How FBI fishnet unfolded - McMahan, State Auditor and Inspector

Henry catches flak over trip
NewsOK.com, September 28, 2007
Michael McNutt

Five months after vetoing a lawsuit reform bill, Gov. Brad Henry is on a fishing trip in Brazil with several trial lawyers, including three past presidents of the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association.

Henry, a Democrat and an attorney from Shawnee, was invited on the charter fishing trip by Terry West, a longtime family friend and attorney, Henry spokesman Paul Sund said Thursday.

"It's just a fishing trip, Sund said. "Brad Henry and his family, dating back to his dad and his uncles, have known the West family for decades. Terry put the whole thing together and they share a common interest in hunting and fishing.

Henry and his chief of staff, Gerald Adams, paid their own transportation and other costs on the fishing trip on the Amazon River, Sund said. The state, as is required by law, is paying costs of Henry's security detail. The normal charge for the fishing trip, according to the company's Web site, is $4,250 per person.

The governor left last weekend and is scheduled to return Monday, Sund said. The trip is similar to one taken four years ago by Henry. West, a former president of the trial lawyers group, also invited Henry along on that trip, which consisted of fishing on the

Amazon River in Peru, Sund said.

Trip criticized

Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, criticized the governor for taking the trip, especially because legislators next session again will tackle changing the way lawsuits are treated in court cases ranging from personal injury to medical malpractice.

"I'm frankly shocked that he would do that while we're still considering lawsuit reform legislation, said Williamson, who presented the lawsuit reform measure last session to the full Senate.

"It undermines his suggested comments that he is neutral on the issue and indicates that obviously his best friends are trial lawyers and that's who he's going to go socialize with. It just has the appearance of impropriety.

Who's going

Those on the trip will spend most of their time on a custom-designed yacht, and will fish from smaller boats for Amazon catfish and peacock bass.

Twenty-four people are listed as taking part on the fishing trip.

"In addition to West, other trial lawyers on the trip include Jim Loftis, Blake Virgin,

John Hargrave, John B. Norman, John Wayne Norman, William Woodson and Brad and Bart West,

Terry West's sons, according to a passenger list obtained by The Oklahoman.

"Loftis and Brad West are former presidents of the state trial lawyers group.

"Terry West, Woodson and Virgin each donated the maximum $5,000 contribution amount to

Henry's 2006 re-election campaign, while John Wayne Norman and Brad West each gave $4,500 and Loftis gave $1,000, state Ethics Commission records show.

"Others on the trip include: Oilman Richard R. Dunning, who earlier this year was appointed by Henry to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents and is a member of the

Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission, and oilman Paul Hale. Ethics Commission records show Dunning gave $4,500 and Hale gave $1,000 to Henry's 2006 campaign.

The legislation

Henry vetoed Senate Bill 507 shortly after legislators approved it in April. Among other things, the bill would have capped noneconomic damages, which generally are for pain and suffering, at $300,000. It would have limited a jury to award punitive damages only if it found intentional or gross negligence by clear and convincing evidence.

Henry said he concluded several provisions of the bill were unconstitutional.

No agreement on another lawsuit reform measure could be reached before legislators adjourned in late May.

Contributing: Staff Writer Nolan Clay

Email: ProwlMaster@prowlingowl.com