City council member Russell Jones (also Mayor Pro Tem) of Sugarland recently presented testimony to the Texas Senate committee investigating HOA foreclosures. During testimony, he defended the current laws dealing with the right of HOA's to foreclose, and also presented a position paper of the City of Sugarland (10-15) that also reflects an attitude of protecting the HOA's as an important part of the city. The Sugarland document can be viewed at:
http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/city_hall/city_secretary/agendas/FY2010/040610cc/3a/3a.htm
What Mr. Jones failed to reveal is the number of cases Holoway Jones has filed in Fort Bend County Courts over the past several years on behalf of HOA's, through an associate attorney that works for the firm.
Mr. Lewis Smith IV, state bar number 00794656, employed by the Holoway Jones firm has filed hundreds of cases against homeowners since 2006. This represents possible attorney fees in the tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in income to the firm. You might recall that Lewis "Chip" Smith is the attorney that hangs around during Meadowcreek HOA meetings.
Mr. Jones never mentioned his relationship (partner) with Holoway Jones. In fact, he presented himself as a Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem of the great City of Sugarland, and testified as such. The testimony is available at the 1:58 mark in the audio recording available at:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/commit/c520/c520.htm (April 7th Audio)
Another speaker discussed Mr. Jones testimony at the 2:15 mark on the audio, explaining the relationship Holoway Jones has with several HOA’s in the Missouri City – Sugarland area, causing some concern with his testimony. It seemed that several members of the committee were sorry that he had left.
http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/city_hall/city_secretary/agendas/FY2010/040610cc/3a/3a.htm
What Mr. Jones failed to reveal is the number of cases Holoway Jones has filed in Fort Bend County Courts over the past several years on behalf of HOA's, through an associate attorney that works for the firm.
Mr. Lewis Smith IV, state bar number 00794656, employed by the Holoway Jones firm has filed hundreds of cases against homeowners since 2006. This represents possible attorney fees in the tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in income to the firm. You might recall that Lewis "Chip" Smith is the attorney that hangs around during Meadowcreek HOA meetings.
Mr. Jones never mentioned his relationship (partner) with Holoway Jones. In fact, he presented himself as a Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem of the great City of Sugarland, and testified as such. The testimony is available at the 1:58 mark in the audio recording available at:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/commit/c520/c520.htm (April 7th Audio)
Another speaker discussed Mr. Jones testimony at the 2:15 mark on the audio, explaining the relationship Holoway Jones has with several HOA’s in the Missouri City – Sugarland area, causing some concern with his testimony. It seemed that several members of the committee were sorry that he had left.
All too often we see this type of behavior in some of our elected officials. I heard he claimed to have support from MC city officials too. It is sad that some choose to lead a life that only benefits off of other peoples misery but what is truly sad is that we elected some people engaged in such activity to office.
ReplyDeleteMaybe an investigative report like this one done by Fox news would surface other networks operating within this industry and lobby group?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ahrc.com/new/index.php/src/tools/sub/yp/action/display/id/1863