Originally published October 26, 2026. Event dates and meeting times reflect the original report.

The City of Granbury has filed its answer to the lawsuit brought by Mayor Jim Jarratt, Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Wadley and Council Member Gary “Skip” Overdier over recall petitions. It asks the court to deny the officials’ relief and dismiss their suit with prejudice.

The Recall Line: City responds to officials’ lawsuit

GRANBURY — The City of Granbury has answered the lawsuit brought by its own mayor, mayor pro tem and a City Council member over recall petitions against them. The city asks the court to deny all the relief the officials seek and enter a final judgment of dismissal with prejudice.

The city’s original answer was signed Monday, October 26, in Cause No. C2026539 in the 355th Judicial District Court and filed Monday morning, according to the court’s online register. The answer is a general denial plus an immunity defense. It is not a ruling, and no judge has decided the case.

Mayor Jim Jarratt, Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Wadley and Council Member Gary “Skip” Overdier sued the city October 6. Their lawsuit asks the court to declare recall petitions against them invalid and alleges forgery, fraud and other defects in signature gathering. Those are the officials’ allegations; no court has made findings on them.

What the city’s answer says

General denial: Citing Rule 92 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the city denies all material allegations in the officials’ petition and calls on them to prove their claims by a preponderance of the evidence.

Immunity: The city asserts governmental and sovereign immunity “to the fullest extent allowed by law.” The answer says that covers immunity from suit and liability, including attorney fees claimed by officials. For any claims subject to immunity from suit, the city says the court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction. The answer does not specify which claims those are.

Requested relief: The city asks that the officials “take nothing by this suit,” all their requested relief be denied at final hearing, and the court enter a “Final Judgment of Dismissal with Prejudice.” A dismissal with prejudice bars a plaintiff from bringing the same claim again, according to Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute.

What the officials asked for

Their October 6 petition asks the court to declare the recall petitions invalid; declare that the city’s duty to order recall elections does not begin until the Texas Secretary of State publishes the May 2027 election calendar; allow the city to wait until an ordering deadline they expect around February 12, 2027; and issue a restraining order and injunction blocking any recall-election order until the court rules.

The petition states that the officials seek non-monetary relief plus attorney fees and court costs.

Who filed the city’s answer

The answer is signed by attorneys Kelly R. Albin and Mark A. Bricker of Denton Navarro Rodriguez Bernal Santee & Zech, P.C., of League City, as attorneys for Granbury.

A certificate of service states that the answer was served October 26 through electronic notification on the officials’ attorney, Andy Taylor of Andy Taylor & Associates in Brenham.

Earlier in the case

Hood County Express reported October 19 that, as of that morning, the case docket showed no hearing set, no ruling and no city filing. The October 26 answer is the city’s response, not a decision by the court.

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