Harris County Attorney 2019 Annual Report

VINCE RYAN ANNOUNCES LITIGATION AGAINST INSULIN MANUFACTURERS

CELENA VINSON PRESENTS NUISANCE ABATEMENT TRAINING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

2019 ANNUAL REPORT ROCK OWENS LEADS GROUP INSPECTING DAMAGE TO I-10 BRIDGE FROM T.S. IMELDA

HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

1

A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY I am honored to serve as the County Attorney for Harris County. Our Office represents the people of Harris County by and through their elected and appointed officials. We continually strive to be, "Of Service to All, According to Law,” as we provide legal services that deliver extraordinary value to all aspects of county government.

OUR MISSION We, the members of the Harris County Attorney’s Office, both lawyers and nonlawyers, adhere to the highest standards of professional and personal ethics as we serve the people of Harris County and strive to be the best public law firm in the United States.

OUR MOTTO Of Service to All, According to Law! OUR VALUES

This has been another busy year for our Office. We have worked to safeguard the residents of Harris County by enforcing environmental laws, protecting children, shutting down nuisance businesses that harm neighborhoods, revising floodplain regulations, collecting money owed to Harris County and advising our elected officials.

We are pleased to present this overview of the services our Office has provided to Harris County and its residents in 2019.

We invite you to share this with others and to contact our office if you have any questions by calling us at (713)-7555101, or sending an email to vince.ryan@cao.hctx.net.

2

OUR ORGANIZATION

EXECUTIVE STAFF Vince Ryan County Attorney

3 Staff INVESTIGATORS

LAW LIBRARY Mariann Sears Director Joseph Lawson Deputy Director

Woody Mitchell Chief

9 Staff

12 Staff Robert Soard First Assistant

Barbara Armstrong Executive Managing Attorney

Melissa Spinks Executive Managing Attorney

Tiffany Reedy Executive Managing Attorney

Curtrina Majors Executive Managing Administrator

GENERAL COUNSEL

COMPLIANCE

CHILDREN'S PROTECTIVE SERVICES

CHILDREN'S PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Francie Aguirre Managing Attorney

Pat Butler Fran Joubert Deputy Managers

Lisa Hulsey Managing Attorney DeAnne Lin Christy Gilbert Deputy Managers

22 Attorneys • 5 Staff

Mimi Han Managing Attorney Chan Buckner Deputy Manager

11 Attorneys • 19 Staff LITIGATION

Lynn Chamberlain Steven Dieu Deputy Managers

51 Staff

29 Attorneys

SUPPORT SERVICES

HOSPITAL DISTRICT

Celena Vinson Barbara Callistien Managing Attorneys

DISABILITY & ELDER LAW

Cara Protain Operations Manager

Sara Thomas Managing Attorney

Laura Hedge Deputy Manager

Cecilia Longoria Managing Attorney

10 Staff

Ebon Swofford Deputy Manager

21 Attorneys • 9 Staff

5 Attorneys • 2 Staff

11 Attorneys • 3 Staff

REAL ESTATE Don Stricklin Managing Attorney

5 Attorneys • 6 Staff ENVIRONMENTAL Sarah Utley Managing Attorney

4 Attorneys • 2 Staff

SPECIAL ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEYS Terence O'Rourke Special Assistant

Douglas Ray Special Assistant

Rock Owens Special Assistant

Barbara Armstrong, Tiffany Reedy and Melissa Spinks were named as Executive Managing Attorneys, and Curtrina Majors was named as Executive Managing Administrator in May. This newly formed executive group was created to improve policy development, client relations, organizational communication and cohesiveness, and provide assistance to managers in their respective areas of responsibility using uniform management principles that reflect the values of the Office.

