The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth’s efforts to recover property from the Southern Cone has entered a new phase. Operating under Texas law the diocese has present the Southern Cone lawyers with a Request for Entry Upon Land to inspect specific properties.
The diocese has a released a statement and a copy of the request itself.
From the statement:
As you may be aware, after achieving the critical ruling on identity, our lawsuit to recover the property of the Episcopal Church is progressing into a new phase. As a part of that effort on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, the Local Episcopal Parties served on attorneys for the Southern Cone Defendants and congregations a Request for Entry Upon Land.
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This routine discovery request, authorized under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, is needed for us to assess insurance needs and to determine the condition of our real and personal property that has been out of our possession for more than two years. The request proposes a schedule for selected individuals, trained by Bishop Ohl and in coordination with each reorganized congregation, to visit specific church properties.
The request itemizes real property for use of the diocese, for use of parishes and missions, and miscellaneous properties. It includes an 8 week schedule for the inspections.