Mesquite ISD board approves contingent-fee legal contracts for youth social-media litigation

The Mesquite Independent School District Board of Trustees on March 10 adopted a resolution approving a contingent-fee legal services contract and voted to enter contingent-fee agreements with outside counsel to represent the district in litigation related to youth social-media usage.

The actions, taken in two separate motions, were unanimous, with the board recording 7-0 votes on both items. One motion adopted the findings required by Texas Government Code 2254 (subchapter C) needed to submit a contingent-fee legal services agreement for expedited review by the Texas attorney general. The second motion approved entering into contingent-fee agreements with Thompson & Horton LLP; Eland & Bonin, P.C.; and Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo, P.C., to represent the district on youth social-media usage and related litigation.

Board members did not debate the motions at length during the meeting. The first resolution was presented to allow the district “maximum flexibility” to finance services and to meet statutory submission requirements for contingent-fee contracts, and the second named the firms the district will engage if the agreement proceeds. The motions were passed by voice vote after a roll-call-style “all those in favor” and recorded as 7-0.

The board did not provide additional briefing in public on the factual basis for the anticipated litigation during the open meeting. The approved contingent-fee arrangement and the associated findings required under Texas Government Code 2254 are procedural steps that enable the district to contract with private counsel on a contingency basis and to request expedited review by the Texas attorney general.

Action on both items occurred during the administration/business portion of the meeting; no further public timeline for litigation or planned next steps was provided at the session.