3

2019 BY THE NUMBERS

$2,309,308,474

3,303

CONTRACTS AMOUNTS

CONTRACTS PREPARED FOR THE COUNTY

48%

OVER 2018

$32,145,997

COLLECTED FOR COUNTY

300+ $81,011,640 SUITS AGAINST COUNTY

POTENTIAL LIABILITY IN MAJOR SUITS DEFENDED

22,762

CASES OPENED

Environmental Matters

343

CASES OPENED

An expert team

56%

OVER 2018

196

FLOODPLAIN ENFORCEMENT CASES

113

African-American Hispanic Asian 0%

20% 13%

White

38%

African-American

39%

5%

Asian

75%

MALE 38% FEMALE 62% SUPPORT STAFF

22%

Hispanic

50%

ATTORNEYS

SUPPORT STAFF

62%

25%

OVER 2018

124

ATTORNEYS

White

86%

Key litigation in 2019: • Exxon Mobil • Valero • ITC • KMCO Key events in 2019: • Revised Floodplain regulations • Assist PCS-ITC Gap Analysis implementation

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

MALE 21% FEMALE 79%

The Office of Vince Ryan Harris County Attorney

4

Connecting Departments Purchasing HCSO

OUR IN-HOUSE DEVELOPED APPLICATIONS ARE GROWING IN USE AMONG OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.

Leases

CACI COUNTY ATTORNEY CASE INFORMATION SYSTEM

Contract Patrol Collaboration applications for transparency, accountability, communication, and document sharing between the HCAO and other departments.

CSD

HCTRA Collections

$11,550,291

TOLL COLLECTIONS (SINCE APRIL 2019)

45%

AVERAGE REDUCTION OF COLLECTION FEES

Hospital District

$15,976,264 772 $295,914,008 COLLECTIONS FOR HARRIS HEALTH

Family Matters

CONTRACT AMOUNTS

10K+ 839 2998 1481 681 HEARINGS

Property Acquired

CONTRACTS

136

SPECIAL COMISSIONERS HEARINGS

LEGAL STAFFINGS

MANAGED CASES

CASES CLOSED

CHILDREN ADOPTED

158 $25,395,894 TRACTS ACQUIRED

VALUE OF PROPERTY ACQUIRED

5

MAJOR EVENTS

REVISED SEX BUSINESS REGULATIONS - JAN.

CITIZENSHIP AND CENSUS QUESTION - APR.

PARTNER WITH N. HOUSTON MGMT DISTRICT - MAY

PRO SE LITIGANT HANDBOOK APR.

VOTING RIGHTS ACT CONGRESSIONAL HEARING - MAY

ACCESS TO LEGAL INFORMATION RESOLUTION - JULY

GALVESTON BAY PARK PLAN MEETING - SEPT.

I-10 BARGE STRIKE REVIEW - OCT.

WORKED TO STRENGTHEN BUILDING RESTRICTIONS - JULY

IMMIGRATION ROUNDTABLE AUG.

SAN JACINTO WASTE PITS BRIEFING - SEPT.

OPIOID LAWSUIT OPT-OUT - NOV.

HCAO BEGINS DELINQUENT TOLL COLLECTIONS - APR.

BAIL BOND SETTLEMENT- SEPT.

PUBLIC CHARGE AMICUS BRIEF FILED - SEPT.

INSULIN LAWSUIT NOV.

5TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL - OCT.

ELECTION SUPPORT TEAMS NOV.

6

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

HIGH SCHOOL FOR LAW AND JUSTICE CAREER DAY - FEB.

PRECINCT 7 JOB FAIR - MAY

PRECINCT 1 STREET OLYMPICS AUG.

PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE - AUG.

HBA BOOK DRIVE - SEPT.

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS EVENT - SEPT.

HIGH SCHOOL FOR LAW AND JUSTICE FIELD TRIP - OCT.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS OCT.

GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM HOLIDAY DRIVE - NOV.

HEAL-A-HEART DONATION - DEC.

CPS BEAR TOY DRIVE - DEC.

7

SHARING OUR EXPERTISE

OPEN MEETINGS CLE - JAN.

SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS EMINENT DOMAIN TRAINING - JUNE

TEXAS BAR CONFERENCE- JULY

TDCAA CIVIL LAW SEMINAR - SEPT.

CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER WORKSHOP - SEPT.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE SEPT.

N. HOUSTON DISTRICT NUISANCE ABATEMENT TRAINING - OCT.

ENVIRONMENTAL SYMPOSIUM - OCT.

FORENSIC LAW CLE - OCT.

ELECTION JUDGE TELE-TRAINING NOV.

IMMIGRATION LAW CLE - NOV.

LAW OF IMPEACHMENT CLE - DEC.

8

CONNECTING WITH OTHERS

HARRIS COUNTY 5K - FEB.

TEXAS BLACK EXPO LUNCHEON - JUNE

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION HBA LUNCHEON - JUNE

CAO AWARDS CEREMONY - JUNE

ASTROS DAY - AUG.

MEXICAN-AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON LUNCHEON - AUG.

NAACP AWARDS - OCT.

NATIONAL DIVERSITY COUNCIL'S WOMEN LAWYERS' BREAKFAST - OCT.

HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON LUNCHEON - OCT.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT - OCT.

HOUSTON SPORTS DAY - OCT.

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE - DEC.

9

2019 PRACTICE GROUP REPORTS

10

COMPLIANCE

The Compliance & Revenue Practice Group specializes in lawsuits for debt collection and enforcement of laws that protect the interests of Harris County. The practice group files lawsuits for collecting fines, taxes, judgments, worker’s compensation, property damage, contract, and other monies owed to Harris County. The enforcement of laws involves cases of public health, deed restriction, crime victim’s compensation, and animal cruelty/dangerous dog seizure warrants.

Highlights:

The Compliance Group manages a Crime Victims’ Assistance Program to help crime victims and their immediate families with some of their crime-related financial losses. In 1979, the Texas legislature created the Crime Victims’ Compensation program which is administered by the Office of the Attorney General to assist innocent victims of violent crimes by minimizing out-ofpocket expenses incurred as a result of violent crimes and to encourage public participation in the apprehension and prosecution of criminals. In addition to federal and state grants, a portion of the funding for financial assistance provided to victims comes from offenders through criminal court costs, fees, and fines. As a payer of last resort, the compensation program covers lost wages, child care, loss of support, transportation, counseling, medical expenses, and funeral expenses. In 2019, the Office of the County Attorney submitted over 1200 supporting documents and assisted crime victims in obtaining over $3,343,869 from the Texas Attorney General’s Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund.

Throughout 2019, the Compliance Group represented Harris County in 313 cases involving abused, neglected, and dangerous animals in the Justice of the Peace and County Courts. Assistant County Attorneys worked with specialized law enforcement units, the Harris County Animal Shelter, Houston SPCA, the Humane Society, and other nonprofits and governmental groups to enforce laws encouraging animal owners to take care of their pets. In some cases animals are removed from hazardous conditions or seized for their dangerous propensity and relocated to safer environments.

In April, this group began collecting past due amounts owed by customers of the Toll Road Authority who failed to pay. By eliminating a third party vendor, the cost of collection and resulting savings to the customer has been reduced by 45%, roughly equal to $43 per invoice. Customer service has improved because customers can now resolve issues with one phone call. Toll road revenue to the county has continued to grow with over $11 million being collected by this group from April through the end of the year.

Mimi Han

MANAGING ATTORNEY

6757 5409

NEW CASES OPENED

CASES CLOSED

$20,182,743 TOTAL COLLECTIONS TOP THREE INCOME CATEGORIES 1. Toll Road Violations $11,550,291 2. Crime Victims Assistance $3,343,869 3. Hotel Tax Collection $1,789,600

11

DISABILITY & ELDER LAW

Cecilia Longoria MANAGING ATTORNEY

1,544

GUARDIANSHIP CASES WHERE WE PROVIDED LEGAL SERVICES

12,646

MENTAL HEALTH, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY, & INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY CASES MANAGED

The Disability and Elder Law Practice Group represents the Harris County Guardianship Program and the State of Texas in mental health commitment proceedings. This group also collaborates with the Harris County Senior Justice Assessment Center (SJAC), a consortium of state and county agencies that review cases and offer services for elderly victims of abuse and exploitation. Disability and Elder Law is located at 2525 Murworth Drive in Houston.

