ACCEPTED
06-15-00027-CV
SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS
TEXARKANA, TEXAS
6/22/2015 12:10:20 PM
DEBBIE AUTREY
CLERK
No. 06-15-00027-CV
FILED IN
6th COURT OF APPEALS
TEXARKANA, TEXAS
6/22/2015 12:10:20 PM
In the Court of Appeals
DEBBIE AUTREY
Clerk
Sixth Judicial District
Texarkana, Texas
In re STACEY DIANE SARTOR, Relator
RESPONSE TO PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS
Jennifer Gibo
State Bar No.: 24032343
109 1St Street SE
Paris, Texas 75460
Tel: 903-905-4964
Fax: 903-905-4966
jgibolaw@gmai l.com
A~Y FO: : : : -
ARTY IN
INTEREST, JASON SARTOR
1
Identity ofParties and Counsel
The following is a list of all parties and counsel who have appeared in this
matter:
Relator: Stacey Diane Sartor
Attorneys for Relator in the trial court: Marianne Howland, 1940 Forest Lane,
Garland, Texas 75042, State Bar No.: 24055693 and Glen Wietzel, 1940 Forest
Lane, Garland, Texas 75402, State Bar No.: 24047704.
Previous Attorney for Relator in the trial court: David Leamon, Lone Star Legal
Aid, Military and Veterans Unit, 1415 Fannin, 1st Floor, Houston , Texas 77002,
State Bar No.: 24028025.
Respondent: Eric Clifford
Attorney for Respondent in the trial court: N/ A
Real Party in Interest: Jason Sartor
Attorney for Real Party in Interest in the trial court: Jennifer Gibo, 109 1st Street
SE, Paris, Texas 75460, State Bar No. 24032343
Table of Contents
RESPONSE TO PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS
2
Index of Authorities 5
I. Statement of the Case 6
II. Issues Presented 7
Issue No. 1
Issue No.2
Ill. Statement of Facts 8
IV. Argument and Authorities 11
A. Standard ofReview: Availability of Mandamus Relief 11
B. Issue No.1: 11
C. Issue No. 2: 14
Prayer 17
Certification 19
Certificate of Service 20
APPENDICES: The following documents are attached to this response and
incorporated in it for all purposes.
Appendix A: Affidavit of Jason Sartor
Appendix B: Attached to this petition are the following documents:
3
1. A certified copy of the Return of Service in which Relator, Stacey Diane
Sartor was served with citation.
2. A certified copy of Defendant's Notice of Motion and Motion to Dismiss
for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or, In the
Alternative, to Transfer Venue.
3. A certified copy of Respondent's First Amended Motion to Transfer
Venue.
4. A certified copy of Petitioner's Affidavit Controverting Motion to
Transfer.
5. A certified copy of Order Setting Hearing on Motion Transfer.
6. A certified copy of David Leamon's Motion for Withdrawal of Counsel.
7. A certified copy of David Leamon's Order on Motion for Withdrawal of
Counsel.
8. A certified copy of Order Resetting Hearing on Motion to Transfer.
9. A certified copy of Petitioner's Motion for Petitioner to Appear by
Telephone.
1O.A certified copy of Order Denying Motion to Transfer.
1l.A certified copy of the Transcript from the March 20, 2015 hearing on
Motion to Transfer Venue in this case.
12.A Copy of Texas Family code Sections 155.201, 155.203, and 155.204.
4
13 .A copy of Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 21 and Rule 21 a.
Appendix C: Affidavit of attorney, Jennifer Gibo.
Index ofAuthorities
Alexander v. Russell, 699 S.W.2d 209,210 (Tex. 1985). Page - 12, 13
Erbs v. Bedard, 760 S.W.2d 750, 755 (Tex. App.-Dallas 1988) (orig proceeding)
Page- 11
In re Ferguson 172 S.W.3d 122, 126 (Tex.App.- Beaumont 2005) (orig.
proceeding). Page - 15
In re Nabors 276 S.W.3d 190, 197 (Tex App-Houston [14th Dist.] 2009) (orig.
proceeding). Page - 15
Proffer v. Yates, 734 S.W.2d 671, 673 (Tex. 1987) (orig.proceeding). Page- 11
Texas Family Code Section 155.201. Page - 15
Texas Family Code Section 155.203. Page - 15
Texas Family Code Section 155.204. Page- 12, 13, 14
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 21. Page - 12, 13, 14
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 21a. Page- 13, 14
5
Statement of the Case
1. The underlying suit is a suit to modify an out-of-state order in which the
Real Party in Interest had filed a motion to modify the Judgment of
Divorce that was rendered on December 9, 2013 in the Matrimonial/lAS
Part 1 ofNew York State Supreme Court of Jefferson County.
