Hidalgo County commissioners voted at the end of September to hire Carlos Escobar and the Escobar Law Firm to represent the county in litigation tied to a crash at the Hidalgo County Courthouse in late August. Escobar is a McAllen attorney who practices in areas including insurance and litigation.
The driver, 49-year-old Jesus Maria Alaniz Jr. of Edinburg, was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Authorities said he would be charged with driving while intoxicated when released. The crash caused extensive structural damage, broke windows, demolished part of the facade and damaged the entryway, and the courthouse closed for most of a week.
The county declined to say what litigation it expects. According to the county, costs for the initial response and site security came to almost $73,000. The county said it is unclear how much full repairs will cost. In a letter to the Texas Attorney General's office, the county said repair estimates requested by the Progress Times should be withheld because of possible litigation. The Progress Times filed the records request in early November.