Texas law firm does HUGE disservice to registrants
A year ago we posted a warning about a lawyer from Texas, Teri Estes-Hightower, who was using the Florida Sex Offender’s registry to solicit people for a “class action” lawsuit in Florida against the registry. While this all sounded great to some who didn’t know better. Those with experience in registration matters and constitutional law saw this as a disaster. Her firm had filed a similar case in Texas that was dismissed.
When we were first contacted by members who received the mailer, we called Ms. Estes-Hightower to find out more about the case. We quickly realized she was not equipped to take on a case of this magnitude, had no clue which claims she was going to bring and was completely unfamiliar with the Florida registration statutes. Unfortunately, many people bought into the hopes she was selling and signed on to her case.
Over a year ago, we wrote, “While the firm did file lawsuits, in the opinion of attorneys familiar with the issues and the pleadings, the cases were very rough from the get go. With respect to the TX case we were told, “existing precedent in the Fifth Circuit was already in place that rendered each and every one of Estes-Hightower’s claims frivolous.”
So what did she do after her Texas case was dismissed??? She appealed that loss to the 5th Circuit, which yesterday affirmed that dismissal, making for very bad precedent.
We can’t say whether Estes-Hightower is an opportunist who needed to file “something” after collecting retainers from dozens of people or whether she had good intentions and is just WAY over her head. What we do know is that unless she reaches out for help IMMEDIATELY in her Florida case, she stands to screw people required to register in Florida royally!
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Here is the link to the case named at Jojn Does 1-7 v. Greg Abbott.
http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/electronic-case-filing/case-information/current-opinions
Please cite the case or provide a link so we can all read about what happened. Thanks!
http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/18/18-11620%20Does%201-7%20v.%20Abbott%20Opinion.pdf
Does this mean my ex post facto challenge $ has all gone to waste?
Not at all
Val Jonas and Todd Scher, I their latest filing, have done a great job minimizing the damage from the Texas firm’s failure and virtually neutralizing an adverse ruling there.
Referring, of course, to their latest response to the state’s motion to dismiss Does.
Great job!
If thats the case where we will be harmed and she has been put on notice to the same could she then be sued by the members of the florida hit list?
What the heck!!!! What can we do? Can we contact the plaintiffs and inform them?? This is very worrisome!!
If she’s that sincere, she should team up with attorneys who know what they’re doing.