Since opening SJAC in June 2017, 323 cases have been initiated. There are 146 active cases being investigated and opened for services at this time. 177 cases have been closed and services have been offered to the victims. Some victims willingly participate in services and other victims decide they do not want services or assistance.

One example is an elderly client who was referred to SJAC due to physical abuse by a nephew. The SJAC team was able to provide this vulnerable client with counseling services, as well as assist her in completing a crime victim’s application form. Through the team's efforts, the application was approved and compensation was paid to the victim to cover damage caused to her home and outof-pocket medical expenses. The team was able to secure a protective order to keep the nephew away from the client.

The Disability and Elder Law Group represents the State of Texas in all civil commitment and court-ordered chemical dependency care proceedings. After a hearing, a patient may be ordered to receive temporary inpatient or outpatient mental health services. Our Office manages approximately 1,300 mental health and chemical dependency care cases per month.

12

ENVIRONMENTAL

The Environmental Practice Group specializes in the enforcement of environmental laws and related County development regulations. The Group formally opposes the issuance and renewal of environmental permits if the permits would be detrimental to public health or the environment. The group additionally ensures Harris County’s compliance with environmental regulations; represents the county in state administrative hearings; and coordinates with federal, state, and local stakeholders on environmental legislation, rules, and policies affecting the county and its citizens.

Highlights:

The Environmental Group filed two lawsuits against ExxonMobil.

Suit for injunctive relief for violations of Texas Clean Air Act during a fire at the Refinery in March 2019.

Suit for injunctive relief for violations during a fire at the Olefins Plant in July 2019.

The Environmental Group has an ongoing state enforcement suit against Valero Refining-Texas, L.P. for an emissions event and nuisance violation in July 2018.

Additionally, Commissioners Court authorized a Federal Clean Air Act Citizen Suit against Valero (the first such suit for a Texas local government) for the on-going releases at the Facility.

Sarah Utley MANAGING ATTORNEY

358

NEW CASES OPENED

195

CASES CLOSED

The Environmental Group assisted the Office of Emergency Management, Pollution Control Services, and Commissioners Court during the response to a massive chemical fire at the ITC Deer Park Facility. In the aftermath of the disaster, we filed suit against ITC for cost recovery, violations of stormwater regulations, and violations of floodplain management regulations.

The Environmental Group has ongoing cases against KMCO. Suit filed in 2017 (related to 2013 and 2016 Clean Air Act violations). The 2017 matter was resolved with an Agreed Final Judgment that included injunctive relief, civil penalties, and attorney fees.

Suit filed related to a April 2, 2019 fire at the Facility for cost recovery, violations of stormwater regulations, and violations of floodplain management regulations.

The Environmental Group assisted in the on-going renewal of Harris County and Harris County Flood Control District’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

The Environmental Group filed comments on TCEQ’s proposed Ethylene Oxide: Carcinogenic Dose-Response Assessment.

The Environmental Group drafted comments for submission to the TCEQ on Proposed Federal Operating Permits for both ITC and Valero. The ITC comment will include a request for a Notice and Comment Hearing.

