TPIA Request — Hearing Officer Engagement (Darren G. Gibson / Littler)¶
Date Range: 2025-12-16 Emails in Thread: 1 Parties: Kevin Bass, Texas Tech University System Public Information Officer
Email 1: TPIA Request¶
Date: December 16, 2025, 12:33 PM From: Kevin Bass kbassphiladelphia@gmail.com To: publicinfo@ttu.edu Subject: TPIA Request – Darren G. Gibson / Littler – hearing officer engagement (TTUHSC)
Dear Public Information Act Officer,
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I request copies of public information sufficient to show the retention and payment of Darren G. Gibson and/or Littler Mendelson, P.C. (and/or Michael Best & Friedrich LLP) in connection with TTUHSC student disciplinary hearing officer services for the hearing held on or about December 11, 2023, including:
The executed contract, engagement letter, statement of work, or similar agreement for Darren G. Gibson and/or Littler Mendelson, P.C. for hearing officer services related to that hearing (including any amendments).
Any purchase order(s), invoice(s), payment voucher(s), and payment register/check register entries associated with that engagement.
Any conflict-of-interest, impartiality, or independence disclosure/certification completed by Darren G. Gibson (or his firm) for that engagement, and any TTUHSC/TTUS documentation reflecting a conflict check for that engagement.
Any written policy, procedure, checklist, or guidance document describing when TTUHSC uses an outside/external hearing officer for student disciplinary matters, and how such a person is selected.
A summary report (or records sufficient to show) all payments by TTUHSC/TTUS from January 1, 2019 to present to: (a) Littler Mendelson, P.C.; (b) Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; and/or (c) Darren G. Gibson, including date, amount, and the "description/purpose" field from the accounting system.
Please provide responsive records in electronic form (PDF is fine).
Cost control: If the total charges are expected to exceed $25, please provide an itemized cost estimate and pause processing until I approve in writing. If charges are expected to be under $25, please proceed.
My mailing address is:
3815 130th St Apt 511 Lubbock, TX 79423
Sincerely,
Kevin Bass PhD MS Phone: 512-333-4092
Summary¶
This TPIA request seeks records concerning the engagement of attorney Darren G. Gibson (of Littler Mendelson, P.C. and/or Michael Best & Friedrich LLP) as the outside hearing officer for the December 11, 2023 dismissal hearing. Key categories include:
- Contract/engagement documents for hearing officer services
- Invoices and payment records
- Conflict-of-interest and impartiality certifications
- Policies governing selection of outside hearing officers
- Payment history to the named law firms/attorney since 2019
This request relates to questions about the independence and selection process for the hearing officer who presided over the December 2023 dismissal hearing.
See also: Story: How This Started, Thread 21: Name-Clearing Hearing Request