M&M Orthodontics P.A.and Harlingen Family Dentistry v. Texas Health and Human Services Commission Dr. Kyle Janek, in His Official Capacity as the Executive Commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services Commission Carole Hurley, Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Texas Health and Human Services Commiss
ACCEPTED
03-14-00548-CV
3761541
THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
January 14, 2015 1/14/2015 10:24:00 AM
JEFFREY D. KYLE
CLERK
No. 03-14-00548-CV
In the Third Court of Appeals
Austin, Texas
M & M ORTHODONTICS P.A., HARLINGEN FAMILY DENTISTRY, P.C.,
Appellants,
v.
TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, DR. KYLE JANEK, IN HIS
OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OF TEXAS HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, CAROLE HURLEY, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
JUDGE FOR THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, JUDGE KEITH
GRANTHAM OF THE APPEALS DIVISION OF TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMISSION, AND RICK GILPIN, ADMIN ISTRATfVE LAW JUDGE OF THE APPEALS
DIVISION TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMfSSION,
Appellees.
On Appeal from the 345th Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. D-1-GN-14-00 1 I 09
UNOPPOSED MOTION TO DISMISS
TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS:
Now come Appellees, Administrative Law Judges Carole Hurley, Keith
Grantham, and Rick Gilpin ("the ALJ Appellees"); and Texas Health and Human
Services Commission ("HHSC") and Dr. Kyle Janek, in his official capacity as the
Executive Commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services Commission ("Dr.
Janek") (collectively, "the HHSC Appellees"), and file this Unopposed Motion to
Dismiss and would request that this Court issue an Order dismissing this appeal.
I. BACKGROUND
Recent developments in the underlying administrative proceedings from
which this appeal arises directly impact the current status of this appeal. On
December 23, 2014, the Texas Health and Human Services- Office of Inspector
General filed Notices of Nonsuit of the underlying administrative actions that were
pending against Appellants in the HHSC Appeals Division before ALJ Gilpin.
Attached hereto as Exhibits "A" and "B" are true and complete copies of the Notices
of Nonsuit filed in HHSC Appeals.
The filing of these Notices of Nonsuit by the HHSC Office of Inspector
General in the underlying administrative proceedings renders the issues raised by
Appellants in this appeal moot because ALJ Gilpin is no longer presiding over
administrative actions against them. See Allstate Ins. Co. v. Hallman, 159 S.W.3d
640, 642 (Tex. 2005). As a result, any opinion the Court could issue would resolve
no live controversy between the parties and would, therefore, be advisory in nature.
See Texas Ass 'n ofBus. v. Texas Air Control Bd. , 852 S.W.2d 440, 444 (Tex. 1993).
Appellants do not oppose this Motion.
Page 2 of6
II. CONCLUSION AND PRAYER
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the ALJ Appellees and the
HHSC Appellees respectfully request that the Court dismiss this appeal and that the
Court grant the Appellees such other and further relief to which they have shown
themselves to be entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
KEN PAXTON
Attorney General ofTexas
CHARLES E. ROY
First Assistant Attorney General
JAMES E. DAVIS
Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation
Page 3 of 6
Is/ Raymond C. Winter
RAYMOND C. WINTER
State Bar No. 21791950
Chief, Civil Medicaid Fraud Division
Assistant Attorney General
Raymond. Winter@texasattorneygeneral.gov
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
Telephone: (512) 936-1709
Facsimile: (512) 499-0712-0167
Attorneys for Appellees, Texas 1-Iealth & Human
Services Commission and Dr. Kyle Janek
Is/ Karen L. Watkins
KAREN L. WATKINS
State Bar No. 20927425
Assistant Attorney General
Administrative Law Division
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
P.O. Box 12548, Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
Telephone: (512) 475-4208
Facsimile: (512) 320-0167
karen.watkins@texasattomeygeneral.gov
Attorneys for the Appellees, Administrative Law
Judges Carole Hurley, Keith Grantham, and Rick
Gilpin
Page 4 of6
CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE
The undersigned certifies he contacted counsel for Appellants, Jason Ray,
January /3, 2015, by telephone, on behalf of the HHSC Appellees, THHSC and Dr.
Janek, and on behalf of counsel for the ALJ Appellees, Karen L. Watkins. Mr. Ray
represented that the Appellants are not opposed to the granting of the relief requested
in this Joint Motion.
Is/Raymond C. Winter
RAYMOND C. WINTER
Assistant Attorney General
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document has
been served on this the /4-e day of January, 201 5 on the following:
J .A. Canales VIA: File & ServeXpress and E-mail
State Bar No. 03737000
CANALES & SIMONSON, P.C.
2601 Morgan Ave.
P.O. Box 5624
Corpus Christi, Texas 78465-5624
Telephone: (361) 883-0601
Facsimile: (361) 884-7023
tonycanales@canalessimonson.com
Page 5 of6
Jason Ray VIA: File & ServeXpress and E-mail
State Bar NO. 24000511
RIGGS, ALESHIRE & RAY, P.C.
