Dig Deeper Texas

MySA.com: Metro | State:

Ten months after losing a bid to sell land for a controversial Wal-Mart Supercenter in Helotes, Balous Miller is going after critics who derailed his plan.

Miller, president of the Bill Miller restaurant chain, provoked an uprising by residents when Wal-Mart petitioned the town to develop the store on 32 acres owned by Miller at Texas 16 and Scenic Loop Road.

The opposition prompted the retail giant to back out of the deal in December.

Miller is fighting back by suing several Helotes City Council members and residents who criticized Wal-Mart.

His lawsuit alleges that city officials and members of the Helotes Heritage Association unlawfully conspired to scuttle the deal.

So if you want to protest somebody opening a dump next door, you can be sued? Not that I’m suggesting Walmart is a dump but you get the idea. What exactly constitutes “extensive negative publicity?” Can I be sued for blogging about this?

But that’s the great thing about our system, everyone has the opportunity to state your case before a court of law. Well, unless you’re abusing it.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform Newsletter, 1/25/2001

In 1995, Miller had to defend himself in 12 consecutive lawsuits (18 more set for trial this year).So far, Miller has tried all 12 cases to a “0″ verdict in the past two years but it has still cost him almost $200,000.00 in legal fees. It costs the taxpayers of Texas even more. He is asking Lt.Governor Bob Bullock to support a “loser pays” tort reform measure to eliminate expensive nuisance suits.

Why is it that a businessman, Miller, is allowed to file such lawsuits but if someone chokes on a Bill Miller chicken, it is a frivolous lawsuit?

Filed under: Balous Miller, Free Speech, Frivolous Lawsuit, Helotes, Lawsuit Reform, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Walmart, scare tactics