Bell Nunnally announced on Friday that it received Texas Appleseed’s Pro Bono Leadership Award for its involvement in a housing discrimination case in Port Isabel, Texas.
The firm, led by Dallas partner Ben Riemer, and Texas Appleseed represent the Cameron County Housing Authority (CCHA) in the matter, which is expected to go to trial in March 2019. CCHA filed the lawsuit in 2017 alleging that the city repeatedly thwarted efforts to rebuild an apartment complex that was destroyed by Hurricane Dolly in 2008.
In 2014, CCHA was awarded federal disaster recovery funds to rebuild the apartment complex as mixed-income housing. The lawsuit claims the redevelopment efforts have been stymied by the city’s refusals to authorize necessary zoning changes and use permits to facilitate the apartment’s rebuilding.
Riemer accepted the award on behalf of the firm at Texas Appleseed’s Good Apple Dinner in Austin on Nov. 15.
“It was an honor to accept this award on behalf of Bell Nunnally,” Riemer said. “I am proud to be part of a firm committed to pro bono and Texas Appleseed’s mission to promote social and economic justice for all Texans. The team is preparing for next year’s trial with depositions currently in progress.”