Morning Word: Let's All Go To Court

By Matt Grubs

Speaking ill
Gerald Peters owns or has owned banks, buildings, restaurants and galleries, but perhaps his most valuable asset is his name. So he's suing a Nevada gallery, auction and auction partner for defamation. The fascinating story involves a painting by Frank Tenney Johnson that the defendants say is a fake. Peters sold it to former racetrack owner—and apparently former friend—RD Hubbard for $1 million. He says it's the genuine article.

Me, too

State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn has filed a cease-and-desist order against a prospective opponent for his office, Garrett VeneKlasen. The filing

asks the court

to order VeneKlasen to pull down a radio ad that references a ranch bought by Dunn that now benefits from a electrical transmission line running through it.

Kokesh wins v. SEC

Former Santa Fe investor Charles Kokesh

won his fight

with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with the US Supreme Court

unanimously holding

the SEC can't force him to pay back $35 million now for investment money the feds say he misappropriated between 1995 and 2007.

Dems sue governor again

Leadership in the state House and Senate has filed suit to overturn 10 vetoes by Gov. Susana. The legislators argue the governor

violated the state Constitution

by not attaching a veto message explaining why she nixed the bills. If they win, the bills could become law.

Boyd shooter back on the job

Albuquerque police officer Dominique Perez was fired after being charged with the murder of James Boyd. He wasn't convicted and he's now

back on the force

with six-figure back pay. He has to complete new Department of Justice-mandated training. He's on administrative assignment for the next year with APD's tactical unit.

ABQ City Council overrides Berry veto

It's not the kind of news a potential gubernatorial candidate wants, but city councilors successfully

voted to override

Mayor Richard Berry's veto of the $534 million city budget last night. The budget is still a few million dollars away from matching up with revenue projections, but the council plans to make changes and send them to Berry.

New bail rules

The state Supreme Court finalized rules and procedures for

holding accused criminals in jail

prior to trial. It's been one of the biggest undercurrents in criminal justice in the state over the past few years.

 

Corporate tax free-fall

The state's take since a 2013 corporate tax reform package went into effect has dropped

a dizzying 65 percent

. Those numbers are now paired with New Mexico's highest-in-the-country unemployment rate. State finance officials also blame the oil and gas markets for the decline.

Thanks for reading! The Word is slugging down an extra cup of coffee this morning, and ready for another news cycle.
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