13

GENERAL COUNSEL

Lisa Hulsey MANAGING ATTORNEY

2,647 NEW CASES OPENED

804

PIA REQUESTS PROCESSED

$1,699,194,735.56 CONTRACTS VALUE

The General Counsel Practice Group provides legal advice to the County’s elected and appointed officials, department heads and employees, and provides general legal services covering a wide range of issues related to law enforcement, public works, community services, road and building construction, and park site planning and development. This group also provides general legal services for vendor selection and contract development, agreement preparation for design and engineering services, real property transactions, inter-local agreements with other governmental jurisdictions, Public Information Act requirements, open meetings requirements, and the application of state and federal laws and regulations related to HIV/AIDS programs. In addition, this group provides counsel to the medical examiner, parks and library operations, disaster planning, and emergency management services. Employment law attorneys advise the County, its departments, and its officials regarding proposed policies, procedures, and legal obligations and provide training for management and newly-elected officials.

Highlights:

Provided legal assistance to the Sheriff’s Office and assisted with closing the federal government's decadelong investigation regarding the conditions of prisoners’ confinement in the Harris County Jail facilities.

Supported both the Harris County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office by providing legal advice during and in connection with the ITC and KMCO fires.

Provided the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office with legal advice on revising and adopting Chapters 1 and 11 of the Fire Code.

Assisted the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office with obtaining a copyright for Blue NIMS - a curriculum developed by the Harris County Fire Marshal to

demonstrate the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in a law enforcement framework.

Assisted the Harris County Flood Control District with negotiating an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a $300 million flood control project on Clear Creek and its tributaries.

Assisted with depositions and trial preparation for Flood Control District employees in the federal lawsuits between the property owners, who flooded during Hurricane Harvey, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Assisted with negotiations for Harris County Toll Road Authority to provide services to reduce customer confusion when traveling through multiple tolling regions.

14

HOSPITAL DISTRICT

The Hospital District Practice Group serves as legal counsel to the Harris County Hospital District d/b/a Harris Health System (Harris Health) and its Board of Trustees. The attorneys in this Practice Group also provide legal assistance to Community Health Choice, Inc. (CHC), Harris Health’s health maintenance organization. The Hospital District Practice Group provides legal advice and support regarding healthcare operations, contracts in accordance with purchasing guidelines, employment issues, real estate, policies, and healthcare and employment litigation. The Hospital District Practice Group also provides legal assistance to various Harris Health committees and all Harris Health departments regarding healthcare law and general operational issues.

Highlights:

Assistant County Attorneys have been involved in the drafting and negotiation of the Operating and Support Agreement between Harris Health System and Baylor College of Medicine and the Affiliation and Support Agreement between Harris Health System and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for provider medical services.

During the recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services survey, Assistant County Attorneys provided emergency legal support, assisted with drafting and negotiation of dozens of critical contracts and revised key clinical and operational policies.

Assistant County Attorneys assisted Harris Health in ensuring compliance with Health Resource Services Administration’s (HRSA) regulatory requirements to allow Harris Health to retain a $4.4 million for Harris Health Care for the Homeless Program which provides health care services for homeless in Harris County.

Sara Thomas

MANAGING ATTORNEY

772 OPEN CASES

$15,976,264 TOTAL COLLECTIONS

$295,914,008 CONTRACT VALUE

Assistant County Attorneys worked with the Chief Financial Officer through the process of establishing a Local Provider Participation Fund for reimbursement to the hospitals for uncompensated care. Assistant County Attorneys drafted the related affiliation agreements and board motions and resolutions.

Assistant County Attorneys completed an outsourcing agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for the provision of 12 dedicated beds at the Harris County Psychiatric Center and professional medical services for Harris Health psychiatric patients presenting to the Emergency Department at Harris Health when no psychiatric beds are available.

Assistant County Attorneys assisted and advised the Office of Corporate Compliance in preparation of responses to the Office of Civil Rights regarding their investigation of medical records found discarded on the street.

15

LITIGATION

Celena Vinson MANAGING ATTORNEY

The Litigation Practice Group represents Harris County, various County entities, elected County officials and County employees in general civil litigation. The group handles a wide variety of cases filed in state and federal courts, including those involving civil rights, election laws, employment claims, automobile collisions, personal injuries at parks, buildings and flood control facilities, nuisance abatement, eminent domain and contractual disputes. In addition, the group handles its own state and federal court appeals and various administrative proceedings and arbitration matters before the Civil Service Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and State Office of Administrative Hearings.

