Hill County residents react to $100 million lawsuit filed against county judge, commissioners

Hill County Judge Shane Brassell and two county commissioners are being sued for $100 million by data center developer RCM Hill. The lawsuit was filed after the commissioners voted to institute a moratorium on data center development within the county. RCM Hill asserts that it has spent over a year and nearly a million dollars acquiring land purchase rights and legal entitlements for a data center project.

Local residents have voiced strong support for the county's moratorium, emphasizing their long-standing ties to the land and desire to have a say in local development. Pat Abbott, a Hill County resident, stated, "We've worked our land for our whole lives, our children live here." Another resident, Olivia, commented that while she believes the commissioners had good intentions, better handling of prior resident concerns might have prevented the current legal situation, suggesting the moratorium was "jumped way ahead."

Judge Brassell had previously acknowledged the possibility of a lawsuit, but asserted the county's right to protect its citizens. Residents, including Jennifer Isaacks, are now imploring county leaders to "stand their ground" against the lawsuit. They also seek transparency from their leaders regarding the potential financial impact of the $100 million suit. Lawyers for RCM Hill declined to comment, and Judge Brassell and the commissioners did not respond to requests for comment before airtime. Commissioners are scheduled to meet on Friday, May 29, 2026.