Fired 21CT lobbyist to be deposed over comments he made to Statesman (re: HHSC contract)

Attorneys for Austin tech firm 21CT, at the center of a no-bid state contract scandal, will depose the company’s former lobbyist about comments he made to the American-Statesman, which fueled concerns that 21CT had been inappropriately awarded a multimillion dollar-Medicaid anti-fraud deal.

James Frinzi, who was fired by 21CT in December, is set to be deposed in coming weeks by the company’s attorneys, who in a Tuesday hearing avoided a dismissal of their case. Frinzi’s attorneys argued that lawsuit is an attempt to silence a newspaper whistle blower with the specter of expensive litigation.

In the lawsuit, 21CT accuses Frinzi of making false statements to the Statesman which resulted in as much as $90 million in damages, as well as breaking his contractual and fiduciary duties as the company’s lobbyist.

The company’s lawyers also say Frinzi, whom 21CT hired to help win contracts in Oklahoma, “falsely” registered as the company’s lobbyist in Texas. Dan Richards, 21CT’s attorney, said that Frinzi’s registration in Texas prompted the Statesman to investigate 21CT’s deal with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/fired-21ct-lobbyist-to-be-deposed-over-comments-he/nj4B2/

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http://www.democraticunderground.com/107822884

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http://www.democraticunderground.com/107822630

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http://www.democraticunderground.com/107822593

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