Clayton Williams says "shut up" the American way. He sues.

There was a scene in the movie "Repo Man" in which the good guys got in a beef with a gang of ruffians, and they met under a freeway for an old fashioned "West Side Story" rumble. The two sides trash talked and made all sorts of threats. But then one of them threatened to sue, and that was a knockout punch. Not a blow was struck by anyone, but they all mulled that threat, grumbled, and quietly got in their cars and drove away.

It was hilarious. But that seems to be the American way. To settle an issue file a suit.  Sue critics to end the discussion.

So we have local entrepreneur Clayton Williams suing Fort Stockton Mayor Rueben Falcon for libel per se and slander per se for something Mr. Falcon allegedly told the Fort Stockton Pioneer and the Midland paper in an ongoing battle over water rights. (A Google search for the phrases quoted in petition paragraph 12(b) didn't return the offending article.)

However, the Midland Reporter-Telegram reports on the suit. And John Boyd's blog has the plaintiff's petition.

Locals love Mr. Williams. He's philanthropic and employs a lot of people. But the irony meter is on 11. Some people out there might be old enough to remember when Clayton Williams ran for Texas governor, and they might recall thinking that Mr. Williams the politician might have had a shot had he been able to keep his own mouth shut.

Then there's that little issue of Mr. Williams having taken almost 800 grand in government farm subsidies. It's give and take, so who knows? Maybe with the philanthropy it will all balance out in the end.

Comments

[Jeff]

George, the background on this story would make a GREAT in-depth feature for someone at the MRT to develop. It's one that goes back decades and is an important part of the history of Fort Stockton and Pecos County, with accusations and counter-accusations flying back and forth - in court and on the street - over definitions of water flow and water rights.

[Geo]

Good suggestion, Jeff. I hope they do it.