7 00 Lavaca, Suite 920
Austin, Texas 7870
Telephone: (512) 457-9806
Facsimile: (512) 457-9866
jray@r-alaw.com
Attorneys for Appellants M&M Orthodontics, P.A., Harlingen
Family Dentistry, P.C. and Antoine Dental Center
Is/ Karen L. Watkins
KAREN L. WATKINS
Assistant Attorney General
Page 6 of6
EXHIBIT
A
HHSC-APPEALS DOCKET NO. 12-0096-K
HHSC-OIG CASE NO. P200803163
M & M ORTHODONTICS, P.A., § BEFORE THE HEALTH AND
DR. SCOTI MALONE, and §
DR. DIANA MALONE, §
Petitioners, §
§
v. § HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
§
TEXAS HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES §
COMMISSION, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR §
GENERAL, and CHRISTINE ELLIS, DDS, §
Respondents. § APPEALS DIVISION
NOTICE OF NONSUIT AND REQUEST FOR DISMISSAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE
TO THE HONORABLE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE:
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Office of Inspector General, and
Christine Ellis, DDS, respectfully file this Notice of Nonsuit. Pursuant to TEX. ADMIN. CODE
§357.495 and TEX. R. Crv. P. 162, ID-ISC-OIG and Christine Ellis, DDS, hereby give notice that
they are taking a nonsuit of their entire case and request that this case immediately be dismissed
without prejudice. This nonsuit is without prejudice to refiling, and is effective immediately on
the filing of this notice on this date.
Respectfully submitted,
GREGABBOTI
Attorney General of Texas
DANIEL T. HODGE
First Assistant Attorney General
JOHN B. SCOTT
Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation
Notice of Nonsuit Page 1 of4
RAYMOND C. WINTER
C. WINTER
Chief, Civil Medicaid Fraud Division
State
- Bar
- No. 21791950
(512) 936-1709 Direct Dial
REYNOLDS BRISSENDEN
State Bar No. 24056969
(512) 936-2158 Direct Dial
Assistant Attorneys General
Office of. the Attorney General
Civil Medicaid Fraud Division
P. 0. Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
Fax (512) 499-0712
DOUGLAS C. WlLSON
Inspector General
JOY SPARKS
Deputy Inspector General
Chief Counsel
KAREN PETTIGREW
Director of Sanctions
STEVE DALLAS JOHNSON
Associate Counsel
State Bar No. 00784349
11101 Metric Blvd., Building I
Austin, Texas 78758
(512) 491-4076 Phone
(512) 833-6484 Fax
ATTORNEYS FOR
TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMISSION,
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Notice ofNonsuit Page 2 of4
Dan Hargrove
DAN HARGROVE
State Bar No. 00790822
WATERS & KRAUS, LLP
3219 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75204
(214) 357-6244 phone
(214) 357-7252 Facsimile
-and-
Jim Moriarty
JAMES MORIARTY
State Bar No. 14459000
MORIARTY LEYENDECKER, PC
4203 Montrose Blvd, Suite 150
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 528-0700 Telephone
ATTORNEYS FOR RELATOR,
DR. CHRISTINE ELLIS, D.D.S.
Notice of Nonsuit Page 3 of4
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
.J.
I certify that I have on this 1J
:,.;.-day of December, 2014, served copies of this Notice of
Non-Suit upon the HHSC Appeals Division and upon Petitioners, as follows.
l!ia Facsimi{e 512·2~1-5779 -~ -------
IDISC Appeals Division
8407 Wall St., Room s-329
Austin, TX 78754
Via Facsimile 361-884-7023 Via Facsimile 512-457-9066
tonycanales@canalessimonson.com jray@r-alaw.com
J.A. Canales, Esq. Jason D. Ray
Canales & Simonson, P.C. Riggs, Aleshire, Ray, P.C.
2601 Morgan Avenue 700 Lavaca, Suite 920
P.O. Box 5624 Austin, TX 78701
Corpus Christi, TX 78465
COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS
Via Facsimile 214-357-6244 Via Email to jim@moriarty.com
dhargrove@waterskraus.com James Moriarty
Dan Hargrove Moriarty Leyendecker, PC
Waters & Krauss, LLP 4203 Montrose Blvd, Suite 150
Dallas, Texas 75204 Houston, TX 77006
COUNSEL FOR RELATOR, CHRISTINE COUNSEL FOR RELATOR, CHRISTINE
ELLIS, DDS ELLIS, DDS
Notice ofNonsuit Page 4 of4
APPEALS DIVISION
TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COlVIMISSION
AUSTIN, TEXAS
M & M ORTHODONTICS, PA,
SCOTT MALONE AND DIANA MALONE
Petitioners
v. § CAUSE NO. 12-0096-K
TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMISSION, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL, and DR. CHRISTINE ELLIS, DDS,
Respondents
ORDER OF DISMISSAL
In response to Respondents' Notice of Nonsuit and Request for Dismissal without
Prejudice in the above-referenced matter, filed with the court on December 23, 2014, it is
hereby ORDERED that cause no. 12-0096-K is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE to
refiling.
Signed at Austin, Texas, this 8th day of January, 2015.
