FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUDGE TOSSES CONNOLLY'S LAWSUIT AGAINST DISTRICT ATTORNEY

San Antonio, Texas: December 7, 2009:

This morning United States District Court Judge Fred Biery issued his Order dismissing all claims filed by T. J. Connolly against District Attorney Susan Reed in her personal as well as her official capacity. In October of 2008, Connolly filed a lawsuit alleging civil rights violations stemming from his detention on felony corporate charges on May 13, 2008. Connolly originally sought $1,000,000 in damages but later inflated his claim to $1,500,000. District Attorney Reed maintained that the suit was baseless and without merit and responded by filing a motion with the court requesting that the case be dismissed. Today Judge Biery granted the District Attorney’s motion finding that Connolly’s lawsuit failed to state any valid claims and dismissed it “with prejudice,” meaning that he is barred from filing the claims again in a subsequent lawsuit.

The Order issued today confirms the recommendations issued on September 14, 2009 by United States Magistrate Pamela Mathy, who likewise found that Connolly’s suit against District Attorney Reed was baseless.

Connolly filed the lawsuit after he and his company, T.J. Connolly & Company, were indicted by a Bexar County Grand Jury on five counts of alleged improper campaign contributions involving a candidate for the Board of the Bexar Metropolitan Water District.

The charges against Connolly and his company constitute third degree felony violations of the Texas Election Code. A third degree felony carries a range of punishment against an individual of 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000. A third degree felony carries a range of punishment against a corporation of a fine not to exceed $20,000.

The cases are pending in the 175th District Court before the Honorable Judge Mary Roman. A case status hearing is set for January 8, 2010.

For more information contact Cliff Herberg, First Assistant District Attorney, at (210) 335-2342.