Jason for Austin

DID LEFFINGWELL TAKE MONEY FROM WAL-MART DURING THE TRIAL?

AUSTIN, Texas – April 8, 2008 – Jason Meeker is demanding Lee Leffingwell
return campaign contributions from lawyers employed by Armbrust & Brown,
L.L.P.

Sixteen lawyers from Armbrust & Brown contributed $9,300 to Lee
Leffingwell’s campaign from November 20-30, 2007. During this time,
Armbrust & Brown represented Lincoln Property Company in the trial of
Responsible Growth for Northcross (RG4N) vs. the City of Austin and Lincoln
Property Company.

“Accepting this money at the time that he did sends a terrible signal to
citizens. Leffingwell claims at candidate forums to be on the side of
neighborhoods. But how can he accept money from the very lawyers who were
engaged in a lawsuit against thousands of Austin residents trying to defend
their neighborhoods against irresponsible development?” says Meeker.

In one instance, J. Bruce Scrafford and spouse gave $600 to Lee
Leffingwell’s campaign on November 20, even while Scrafford was serving as
chief counsel to Lincoln Property Company.

“It’s a gross display of profound political tone-deafness. Leffingwell did
nothing to stop the lawsuits from going to trial, and the timing of these
campaign contributions is very hard to justify. It stinks and he needs to
return the money.” says Meeker.

On Tuesday, June 28, 2007, Responsible Growth for Northcross (RG4N) filed a
lawsuit in Travis County District Court against the City of Austin and
Lincoln Property Company to invalidate the site plan approved by the City of
Austin to redevelop Northcross Mall.

The trial began on November 13, 2007, and a verdict was announced on
December 21, 2007.

Armbrust & Brown is also the law firm where Richard Suttle works. Suttle
worked for seven years as Wal-Mart’s development lawyer and lobbyist until
May 2007.

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