Highlights:

In the last 12 months, the County Attorney’s Office resolved 50 civil rights cases against the County and its elected officials.

5 cases (10%) were settled.

45 cases (90%) were defended.

100% of the cases the County Attorney chose to defend were dismissed with no liability to the County.

Plaintiffs made $30,060,000 in demands for the five cases that ultimately settled. The Harris County Attorney’s Office resolved all five cases for $2,730,300.

Barbara Callistien

MANAGING ATTORNEY

228

NEW CASES OPENED

216

CASES CLOSED

NUISANCE ABATEMENT CASES 1. Game Rooms (29) 2. Illicit Spas (6) 3. Convenience Stores (3) 4. Poker Rooms (2) 5. Sexually-Oriented Businesses (1) 6. Duplex (1) 7. Night Club (1)

We worked with the Department of Justice to resolve an Americans with Disabilities Act case filed against Harris County complaining about accessibility to polling locations. The settlement provides persons with disabilities with greater access to election sites without causing the closure or relocation of any neighborhood sites.

We reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit, ODonnell et al., v. Harris County et al. Both parties agreed to a consent decree which included revised judicial protocol, access to more public defense services, open court hours for defendants to clear or prevent warrants as well as text reminders about hearings, and a bail education program for officials and the public.

We revised an ordinance regulating Sexually-Oriented Businesses which went into effect January 1, 2019. The regulations include additional sections on prohibited conduct by employees, contractors and customers, including a specific prohibition against using a so-called sex robot, for sexual activities in a business.

We resolved litigation against an east Harris County smoke shop by obtaining a court order to stop the sale of illegal synthetic marijuana and recovering $1 million in penalties and attorneys fees.

16

PROTECTIVE SERVICES

The protection of children in Harris County is of utmost importance to the Office. The Protective Services Practice Group provides legal representation in Harris County when the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) intervenes to protect children who have been alleged to be abused and/or neglected. DFPS intervention ranges from providing services to children in their own homes to finding permanent homes for children who become legally free for adoption.

This group provides on-site legal staffing at the Children’s Assessment Center, a facility that provides family advocacy, forensic services, therapy and psychological services, a medical clinic, community outreach and prevention and professional training to prevent and combat child sexual abuse.

Highlights:

Protective Services Group members are known for their involvement and expertise in child welfare law. Executive Managing Attorney Tiffany Reedy serves on the Texas Children’s Commission Task Force on Court-Appointed Legal Representation. Tiffany joins Sandra Hachem, head of the office’s DFPS appellate team, and Deputy Manager Lynn Chamberlin, who serve as collaborative council members of the Texas Children’s Commission. Lynn also is a council member of the recently created Child Protection Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and Sandra is the Section’s secretary.

They both were integral in achieving the State Bar’s recognition of Child Welfare Law as a legal specialty.

The group contributed opinions on legal issues that have adverse effects on the children residing in Harris County. These include a friend of the court brief filed in September opposing changes in the federal rule that penalized immigrants who receive public benefits like medical care and a brief filed in the Supreme Court seeking to prevent the U.S. Census Bureau from including a question about citizenship on the 2020 census.

Lawyers in this group regularly answer questions from other county and district attorneys and provide legal training. In 2019, Sandra Hachem, Mike Hull and RJ Hazeltine-Shedd made presentations at several conferences within the State, including the Texas District and County Attorney Association's conferences, the State Bar Advanced Family Law Course, and the Children’s Protection Section yearly conference. This practice group has taken the lead in looking for creative solutions concerning how changes in immigration regulations impact children. The Harris County Attorney's Office hosted a forum for immigration stakeholders in August and training for lawyers on immigrant children in October.