Rick Gilpin V
Administrative Law Judge
EXHIBIT
B
HHSC-APPEALS DOCKET NO. 13-0642-K
HHSC-OIG CASE NO. 020111309280633503
HARLINGEN FAMILY DENTISTRY, § BEFORE THE HEALTH AND
DR. JUAN VILLARREAL, and §
DR. VIVIAN TEEGARDIN, §
Petitioners, §
§
~ § HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
§
TEXAS HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES §
COMMISSION, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR §
GENERAL, and CHRISTINE ELLIS, DDS, §
Respondents. § APPEALS DIVISION
NOTICE OF NONSUIT AND REQUEST FOR DISMISSAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE
TO THE HONORABLE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE:
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Office of Inspector General, and
Christine Ellis, DDS, respectfully file this Notice of Nonsuit. Pursuant to TEX. ADMIN. CODE
§357.495, and TEX. R. ClV. P. 162, HHSC-OIG and Christine Ellis, DDS, hereby give notice that
they are taking a nonsuit of their entire case and request that this case immediately be dismissed
without prejudice. This nonsuit is without prejudice to reflling, and is effective immediately on
the filing of this notice on this date.
Respectfully submitted,
GREG ABBOTT
Attorney General of Texas
DANIEL T. HODGE
First Assistant Attorney General
JOHN B. SCOTT
Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation
Notice ofNonsuit Page 1 of4
RAYMOND C. WINTER
f, Civil Medicaid Fraud Division
~
Chief, Civil Medicaid Fraud Division
State Bar No. 2179195_0
(512) 936-1709 Direct Dial
REYNOLDS BRlSSENDEN
State Bar No. 24056969
(512) 936-2158 Direct Dial
Assistant Attorneys General
Office of the Attorney General
Civil Medicaid Fraud Division
P. 0. Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
Fax (512) 499-0712
DOUGLAS C. WILSON
Inspector General
JOY SPARKS
Deputy Inspector General
Chief Counsel
KAREN PETTIGREW
Director of Sanctions
STEVE DALLAS JOHNSON
Associate Counsel
State Bar No. 00784349
11101 Metric Blvd., Building I
Austin,Texas78758
(512) 491-4076 Phone
(512) 833-6484 Fax
ATTORNEYS FOR
TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMISSION,
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Notice of Nonsuit Page 2 of 4
Dan Hargrove
DAN HARGROVE
State Bar No. 00790822
WATERS & KRAUS, LLP
3219 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75204
-----(214) 357-6244 phone ----------·-·
(214) 357-7252 Facsimile
-and-
Jim Moriarty
JAMES MORIARTY
State Bar No. 14459000
MORIARTY LEYENDECKER, PC
4203 Montrose Blvd, Suite 150
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 528-0700 Telephone
ATTORNEYS FOR RELATOR,
DR. CHRISTINE ELLIS, D.D.S.
Notice of Nonsuit Page 3 of4
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
J;
I certify that I have on this 2..-~ day of December, 2014, served copies of this Notice of
Non-Suit and Request for Dismissal Without Prejudice upon the ffiiSC Appeals Division and upon
Petitioners, as follows.
- =-=·= = = = = = = = = = = = ; = = = = = = = = = = = = = - = ; -- -
- · · - · · · - - -;::==
Via Facsimile 512-231-5779
IlliSC Appeals Division
8407 Wall St., Room s-329
Austin, TX 78754
Via Facsimile 361-884-7023 Via Facsimile 512-457-9066
tonycanales@canalessimonson.com jray@r-akzw.com
J.A. Canales, Esq. Jason D. Ray
Canales & Simonson, P.C. Riggs, Aleshire, Ray, P.C.
2601 Morgan Avenue 700 Lavaca, Suite 920
P.O. Box 5624 Austin, TX 78701
Corpus Christi, TX 78465 COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS
COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS
Via Facsimile 214-357-6244 Vw Email to jim@moriarty.com
dhorgrove@waterskraus.com James Moriarty
Dan Hargrove Moriarty Leyendecker, PC
Waters & Krauss, LLP 4203 Montrose Blvd, Suite 150
Dallas, Texas 75204 Houston, TX 77006
COUNSEL FOR RELATOR, CHRISTINE COUNSEL FOR RELATOR, CHRISTINE
ELLIS, DDS ELLIS, DDS
Notice of Nonsuit Page4 of4
APPEALS DIVISION
TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
AUSTIN, TEXAS
HARLINGEN FAl\fiLY DENTISTRY,
DR. JUAN VILLAREAL, and
DR. VIVIAN TEEGARDIN,
Petitioners
v. § CAUSE NO. 13-0642-K
TEXAS HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
COMMISSION, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL, and CHRISTINE ELLIS DDS,
Respondents
ORDER OF DISMISSAL
In response to Petitioners' Notice of Nonsuit and Request for Dismissal without
Prejudice in the above-referenced matter, filed with the court on December 23, 2014, it is
hereby ORDERED that cause number 13-0642-K is hereby DISlVIISSED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE to refiling.
Signed at Austin, Texas, this 8th day of January, 2015.
Rick Gilpin
Administrative Law Judge