Dallas Business Journal: Headington Cos. Fires Back at Forest City
July 24, 2015 — The Dallas Business Journal (DBJ) reports on a real estate dispute between an affiliate of Forest City and Brewer client Headington Realty and Capital LLC.
On July 8, the Forest City affiliate filed suit against billionaire Tim Headington's companies claiming that Headington's plan to develop a five-story boutique shop on Main Street in downtown Dallas would harm a residential building next door — blocking the windows in several units.
In the face of the lawsuit, the report states, Headington has "fired back with a strongly worded letter through his attorney William 'Bill' Brewer III."
The letter asks Forest City to immediately dismiss its suit with prejudice "because it is groundless and brought in bad faith."
"The claims they articulated are so grossly lacking in any legal merit, you have to wonder why it was done," Brewer told the DBJ. "In Texas, you are allowed to develop your property and utilize it to its best effect. It is particularly annoying here, given the present owner of the property frankly is not only a newcomer to Dallas, in a sense, but stood silently by when the property was up for sale."
"They had an opportunity to buy it, restrict it in some way and put it back on the market, but they didn't do that," Brewer said.
To read the full article, “Headington Cos. Fires Back at Forest City in Fight for Public Perception,” click here (subscription required).
Rolling Stone Reports on Rapper 50 Cent's Bankruptcy Filing
July 13, 2015 — Rolling Stone today reported that Brewer client Curtis Jackson, known as 50 Cent, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The report quotes a firm press release, which states that the filing will allow the rapper to "reorganize his financial affairs, as he addresses various professional liabilities and takes steps to position the future of his various business interests."
"The filing for personal bankruptcy protection permits Mr. Jackson to continue his involvement with various business interests and continue his work as an entertainer, while he pursues an orderly reorganization of his financial affairs," said William A. Brewer III, counsel to Jackson.
To read the full report, click here.
Wall Street Journal: Judges Block Immigrant Laws in Texas, South Carolina
July 23, 2013 – The Wall Street Journal reports that the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an ordinance by the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch that sought to bar landlords from renting to immigrants living in the U.S. without legal documentation.
The judges concluded that the ordinance illegally interfered with the federal government’s enforcement of immigration laws. The article noted that the suburbs received national attention after first attempting to enact the law in 2006, citing an influx of undocumented immigrants.
Attorney William “Bill” Brewer, who represented plaintiffs challenging the ordinance, said the law was motivated by community members who were apprehensive about the growing Latino population.
“It’s not within the power of a municipality to slow down or change the ethnic composition of their communities through an effort to regulate immigration,” he said.
Read more here.
Dallas Morning News Reports on Wyly Win
June 8, 2013 – The Dallas Morning News reports today on a win for firm clients and Texas entrepreneurs Sam and Charles Wyly. The article, “Wyly Wins Rounds in SEC Dispute,” reports that “a federal judge in New York ruled Thursday that the Securities and Exchange Commission can seek only civil penalties in the case for violations that occurred from Feb. 1, 2001, to Feb. 1, 2006.
Bill Brewer, lead attorney for Sam Wyly, 78, called the ruling a “resounding victory,” according to the article. Brewer told the News, “The decision settles an issue at the heart of the SEC’s case and disposes of what the SEC claimed were potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties.”
Good News for 3M and Anglers
July 3, 2012 – The Pioneer Press reports on the Minnesota Department of Health finding that fish in the local area are safer to eat in an article titled “For 3M and for Anglers, Good News.” Prior findings had become an area of focus for local fishermen, state officials, and environmentalists.
3M is arguing against prior designations for local waterways that claim the water is “impaired.”
William. A. Brewer III said, “Based on this revised fish advisory for Pool 2, we believe the PCA will revise the drat Impaired Waters List.”
The article observes 3M has spent more than $100 million to clean the chemicals out of the water. It also installed filters for drinking water, among other things. The Press reports that “The efforts appear to be making a difference.”
Dallas Morning News: OSU, Pickens Lose Key Round
March 12, 2012 – The Dallas Morning News reports on a high-profile dispute between firm client Larry Anders and the fundraising arm of Oklahoma State University over the school’s “Gift of a Lifetime” program that involved oilman T. Boone Pickens, among others. The article, titled “U.S. Judge Rules Oklahoma State Officials, Pickens weren’t Tricked into Life Insurance Deal,” reports that U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis rejected all claims by OSU officials and Pickens – siding with firm client Anders.
According to the article, OSU alumni “agreed to allow the university to purchase $10 million life insurance policies on them, policies that reportedly would have raised as much as $350 million in benefits.” The program reportedly ran into trouble, as “OSU had paid $33 million in premiums for two years and was facing a $16 million payment.”
“Cowboy Athletics ran into three problems,” said attorney Bill Brewer, who represented Mr. Anders, the general agent and broker who has been sued by Cowboy Athletics and Pickens. “The bad financial markets caused one of the school’s primary funding sources to dry up. Second, they had not arranged for premium financing because they depended on the funding sources. And, none of the 27 people died.”
Solis also rejected Pickens’ claim that he had been defrauded or misled by the “Gift of a Lifetime” effort, reported The News.
To read more, click here.
3M Wants Met Council to Share River Pollution Blame
January 9, 2012 – The Pioneer Press reports today on firm client 3M Company and its efforts to hold Met Council responsible for alleged contamination due to certain chemicals produced by the company. The article explains 3M filed a counterclaim against Met Council – alleging that the planning agency “dumps chemicals into the river form its even waste treatment plants.”
The article quotes firm partner William Brewer, who notes the chemicals must be coming from sources other than 3M. He observes 3M stopped making PFOS in 2002. So, 10 years later, why is the chemical still being found in the Mississippi River, the reporting asks. Brewer told the Press it must be that it is coming from other sources than 3M. The article notes that Minnesota AG Lori Swanson filed a lawsuit against 3M.
To read the article “3M Turns Tables on Met Council in Mississippi River Pollution Trial,” click here.
Pioneer Press Editorial: Good News on 3M Clean-up
December 8, 2011 – The Pioneer Press editorial board wrote an opinion piece today praising 3M Company for its environmental practices. The publication reports 3M’s environmental clean-up is working: “That’s good news that deserves notice, as does 3M’s seven-year commitment to clean up a chemical pollutant found in some tested Washington County residents.”
Firm client 3M is defending an environmental pollution lawsuit from the Minnesota Attorney General.
Read the editorial here.