Dallas City Council Member Accused Of 'Ambulance-Chasing' In Civil Lawuit
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A new lawsuit says a Dallas City Councilwoman crossed a line in her response to a fatal dog attack.
In the suit, Matisha Ward accuses District 7 Councilwoman Tiffinni Young of trying to get Ward to hire an Atlanta, Georgia based attorney to go after the city with a wrongful death lawsuit.
Matisha Ward is the daughter of Antoinette Brown, who was attacked and killed by a pack of loose dogs this past May.
According to reports, Ward says Councilwoman Young repeatedly contacted her through text messages telling her that she had legal claims against the city, all while her mother was in the hospital on life support.
Ward also claims that Young arranged a phone call with Atlanta personal injury attorney Christopher Chestnut the day after her mother's funeral. That conversation was recorded, and a transcript of the call is part of the filing.
A report states that on that call Ms. Young asks about any attorneys Ms. Ward has spoken to, and when informed that she hasn't retained a lawyer, introduces Christoper Chestnut. "I have one sitting right here," she says on the recording. "Do you want to talk with him?"
Attorney Tom Carse wonders why the Councilwoman would do such a thing. "It is shocking and disheartening to have this level of collusion between an elected official and an attorney not even licensed to practice law in Texas," says Carse, who has filed a barratry action on behalf of Ms. Ward. "My client was frustrated and grieving, but understood that something was wrong about that conversation."
Neither Councilwoman Young nor Chestunt have responded to a request for comment.
Since solicitation is also a crime, 1080 KRLD Reporter L.P. Phillips contacted the District Attorney's Office to see if they are investigating. He has not received a reply.
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