On the agenda for this Wednesday’s HCC Trustee meeting is this item of interest.
Robert Glaser
Proposed Settlement Authority regarding Southern District of Texas Houston Division, Civil Action 4:21-cv-02216; Patricia Dodd vs. Houston Community College, et al.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the administration to attend the court-ordered settlement conference in Patricia Dodd v. HCC with the authority discussed during closed session with the Board of Trustees.COMPELLING REASON AND BACKGROUND
Dodd filed a lawsuit on July 8, 2021, against Robert Glaser, In His Official Capacity; Cesar Maldonado, In His Official Capacity; and Houston Community College for the Southern District of Texas Houston Division, Civil Action 4:21-cv-02216; Patricia Dodd v Houston Community College, et al., (hereinafter referred to as the “Lawsuit”).FISCAL IMPACT
As discussed in closed session.
See here, here, and here for some background. The lawsuit was filed last June, and other than Glaser stepping down as Board Chair this is the first news I’ve seen since then. I don’t know what the settlement will be, so I don’t want to get too far out on a limb here, but if we’re at a point where HCC, and thus the taxpayers, are on the hook for a payment of some kind, then both Glaser and Maldonado ought to be writing their resignation letters. Like I said, I’m missing some context here, and that could mitigate when I’m saying here, but resignation for both should at least be on the table. I’m sure we’ll know more soon.
Partnership loves Maldonado; could it be their members getting contracts? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Courts almost always order settlement conferences or mediation in civil matters unless the parties have already agreed to do it on their own – and sometimes will issue an order even then. Such an order has nothing to do with the strengths and weaknesses of the various parties’ positions. Going to the conference or mediation does not mean the case will settle, either (although the overwhelming majority do); however, I would never want to be in the position of having to tell a judge that my client refused to give me any settlement authority.