PALESTINE, Texas — County officials have accepted a donation of more than $14,000 for the court case seeking to keep Union Pacific from closing its car shop in Palestine, per an agreement that originated more than a century ago.
The Palestine Herald-Press reports the Anderson County Commissioners Court has accepted $14,500 raised by an online “GoFundMe” effort. A court date for Palestine’s suit against UP has been set for March 14, 2022, in the 369th Judicial District Court of Judge Michael Davis.
Davis ruled in July that UP must maintain a 1955 ruling that requires the railroad to employ 0.52% of office and shop employees in Palestine [see “Judge again blocks closure …,” Trains News Wire, July 9, 2021]. That ruling stems from an 1872 agreement with predecessors of the Missouri Pacific which required the railroad to maintain a certain number of jobs in the city.
UP sued to end that provision, winning in federal court [see “Digest: Federal judge voids UP employment requirement …,” News Wire, Feb. 5, 2021] and announcing plans to close the shop in June [see “UP moves forward with closure …,” News Wire, June 9, 2021] But Davis’ ruling at the state level has kept the shop open.
The Herald-Press reports the case is slated for mediation in federal court prior to the district court trial. While separate from the district court case, it could also be resolved by the mediation.
What bothers me about this is the source(s) of the “gofundme” dollars…
It is good that the people of Palestine have recourse to the state courts but it seems unlikely that anything will change the decision already rendered in federal court. If nothing else this highlights the need for some sort of sunset clause in such agreements.
Yes Jeff I find it strange that a state court could over ride the federal court
The U.S. system was intended to have states being stronger than the federal…