Will Dallas City Attorney Chris Caso Remain at City Hall After His Jan. 25 Evaluation?

After two postponements, the Dallas City Council will finally evaluate City Attorney Chris Caso’s performance, a matter that’s already been twice delayed after two closed session meetings.

Anonymous sources at Dallas City Hall told CandysDirt.com on Tuesday that some council members have expressed a lack of trust in the attorney. The sources, who asked not to be named because of their positions, confirmed that Caso, one of the highest-paid officials at 1600 Marilla, is expected to retire or otherwise vacate his position within the next 60 days.

Caso has been at the center of several high-profile legal matters, including the city’s efforts to shut down poker rooms. The council is slated to receive advice from its legal team on the poker room lawsuits during a closed session Wednesday. 

Caso’s evaluation was originally scheduled for August along with the evaluations of City Manager T.C. Broadnax, City Secretary Bilierae Johnson, and Dallas City Auditor Mark Swann, but was delayed to January. The council voted after a lengthy closed session on Jan. 11 to again defer Caso’s evaluation, this time to Jan. 25. 

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Dallas city officials typically do not comment on personnel matters, but we reached out to Caso by email to see if he had anything to say on the matter. We didn’t hear back. 

Sometimes speculation about a high-profile government figure turns out to be wrong. Many expected that City Manager Broadnax would be ending his career at Dallas City Hall last year, but he not only stayed on board but was also offered a 3 percent raise. 

Caso makes $325,000 a year and has served as city attorney since 2020, holding the position on an interim basis for two years prior. 

Wednesday’s executive session agenda includes a discussion on the following legal issues related to poker/card room lawsuits: 

• Champions Dallas LLC v. City of Dallas and Board of Adjustment; 
• KBKM Entertainment LLC d/b/a Dallas Poker Club v. City of Dallas and Board of Adjustment; 
• Fifty-Two Social and Dining LLC and SB Capital LLC d/b/a Sportsbook Poker Club v. City of Dallas, Megan Wimer, and David Session; 
• Andres Espinoza, in his official capacity as Building Official of the City of Dallas v. Board of Adjustment (Texas Card House); 
• Andres Espinoza, Director and Chief Building Official for Development Services Department of the City of Dallas v. Board of Adjustment of the City of Dallas (Shuffle 214); 
• City of Dallas v. Badger Tavern, LP, 1676 Regal JV, and 1676 Regal Row, Dallas, Texas.

The lawsuits stem from the city’s approval of poker rooms in 2021, then subsequently banning them, stating the state law on gambling was misinterpreted and the certificates of occupancy were issued erroneously. 

Legal matters also have arisen this year related to the operating hours of strip clubs and a panhandling ordinance that opponents allege is an effort to punish the homeless. 

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A pending battle over short-term rentals also is expected to result in legal action.