What I wish to call your attention to in this post is something that had completely escaped me in previous visits to the multifarious litigation occurring in Fort Worth. One of the attorneys for Bishop Ohl and the Local Episcopal Parties, Jonathan Nelson (he argued at the initial hearings in front of Judge Chupp), who is now on his own, was earlier in a law partnership in Fort Worth called Broude, Nelson & Harrington, P.C. As a member of that law firm, he represented the Corporation of the Diocese of Fort Worth in a 1993 lawsuit against the Rev. M. L. McCauley, of the Church of the Holy Apostles, who had voted with his vestry to leave the Diocese and join the Antiochean Orthodox Church.
Bishop Iker was then the Co-Adjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, scheduled in 1994 to succeed the Rt. Rev. Clarence C. Pope, Jr., who as the diocesan was also the head of the associated Corporation. That Corporation, in turn, was established to hold legal title to the real property of all the parishes in the Diocese — including the Church of the Holy Apostles. Thus when the Rev. McCauley and his vestry claimed the right to continue to occupy the parish’s property after they had joined the Orthodox Church, the Corporation of the Diocese had to become the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed to oust them from possession. The attorney who participated in drafting the complaint and supporting affidavits for the plaintiff Corporation, and who signed his name to the pleadings, was Jonathan Nelson, of Broude, Nelson & Harrington, P.C., Fort Worth, Texas.
Now that same Jonathan Nelson is representing the minority who, with their provisional bishop, has brought suit against Bishop Iker and the other trustees of the diocesan Corporation. And he has the gall to offer, on behalf of his current clients, the very pleadings and affidavits which he mainly drafted in the 1993 lawsuit as ostensible “judicial admissions” on the part of his former clients.
Brilliant, as always. And scathingly correct.
At the very least, that charge can be made of the top leadership within ECUSA too. Of course, “unprofessional” would be an understatement in that instance.
Do I recall correctly that a former attorney for DioSC has been working for TEC in DioSC?
Ah, legal “ethics,” a term as useful as “inclusive” in the EcUSA … .
When given content, it actually means something, otherwise it reminds me of the Rev. Bob Harrington’s definition of sin “Anything that you do wrong and get caught!” But, he, of course, was joshing about the perception of sin. EcUSA means it literally. That’s why they need to change the definition. Inadaba……
Yes, I agree, with whatever you are saying.
Mr Haley’s making this guy look like a shyster.
It would seem that he’s doing a pretty good job of it all by himself, without any help from Mr. Haley.
Given the different state laws, and the different decisions, I see this going to the US Supreme Court. Feed the lawyers!!!
Yea, Ralph. You remember correctly. Alas, there was not a lawsuit when Mr. Tisdale was chancellor and so far the involvement of TEC in the diocese has not gotten that far.