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Carabin Law Files Lawsuits Over Unpaid Legal Fees in Sutherland Springs Cases

Carabin Law PC, formerly known as Anderson & Associates, has filed two separate lawsuits in Bexar County District Court claiming it is owed more than $2 million in unpaid legal fees for its work on behalf of victims of the 2017 Sutherland Springs church shooting.

One lawsuit involves representation of Chris Ward and the estate of his late daughter, who was killed alongside her mother during the attack. The other addresses the firm’s work for Ward and his surviving son, who was permanently injured. The firm says it is owed more than $800,000 in connection with the daughter’s estate and more than $1.7 million related to the father and son’s case.

The petitions allege breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract, stating that funds intended for Anderson & Associates’ legal fees were diverted elsewhere. The firm argues that despite having valid agreements to represent the Ward family since shortly after the tragedy, other attorneys wrongfully interfered with those contracts and were improperly paid fees.

The lawsuits stem from the larger federal litigation in which the U.S. government was found liable for failing to report the shooter’s domestic violence conviction, which allowed him to purchase firearms legally. That failure ultimately contributed to one of the deadliest mass shootings in Texas history, leaving 26 people dead and 22 others wounded.

Carabin Law attorney Kirsten Carabin is one of the attorneys representing the firm in these matters.

Case references: Anderson & Associates Law Firm PC v. Reiner Law Firm et al., No. 2025CI22176 (73rd Dist. Ct., Bexar County, Texas), and Anderson & Associates v. the Estate of Christopher Ward et al., No. 2025CI22152 (225th Dist. Ct., Bexar County, Texas).