Francie Aguirre MANAGING ATTORNEY

10,000+ HEARINGS MANAGED

839

484

LEGAL STAFFINGS REQUESTS FOR ASSIGNED DISCOVERY

681

CHILDREN ADOPTED

17

REAL ESTATE

The Real Estate Practice Group handles all legal matters regarding the County’s acquisitions and sales of real property. This includes legal research and the drafting of legal documents for the purchase, sale, lease, and operation of real estate including land title examinations, contracts, leases and concession agreements for parks and County buildings, roads, and other public purposes. The group handles real estate litigation, which includes the County’s acquisition of property through eminent domain, declaratory judgments, and inverse condemnations.

Don Stricklin MANAGING ATTORNEY

136

SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS HEARINGS

1,305

LAND TITLES CHECKED

158

TRACTS OF LAND ACQUIRED

$25,395,894

VALUE OF LAND ACQUIRED

Highlights:

The Title Examiner Group performed title reports for: Tracts for acquisition for road and flood control purposes – 377 Tracts for assistance for Hurricane Harvey repairs, lead paint removal and first-time home buyer assistance – 289 Tracts for permit violations and public nuisances – 562 Tracts for fraudulent land sales – 77 Managing Attorney Don Stricklin presented at the firstever Harris County Civil Courts at Law Special Commissioner Training.

Commissioners Court approved tougher Harris County Floodplain and Infrastructure Regulations. Developers must now build enough detention to offset possible flooding from new construction in the 500-yearfloodplain in unincorporated parts of Harris County. The Real Estate Practice Group teamed up with the Environmental Practice Group to review the proposed regulations, provide comments, and render legal opinions.

Examples of the work of this group include the acquisition of 80 acres for the Little Cypress Creek flood control project and 100 acres for the Hughes Storm Water detention project. Assistant County Attorneys helped with the purchase of 171 acres, from the Willow Creek Industrial Park for flood control purposes.

18

HARRIS COUNTY LAW LIBRARY

The Harris County Law Library is a public library that serves the legal information needs of self-represented litigants, legal professionals, the judiciary, and County and other governmental officials. Public access to legal information is a critical component of open and equal access to the justice system. The Harris County Law Library’s mission is to provide all of its patrons access to relevant, current, accurate, and practical legal information in the most appropriate and cost-effective formats possible and to provide educational opportunities designed to enhance patrons’ understanding of legal information and how it is accessed.

Highlights:

AALL Awards - The Law Library received four awards from the American Association of Law Libraries.

Opening Digital Education Nook - Law Library staff developed and installed a video content viewing area in the library to make legal information available to more of our patrons.

Lexis eBooks Access - At the Lexis Digital Library launch event in June, 2019, the Law Library announced new access to Lexis eBooks.

Commissioners Court Resolution – Access to Legal Information Week - To raise awareness about the growing need for access to legal information, we asked that the Resolution recognize a week in July as “Access to Legal Information Week.” County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s Office agreed and the Resolution passed Commissioners Court on July 9, 2019.

UNT Open Access Symposium - Joe Lawson and Heather Holmes traveled to the UNT School of Law in May to present a program on Open Access as a tool for Access to Justice. Joining colleagues from UT Law School, State Bar of Texas, Duke Law Tech Lab, and Harvard University, Joe and Heather presented a unique perspective in closer proximity to the audience Access to Justice resources are intended to help. As a result, our staff made connections with important stakeholders in the Access to Justice community and increased the profile of the Law Library as a partner for future projects.

Mariann Sears

LAW LIBRARY DIRECTOR

68,279 TOTAL TRAFFIC

3,043 ATTORNEY TRAFFIC

32,384 QUESTIONS ANSWERED

1,718

DOCUMENTS NOTARIZED

11% FROM 2018

82% FROM 2018

85

TRAINING PROGRAMS OFFERED

252

LEGAL TECH INSTITUTE ATTENDANCE

24

COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPEAKING EVENTS

19

INVESTIGATIONS

The Investigative team is made up of 12 investigators including the Chief Investigator. They are all sworn Master Peace Officers and are licensed through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Investigators are assigned to assist in the different practice groups within the Harris County Attorney’s Office.

