Lubbock asks AG for permission to withhold audit of health care administrator

Months after a legal settlement of a dispute between the city of Lubbock and the city’s former health care administrator, the Avalanche-Journal in Lubbock has been refused access to an audit of the administrator that was part of the battle between the estranged parties. The city has referred the request to the state Attorney General’s office.

After the city terminated its contract in 2006 with the Parker Group, the company sued, alleging defamation. City officials countersued for malicious prosecution.

The slander part of the conflict ended in October with an $850,000 settlement that favored the city. Another element was dismissed late last month. 

The dispute prompted a look-see by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to this story. And there’s this 2007 report from a private investigator hired by the Parker camp, alleging a biased audit by the city-hired team. Taxpayers have funded a defense for the former mayor and others to the tune of $2 million as of a year ago, which included $250 steak dinners as well as presumed courtroom acumen. 

A good roundup of stories is here at Pratt on Texas. 

The audit sought by the Avalanche-Journal would be a revealing piece of the puzzle as to what happened, aside from the political and personal sniping. And it would benefit the members of the public in Lubbock to know just what is going on given the legal bills they are footing.

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Contact Steve Miller at 832-303-9420 or stevemiller@texaswatchdog.org.

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