Judge Sanctions Austin Attorney Omar W. Rosales

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane has sanctioned Austin attorney Omar W. Rosales nearly $176,000 in penalties for "creat[ing] strife and perpetuat[ing] lies," defaming opposing counsel with "false and abusive statements," submitting fabricated evidence, and attempting "to derail the administration of justice with frivolous motions." Such conclusions are rooted in findings from six particular cases, each of which found Rosales representing disabled clients in ADA-related cases against local places of business. In each case, the attorney for the defendants was either Jim Harring­ton, founder and at the time director of the Texas Civil Rights Project (since retired), or Charles Herring and Jason Panzer. Lane's findings are contained within a 49-page order delivered Dec. 7. The sanctions include payback for billable hours, business expenses, and legal fees. Lane awarded $32,962.50 to Harrington and $142,711.28 to Herring and Panzer.