Freeport, TX – An East End resident of Freeport, Manning Rollerson, filed a federal complaint on Friday, August 17, 2018, in US District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Galveston over Port Freeport’s failure to comply with Federal law in its port expansion efforts. Represented by LSLA’s EJ attorney Amy Dinn, Rollerson’s complaint asserts that the Port has been actively engaging in coercive, involuntary acquisition of historically segregated East End neighborhood properties in a concerted effort for several years, devaluing homes, threatening residents with eminent domain, as well as using other questionable tactics to displace residents without offering or providing just compensation for their homes as required under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act of 1970.
This filing comes on the heels of a Title VI Civil Rights complaint made by the East End residents in November 2017 to five Federal agencies that have historically provided funding to Port Freeport and the City of Freeport.
Rollerson is seeking a declaration from the federal judge on the case stating that Port Freeport is in violation of federal law.
Review a copy of the filed complaint here.
Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy on behalf of low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves the millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well‐being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those who have disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Media contact: Clarissa Ayala