Woody Mitchell CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

25,951

Our investigators are committed to providing the highest quality of services to the community we are sworn to protect. We have improved in areas of efficiency, building a stronger model to be more effective in our approach to providing a solid work product.

Highlights:

Active Shooter Training Election Strike Team Nuisance Abatement cases All investigators are Licensed Peace Officers with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Criminal Justice Information Systems training

INVESTIGATIVE SEARCHES

2,006 SUBPOENAS SERVED

1455

CITATIONS SERVED

1146

LETTER FOR DOCUMENT REQUESTS

327

NEXT OF KIN LOCATION

Anthony Yet - Compliance/HCTRA Juan Johnson - Protective Services Rafael Pruneda - Compliance Elwood Mitchell - Administration/Chief Investigator Fabian Arista - Litigation Terry Lindner - Protective Services Karen Dunn - Hospital District Richard Wagner - Protective Services/Hospital District Todd Black - Litigation Richard Wagner - Protective Services/Hospital District Larry Fox - Protective Services Steve Bolton - Disability and Elder Law/Hospital District Joseph Strange - Law Library

20

SUPPORT SERVICES

Support Services provides technical support, payroll and benefits services, account payable services, budget services, postal services and administrative services.

Highlights:

The Technical Liaison programmed and distributed 179 new computers for the employees.

The budget team kept track of the $28,174,000 allocated for the Office for fiscal year 2019-2020.

Through our helpdesk system, there were 2,678 tickets opened and closed.

Payroll and benefits processed numerous changes to position control numbers and assisted 235 employees with open enrollment benefits.

The accounts payable team processed 2,005 requests for payments, processed approximately 2,100 purchase order payments, and completed an audit for Title IV-E grant and budget for the next fiscal year.

There were 32,052 pieces of mail that were processed out of the office, an average of 125 a day. A reduction of 3.6% over last year.

Planned and executed several events – Childhood Cancer Awareness, Heal-A-Heart, Annual Holiday Open House, and CAO Awards Ceremony.

Cara Protain

OPERATIONS MANAGER

$28,174,000 BUDGET MANAGED

2,678

HELPDESK TICKETS CLOSED

2,100 PURCHASE ORDERS COMPLETED

21

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Debbie Dillard COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR

122

Speaking topics include: Introducing the County Attorney Environmental Protection

40% FROM 2018

COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPEAKING EVENTS

#1

SPEAKING TOPIC "WILLS & PROBATE"

#2

SPEAKING TOPIC "ELDER FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION"

#3

The Harris County Attorney's Office offers speakers who are experts in a wide range of topics that are engaging and educational to a variety of organizations. The "Community Speakers Series" is a public service designed to benefit the people of the Greater Houston and Harris County area by providing information about the office and various areas of law. These programs are intended to help organizations in working together to improve neighborhoods and quality of life.

SPEAKING TOPIC "PROPERTY PROTESTS AND EXEMPTIONS"

Property Exemptions & Protests Texas and U.S. Constitutions Living Wills/Advanced Directives Getting Rid of Bad Businesses Bandit Signs County Regulations Wills and Probate Elder Financial Exploitation Your Rights as a Voter County Law Library Resources Human Trafficking Dangerous Animals/Animal Cruelty Open Carry Using Civil Law to Fight Crime When the County needs Property Public Integrity Property Exemptions & Tax Protests Adult Guardianships & Mental Health To schedule a speaker or for more information go to www.harriscountycao.org/community-outreach

Phone 713.755.5101 Fax 713.755.8924 1019 Congress, 15th Floor Houston, TX 77002 www.harriscountycao.org HarrisCountyAttorney HarrisCountyAO