Broken Arrow City Council
Meeting of: 09-01-2026
Title:
title
Approval of and authorization for the Mayor to execute the Waiver of Potential Conflicts of Interest submitted by GableGotwals dated August 21, 2026, in connection with The Islamic Society of Tulsa v. City of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, David Pickel, in his individual capacity, Justin Green, in his individual capacity, Lisa Ford, in her individual capacity, and Debra Wimpee, in her individual capacity, United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Case No. 26-cv-00469-MTS (the “Matter”)
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Background:
On or about the filing of the Matter, GableGotwals was engaged to represent Mayor Debra Wimpee, Councilor Lisa Ford, Councilor David Pickel, and Councilor Justin Green in their individual capacities. GableGotwals does not at this time represent the City of Broken Arrow in the Matter. The City is a co-defendant. The individually named officials have requested that the City provide legal representation and defense pursuant to 11 O.S. §§ 23-101 and 23-102, and the City anticipates paying the legal fees of the named individuals.
By letter dated August 21, 2026, from R. Trent Shores, Managing Shareholder, Tulsa, GableGotwals disclosed certain potential conflicts arising from the firm’s other representations that are or have been adverse to the City, and requested the City’s informed consent and waiver of objection to the firm’s continued representation of the four individually named defendants.
Disclosed matters. The letter identifies, without limitation, the following representations adverse to the City or in which the City is a co-party:
City of Broken Arrow v. Ritze, CJ-2024-2454 (Oklahoma Natural Gas / ONG)
City of Broken Arrow v. Sanford, CJ-2025-2139 (ONE Gas, Inc.)
The Estates of Katherine and Jason England v. City of Broken Arrow, CJ-2024-3387 (Estate of Jason England)
Various ONG real-property vacation, franchise, right-of-way, and quiet-title matters
State v. Purdue Pharma (Te...
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