Gov. Greg Abbott\u00a0has called for a\u00a0second specially called legislative session<\/a>\u00a0and he has called for the arrest of members to bring them to the floor for a quorum. Phelan\u00a0signed a civil warrant<\/a>\u00a0for Rep.\u00a0Philip Cortez<\/a>, D-San Antonio, after he returned to the Texas. Cortez however then fled back to D.C. The lawsuit sues not only Abbott and House Speaker\u00a0Dade Phelan<\/a>\u00a0but State Rep.\u00a0James White<\/a>. White\u2019s inclusion is particularly curious since the Democratic members are declaring fealty to free speech while trying to sue another members presumably for his exercise of free speech.<\/p>\n The complaint by Craig Anthony Washington, a former Democratic lawmaker, also does not use Phelan\u2019s legal name (Matthew McDade Phelan) but just \u201cDade Phelan.\u201d It also misspells Abbott\u2019s name on page one as \u201cAbbot.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Strangely, the counsel on the brief is listed as \u201cDeguren and Dickson.\u201d It is not clear if that is supposed to be\u00a0DeGuerin and Dickson<\/a>\u00a0which has an office at the listed address. There is an email on the complaint reading \u201ccaw@deguerin.com<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n The plaintiffs listed in the case are state Reps.\u00a0Senfronia Thompson<\/a>,\u00a0Trey Martinez Fischer<\/a>,\u00a0Gene Wu<\/a>,\u00a0Vikki Goodwin<\/a>,\u00a0Ron Reynolds<\/a>,\u00a0Eddie Rodriguez<\/a>,\u00a0Jon Rosenthal<\/a>,\u00a0Jasmine Crockett<\/a>,\u00a0Mary Ann Perez,<\/a>\u00a0Alma Allen<\/a>,\u00a0Christina Morales<\/a>,\u00a0Nicole Collier<\/a>,\u00a0Celia Israel<\/a>,\u00a0Ana-Maria Ramos<\/a>,\u00a0Barbara Gervin-Hawkins<\/a>,\u00a0Terry Meza<\/a>,\u00a0Donna Howard<\/a>,\u00a0Jarvis Johnson<\/a>,\u00a0Ray Lopez<\/a>,\u00a0Shawn Thierry<\/a>,\u00a0Elizabeth Campos<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Gina Hinojosa<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Democrats sue over deprivations caused by their own decisions to flee the state to prevent the vote.\u00a0<\/strong>It was an ironic moment as Democrats in Washington celebrated their act while they denounced filibusters. The Texas Democrats were carrying out a type of de fact filibuster by flight. However, they would not have incurred those costs but for their own actions.\u00a0Two other Democratic members have been criticized over taking a vacation to Portugal after fleeing to Washington<\/a>.<\/p>\n Yet, the filing alleges that the Republicans are conspiring against them in plain view in response to their consensual consent:<\/p>\n Plaintiffs allege that in doing the acts and things complained of, the Defendants were conspirator [sic] engaged in a scheme and conspiracy designed and intended to deny and deprive them of rights guaranteed to them under the Constitution and laws of the United States and particularly those herein above enumerated.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n They ask for $5 in actual damages and $10 in punitive damages. However, Washington is seeking his fees under the Civil Rights Attorney Fees Act.<\/p>\n Under\u00a0Rule 3.1<\/a>\u00a0a \u201clawyer shall not bring or defend a proceeding, or assert or controvert an issue therein, unless there is a basis in law and fact for doing so that is not frivolous.\u201d Moreover, the defendants could seek sanctions \u00a0under\u00a0Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11<\/a>\u00a0claiming a lawsuit \u201cfor an improper purpose\u201d of causing \u201cunnecessary delay.\u201d \u00a0Indeed,\u00a0Democratic activists in Texas have filed such complaints<\/a>\u00a0against Republicans on these grounds.<\/p>\n These Democratic members are asking a federal court to allow a lawsuit based on the use of statutorily permitted sanctions in response to their own decisions to flee the state. There is no legal authority that directly support such a claim. Indeed, the short complaint reads more like a press release from the DNC \u2014 restating political claims with a caption on the top.<\/strong><\/p>\n Here is the complaint:\u00a0Thompson v. Abbott<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.zerohedge.com\/s3fs-public\/styles\/inline_image_mobile\/public\/inline-images\/t_3b23ea087b4040f18fee52fd43e15081_name_Analysis__Texas_legislators_are_fighting_ferociously___and_for_voters__attention.jpg?itok=mvfpJ8QH\")
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