Houston Public MediaSep 4, 2025

A Harris County judge has ruled in a lawsuit filed by the county against two people accused of fraudulently stealing dozens of local properties through a deed fraud scheme.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2025/09/04/530106/judge-orders-return-of-40-allegedly-stolen-harris-county-properties-to-rightful-owners/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Housing #Local #News #DeedFraud #DeedTheft #HarrisCountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #HarrisCountyAttorneySOffice

Harris County judge orders return of 40 properties to rightful owners in deed fraud lawsuit

The Harris County Attorney’s Office filed the lawsuit earlier this year against Alba and Jarin Martinez, accusing the couple of running a fraud scheme by falsely claiming ownership of dozens of properties. The couple is accused of forging deeds and transferring property titles to themselves in order to then sell the properties to unsuspecting buyers.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaJun 10, 2025

A federal lawsuit was filed Monday against Harris County and its sheriff as well as several Harris County Jail detention officers accused of striking an inmate dozens of times after an altercation in 2023.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2025/06/10/523633/federal-lawsuit-filed-against-harris-county-jail-detention-officers-accused-in-womans-beating/

#Court #CriminalJustice #HarrisCounty #LawEnforcement #Local #News #HarrisCountyAttorneySOffice #HarrisCountyJail #HarrisCountySheriffSOffice #HoustonCriminalJustice #JailLawsuit

Federal lawsuit filed against Harris County, jail detention officers accused in woman’s beating

Security footage provided to Houston Public Media shows Anasia Smith, 22 years old at the time, arguing with detention officer Paulita Franco before the altercation escalated.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaNov 13, 2024

The Harris County District Attorney's Office is warning residents to be more vigilant of possible scams as the holiday shopping season approaches.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/business/2024/11/13/505915/harris-county-officials-warn-against-scams-ahead-of-the-holiday-season/

#Business #HarrisCounty #Local #News #ChristianMenefee #Fraud #HarrisCountyAttorneySOffice #Scams

Harris County officials warn against scams ahead of the holiday season

According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers across the country lost more than $10 billion to fraud last year — a 14% increase compared to 2022.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaOct 8, 2024

A Baytown gas station was ordered to pay $50,000 for price gouging during Hurricane Beryl, according to the Harris County Attorney's Office.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/hurricane/2024/10/08/502205/baytown-gas-station-accused-of-price-gouging-during-hurricane-beryl-ordered-to-pay-50000/

#Hurricane #HurricaneSeason #News #HarrisCountyAttorneySOffice #HurricaneBeryl #Lawsuit

Baytown gas station accused of price gouging during Hurricane Beryl ordered to pay $50,000

The attorney's office received more than 250 complaints in an investigation into price gouging complaints during the hurricane.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaMay 8, 2024

A retaliation lawsuit filed last year against Harris County, by a former county executive who had been terminated after an accusation of sexual harassment, will continue after a judge this week denied the county’s request to throw it out.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/05/08/486967/rick-noriegas-retaliation-lawsuit-against-harris-county-can-continue-judge-rules/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #CivilLawsuit #HarrisCountyAttorneySOffice #RetaliationLawsuit #RickNoriega #TexasWhistleblowerAct

Rick Noriega’s retaliation lawsuit against Harris County can continue, judge rules

Retired Maj. Gen. Rick Noriega was fired from his job at Harris County in 2023, with county officials citing his refusal to complete mandatory sexual harassment training after a female employee made a complaint against him. Noriega then sued the county for more than $1 million, citing protections under the Texas Whistleblower Act and claiming he was falsely accused by the woman because he had recently taken disciplinary actions against her husband.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaMay 8, 2024

Opposing the recent approval of a northeast Houston concrete crushing plant construction project, Harris County officials Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2024/05/08/486932/harris-county-sues-texas-commission-on-environmental-quality-over-concrete-crushing-facility-health-risks/

#EnergyEnvironment #HealthScience #News #ConcreteCrushingFacility #HarrisCountyAttorneySOffice #KashmereGardens #KashmereGardensConcreteFacility

Harris County sues Texas Commission on Environmental Quality over concrete crushing facility health risks

The lawsuit asserts the commission ignored regulatory distance limitations, endangered public health and failed to comply with federal air quality standards by approving a concrete crushing plant facility construction application.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaJan 25, 2024

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, after pushback and outcry from stakeholders in the Houston area, has updated its air quality standards permit for concrete batch plants. Do the new requirements go far enough?

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2024/01/25/475599/tceq-strengthens-pollution-limiting-requirements-for-concrete-batch-plants-particularly-in-greater-houston/

#Business #EnergyEnvironment #HarrisCounty #Houston #Local #News #Texas #AirAllianceHouston #AirPollution #ConcreteBatchPlant #HarrisCountyAttorneySOffice #Tceq #TexasCommissionOnEnvironmentalQuality

TCEQ strengthens pollution-limiting requirements for concrete batch plants, particularly in Greater Houston

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, after pushback and outcry from stakeholders in the Houston area, has updated its air quality standards permit for concrete batch plants, which are known to emit fine particulate matter that can be harmful to human health. Some say the new requirements do not go far enough.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaNov 11, 2023

Judge dismisses most remaining Republican challenges of 2022 Harris County election results

Judge David Peeples, a Republican assigned the case from outside the county, ruled that neither Erin Lunceford nor most of the remaining Republican plaintiffs had proven their cases that they merited fresh election contests in the wake of their losses.

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#2022Elections #ErinLunceford #HarrisCountyAttorneySOffice #RepublicanElectionChallenges #TamikaCraft

Judge dismisses most remaining Republican challenges of 2022 Harris County election results

Judge David Peeples, a Republican assigned the case from outside the county, ruled that neither Erin Lunceford nor most of the remaining Republican plaintiffs had proven their cases that they merited fresh election contests in the wake of their losses.

Houston Public Media