Judge hits Frio county plaintiffs with $25k fee

By Breyana Segura - Chief Staff Writer | June 10, 2026

“This outcome did not come without warning,”

A district judge has ordered five Frio County plaintiffs to pay $25,000 in attorney fees to defendants Mary Moore and Margie Gallardo following the dismissal of a high-profile defamation lawsuit stemming from a contested 2022 election.

The Wednesday, June 3, ruling by 281st District Judge Jennifer Dillingham denied the motion made by the plaintiffs for reconsideration and awarded the defendants’ their attorney fees in the amount of $25,000.

February 2026: The Initial Lawsuit

The legal battle stems from a February civil lawsuit filed by Domingo Garcia, attorney for the plaintiffs – Rochelle Camacho, Adriann Ramirez, Ramiro Trevino, Racheal Garza, and Rosa Rodriguez.

The suit alleged malicious prosecution and defamation following a contested 2022 Democratic primary runoff for county judge, claiming Moore and Gallardo knowingly manufactured false accusations of election fraud.

Plaintiffs were seeking $50 million in relief.

May 2026: The Settlement Warning

Judge Dillingham dismissed the civil suit under the Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA) on May 1.

TCPA is a statute designed to protect citizens from meritless lawsuits intended to chill their right to report suspected wrongdoing or speak on matters of public concern.

Following the dismissal, Moore and Gallardo, filed a formal motion on May 15, requesting $150,000 in attorney’s fees and legal sanctions against the five plaintiffs.

Moore and Gallardo sought $37,000 in attorney fees and sanctions totaling $112,000, an amount which is three times the total of the legal fees.

June 2026: The Final Hearing Judgement and Demand for Payment

The case returned to the court on Wednesday, June 3, with Judge Dillingham presiding.

During the hearing, Judge Dillingham officially denied the plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration regarding the case dismissal.

However, rather than awarding the full $150,000 requested by the defense, the judge ordered a reduced final award, granting the defendants $25,000 in attorney fees.

Mark Anthony Sanchez, attorney for Moore and Gallardo sent a final judgement and demand for payment to Garcia on Thursday, June 4.

“This outcome did not come without warning,” Sanchez wrote in a three-page letter to Garcia. “On April 6, I sent correspondence to you specifically identifying the substantial legal deficiencies in plaintiffs’ claims, explaining the mandatory fee-shifting provisions of the TCPA, outlining defendants’ intent to seek attorney’s fees and sanctions, and extending a settlement proposal designed to provide plaintiffs with a defined exit from the litigation. At that time, I expressly requested that the letter be provided to your clients so they could make an informed decision regarding the risks and consequences of continuing to pursue their claims. Plaintiffs nevertheless elected to reject that opportunity and continue litigating a lawsuit in which they sought extraordinary relief reportedly approaching $50 million.”

The final judgement holds all five plaintiffs, jointly, liable for payment of judgement.

Furthermore, Garcia noted that if the judgement is not timely paid, defendants intend to fully exercise every post-judgment remedy available under Texas law.

Those remedies include garnishment proceedings, asset investigations, judgment liens, and other other lawful measures necessary to identify, reach, and collect non-exempt assets, according to Sanchez.