Senator Zaffirini Sued for Trust Mismanagement

Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, has been sued twice thismonth for her actions relating to a $150 million fortune in Laredo that she andtwo others manage. 

The lawsuits brought by the beneficiaries of the Delfina andJosefina Alexander Family Trust allege Zaffirini, David Arredondo, and ClarissaChapa grossly mismanaged five businesses owned by Josefina Alexander Gonzalezand deceased sister Delfina Alexander.

The latest lawsuit alleges Zaffirini and the twoco-defendants “forged documents, committed tax fraud and paid themselvesexcessive fees for managing the five businesses while scheming to withholdmoney from the trust.”  The first lawsuitalleges the trio drained $1.7 million from funds outside the trust.  The beneficiaries allege these executors paidthemselves more than quadruple the amount allowed under law, money they weresupposed to pass on to the heirs. 

Zaffirini and company describe these lawsuits as an attemptto break a trust which allows the heirs to have a comfortable lifestyle but notan extravagant one.  Trust creatorJosefina Alexander is unable to shed light on the trust as she is no longerconsidered competent by the court.

See Craig Kapitan,Zaffirini Hit with New Lawsuit, MySan Antonio, July 19, 2013.

Special thanks to Laura Galvan (Attorney, San Antonio, Texas) for bringing this article to my attention.