Kinder Morgan’s ‘Tax Ferret’ Charges Aired at Texas High Court

The Texas Supreme Court sought to understand Thursday whether a contract between a school district and a private attorney to seek over $200 million in unpaid taxes from Kinder Morgan Inc. was appropriate.

Iraan-Sheffield Independent School District retained attorney D. Brent Lemon to sue the energy pipeline and terminal company for delinquent taxes in exchange for a 20% cut of any taxes recovered. Kinder Morgan and the Pecos County Appraisal District convinced the trial court to dismiss the suit because the school district hired Lemon as a so-called tax ferret under an unauthorized contract allowing for compensation ...