Former Mineral Wells Mayor Christopher M. Perricone has dismissed the majority of defendants in his high-profile civil lawsuit after a judge ruled he does not qualify for a waiver of court costs.
In a Notice of Nonsuit filed in Palo Pinto County Court, Perricone voluntarily withdrew his claims against all but two defendants: his ex-wife Katie Beth Perricone and her mother, Vicki Scarborough. The filing states that all other parties are dismissed “without prejudice” and are no longer subject to service or participation in the case.
Perricone, who served briefly as mayor of Mineral Wells before leaving office after it was found that he was ineligible for the position for non payment of taxes, has remained a polarizing figure in local politics and courtrooms. His latest legal filing, Cause No. C51852, accused dozens of officials — from police officers to clergy members — of participating in a years-long conspiracy to interfere with his parental rights.
The move to dismiss most defendants comes less than a week after Judge Robert D. Cayce denied Perricone’s request to proceed as an indigent party. Following a hearing on July 31, Cayce ruled in favor of attorney Rhett Warren’s motion contesting Perricone’s affidavit of indigency, finding that Perricone did not meet the legal requirements to avoid court fees.
Perricone originally filed the lawsuit in Palo Pinto County’s 29th Judicial District Court, alleging more than 1,500 violations of court-ordered visitation between 2019 and 2024. His June 26 amended petition named more than 50 individuals and outlined 12 causes of action, including:
The court’s ruling meant Perricone would have been responsible for all costs associated with serving dozens of defendants, including law enforcement officers, school officials, clergy, and public officials — among them the judge who formerly presided over his family law case.
• Interference with child custody
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress
• Abuse of process
• Civil conspiracy
Judge Mike Moore, one of the named defendants, recused himself from the case in June. Perricone then challenged the legitimacy of the recusal, arguing Moore was automatically disqualified under Texas law due to his involvement in the underlying family case.
With most of the claims now withdrawn, the case will proceed only against Katie Beth Perricone and Vicki Scarborough. No hearing date has been scheduled.
Indigence Claim Update
After Judge Cayce’s ruling, Perricone has filed a formal appeal of the court’s decision denying his indigent claim in his ongoing civil case.
In a Notice of Appeal filed August 1, Perricone asks the Eleventh Court of Appeals in Eastland to review the July 25 ruling by District Judge Robert D. Cayce, who determined Perricone does not meet the requirements to proceed without paying court costs.
The appeal is based on Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145, which governs affidavits of inability to pay. Perricone, who is representing himself in the case, previously sought to waive fees based on financial hardship but was found by the court to have misstated his income, assets, and expenses.
The ruling likely played a key role in Perricone’s decision to non-suit most of the more than 50 defendants originally named in the case. Only his ex-wife, Katie Beth Perricone, and her mother, Vicki Scarborough, remain active in the lawsuit.
The Court of Appeals has not yet set a briefing schedule or ruled on whether it will hear oral arguments.