular topic here at Estate of Denial®, this post from Memphis’ The Daily News was noted with interest: GOP Proposals Take Aim at Tennessee Courts Republicans in the Tennessee Legislature are taking a close look at the judiciary branch this year, with several proposals expected to be Keep Reading…
The Agitator names Williamson County D.A. John Bradley 2011 ‘worst prosecutor’ (TX)
A recent Williamson County politics inspire grassroots activism column noted the nomination of District Attorney John Bradley for The Agitator’s 2011 Worst Prosecutor of the Year Award and a Meet Your Winner posting has now proclaimed Bradley the winner. Per The Agitator: Williamson County, Texas, District Attorney John Bradley is the winner of our 2011 Keep Reading…