CA Newsletter: Behind the Scenes
Recent media reports have revealed the scope of a review the Office of the Harris County Attorney has been undertaking since June of 2009 concerning how certain County investments were handled.
As reported in the Houston Chronicle our review found that in some cases Harris County paid more than market value for securities purchased by the county. This review was verified by PienteBeard, an outside firm retained by the County Auditor to provide forensic accounting and consulting services.
This is an example of the work of the County Attorney that often occurs behind the scenes with little attention given to the extraordinary efforts of the men and women who serve the Office of the County Attorney and the people of Harris County. In this case Nick Lykos and Douglas Ray spent countless hours reviewing documents, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing investment trades.
Our review lead to a series of recommendations to Commissioners Court which were adopted in September of 2010. As a result of these recommendations the Offices of the County Attorney and the County Auditor will play a greater role in the investment process and there will be greater transparency.
Our Office is currently negotiating with the brokerage firms involved in these over market transactions to recover all sums owed to the County as a result of these trades. – Vince
Mayura Ramanna appointed Assistant County Attorney at Hospital District
Mayura Ramanna has joined the staff of the Office of the Harris County Attorney as an Assistant County Attorney. She will be assigned to the Hospital District Practice Group. Mayura graduated from the University of Houston School of Law in 1999 and went on to earn her Masters in Health Law in August of 2008. Mayura worked for the City of Houston as an Assistant City Attorney in the Contracts Division from February 2002.
HCAO provides training on salvage regs
On June 16th Assistant County Attorneys Laura Cahill, Angel Magouirk, Rock Owens, Phillip Evans and County Attorney Intern Jennifer Fox presented a two hour seminar at the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department designed to prepare PID investigators for trial in salvage yard cases. About 20 inspectors and supervisors observed and asked questions as the group staged mock direct and cross examination scenarios. The County is entering the enforcement phase in a campaign it began last year to implement an auto salvage yard licensing program designed to protect neighborhood integrity. Auto salvage businesses must be licensed and maintain a minimum distance from residences, churches and schools.
Sandra Hachem named to SBOT committee
Sandra Hachem has been appointed as an advisory member of the State Bar of Texas standing committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. Her term on the committee will begin on the adjournment of the June 2011 Annual Meeting in San Antonio and will run for one year until the 2012 Annual Meeting in Houston. Sandra will be speaking about Legislative Updates at the Advanced Family Bar CLE sponsored by the Texas Bar.
