Potter County Commissioners agreed to hire the law firm of a local state representative during a Monday meeting.
According to information from Monday's meeting of the Potter County Commissioners' Court, commissioners voted 4-0 to hire Templeton, Smithee, Hayes, Heinrich & Russell, LLP as one of several law firms to work on pending litigation. The 4-0 vote did not include a vote by Commissioner Mercy Murguia, who was not present at the time of the action.
In the vote, commissioners voted to hire Simon, Greenstone Panatier, Bartlett, P.C.; Martin Walker, P.C.; Mullin, Hoard & Brown, P.C.; The Lanier Law Firm; and Templeton Smithee to serve as special counsel to represent Potter County in legal proceedings. The hirings come as Potter County is preparing to sue particular pharmaceutical companies that are believed to have engaged in violations of the Texas Controlled Substances Act.
Templeton, Smithee, Hayes, Heinrich & Russell is a well-established local law firm that deals in personal injury litigation, commercial issues, property disputes, estate issues or insurance disputes. The company has at least two local government officials on its payroll as State Representative John Smithee (R-Amarillo) and Amarillo Economic Development Corporation board member Brian Heinrich serve as attorneys at the firm.
The hiring of the firms was overseen by Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley during the Commissioners' Court meeting.
There is no information publicly available as to what each firm will be paid for actions during the legal processes.
