Try to figure out the tangled web in this land – real estate – develepoment – municipal case taking place in Texas. "The law firm of Godwin Pappas Ronquillo LLP, representing the City of Celina, filed a lawsuit on April 19 against the defendants Robert Brown and Brown and Hofmeister LLP.

In the lawsuit between Pilot Point and Celina regarding annexation of the Talley Ranch, Brown was representing the City of Pilot Point. In January of 2007, Judge Bruce McFarling disqualified Brown, Brown and Hofmeister LLP, and attorney Mark Goldstucker from the lawsuit due to conflicts of interest. In the lawsuit recently filed against Brown and his firm, Celina is holding Brown and Brown and Hofmeister LLP liable for legal malpractice.

“The lawyer that was negotiating with Talley Ranch on behalf of Pilot Point (Robert Brown) is the same lawyer that was helping Celina on their annexation,” said David LaBrec, Celina’s attorney in Celina v. Pilot Point. “My client felt as if it was a conflict for Mr. Brown, and I felt like it was a conflict. Celina moved to disqualify him, and that was very expensive. Now (Brown and Hofmeister LLP) have been disqualified, so we’re prepared to move forward with the litigation.”