FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2008
Contact: Jason Stanford
(512) 619-5756
AG¹S OFFICE ASKS TO HALT STATE¹S CASE AGAINST CELIS
Celis Points to Unexpected Motion As Proof of Political Smear Campaign
A Travis County District Court judge on Tuesday granted a motion filed by
Attorney General Greg Abbot¹s office asking to halt proceedings in its
lawsuit against Mauricio Celis. Earlier this week the AG¹s office requested
an abatement in the case, citing its desire ³to preserve state resources.²
Mr. Celis, a prominent contributor to state Democratic causes, pointed to
the unexpected motion as further proof that the Republican Attorney
General¹s Office had used the suit to mount a politically-motivated media
campaign against him. The state sued Celis in Oct. 2007, claiming he had
engaged in deceptive business practices.
³Why is it that the AG¹s office thought this case was so extremely urgent
when it was making headlines, but is suddenly willing to postpone it now
that the focus is elsewhere?² asked Phyllis Pollard, Mr. Celis¹ attorney.
³All this about wanting to Œsave resources¹ is a cop out. They certainly
weren¹t worried about wasting taxpayer money when they first filed their
complaint.²
The state¹s motion to stay the proceedings, which was filed on Feb. 26,
asked for the abatement ³in order to most efficiently and effectively pursue
the aims of consumer protection.²
³Greg Abbot¹s purpose in this all along has been to get Mr. Celis¹ name in
the news and smear a politically-connected Democrat. Now that he believes
he¹s done that, the case itself is simply no longer a priority. The
Attorney General should be held accountable for exploiting the courts as a
means to carry out his party¹s political agenda,² Ms. Pollard said.
Tuesday¹s ruling suspended all deadlines and put a stop to discovery in the
Celis case for a period of at least ten months, or until the resolution of
legal proceedings currently pending against Mr. Celis in Nueces County.
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