2. Respondent was served on November 19, 2014.
3. Respondent filed a Pro Se Notice of Motion and Motion to Dismiss for
Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or, In the Alternative,
to Transfer Venue seeking to have the case transferred to Hunt County.
4. Respondent then, through her attorney David Leamon, filed
Respondent' s First Amended Motion to Transfer Venue to Hunt County
on January 16, 2015.
5. Real Party in Interest, Jason Sartor, filed an Affidavit Controverting
Motion to Transfer on January 26, 2015 in which he stated that Lamar
County was his place of residence and arguing against transferring the
case out of Lamar County.
6. An Order Setting Hearing on Motion to Transfer was filed on January 30,
2015 and the hearing was set for March 5th, 2015.
6
7. Respondent's attorney then filed a Motion for Withdrawal of Counsel on
March 5, 2015 and an Order on Motion for Withdrawal of Counsel on
March 6, 2015.
8. An Order Resetting Hearing on Motion to Transfer was filed for March
20th, 2015 by Real Party in Interest, Jason Sartor.
9. A Motion for Petitioner to Appear by Telephone for Real Party in Interest
was also filed and a hearing date set for March 20th, 2015.
lO.A hearing was held on March 20th, 2015 at which testimony was given by
both sides.
Issues Presented
Issue No. 1: Respondent did not abuse his discretion or fail to perform his
mandatory ministerial duty when he denied Respondent's Pro Se Notice of Motion
and Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or,
In the Alternative, to Transfer Venue.
Issue No. 2: Respondent did not abuse his discretion or fail to perform his
mandatory ministerial duty when he denied Respondent's First Amended Motion
to Transfer Venue.
7
Statement ofFacts
Relator, Stacey Diane Sartor, originally represented herself in this matter
and filed a prose document entitled Notice of Motion and Motion to Dismiss for
Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or, In the Alternative, to
Transfer Venue. This was filed on December 9, 2014 with the court and does not
include a Certificate of Service. After Stacey Diane Sartor was represented by
David Leamon, Respondent's First Amended Motion to Transfer Venue was filed
with a Certificate of Service on January 16, 2015 and a copy was served on Jason
Sartor' s attorney of record, Jennifer Gibo. An Affidavit Controverting Motion to
Transfer was filed by Jason Sartor on January 26, 2015 and a hearing on the matter
was set for March 5th, 2015 .
Attorney David Leamon then withdrew from representing Relator after
Relator called the Court and canceled the March 5th, 2015 hearing of her own
volition. According to David Leamon's Motion for Withdrawal, Relator canceled
the hearing after her attorney had told her that the hearing would be going forward.
There was inclement weather that day and the roads had ice on them. According to
the motion filed, Mr. Leamon had told Ms. Sartor to be available by phone as she
had communicated to him that she did not feel safe driving. Instead, according to
Mr. Leamon's Motion for Withdrawal, M s. Sartor unilaterally and without notice
8
to Mr. Leamon called the court and canceled the hearing. David Leamon then
withdrew from representing Relator.
Relator, Stacey Diane Sartor, currently resides in Hunt County with the
children the subject of this suit as per her pleadings and attached transcript. Prior
to the filing of this lawsuit, Stacey Diane Sartor testified that she had resided in
Hopkins County from April of2013 until September of20l4 as per the attached
transcript, Page 14, Line 4 - 6. Prior to that, Stacey Diane Sartor testified that she
had resided in Texas in general with the children since January 1, 2013 as per the
attached transcript, Page 14, Line 4 - 6.
Jason Sartor is active military who has entered the military out of Lamar
County, Texas. He is currently deployed in Kansas but his place of residence is
Lamar County, Texas. There was testimonial evidence given at the hearing on
March 20, 2015 by Jason Sartor's father, Jeffrey Alan Sartor, as Jason Sartor was
currently deployed and not able to appear in Court. Jeffrey Alan Sartor testified
that his son, Jason Sartor, had deployed into the military out of Lamar County,
Texas and that this continues to be his county of residence. He also testified that
Jason Sartor pays his taxes out of Lamar County, Texas and has designated this as
his residence while in the military. This testimony is in the attached transcript
from page 8, line 17 to page 9, line 8. Jason Sartor was available to testify by
phone as per his Motion for Petitioner to Appear by Telephone, however the Judge
9
did not require his testimony after hearing from both Jeff Sartor and Stacey Diane
Sartor as per the attached transcript page 17, line 20-23. Additionally, Jason
Sartor's timely filed controverting affidavit clearly states that Lamar County is his
county of residence.
In the March 20th, 2015 hearing on Motion to Transfer Venue, Stacey Diane
Sartor testified that she had lived in Hopkins County for more than six months
prior to the filing of the Motion to Modify and had only lived in Hunt County for
one month as per the attached transcript from the hearing, Page 15, Line 19
through Line 24.
Real Party in Interest, Jason Sartor, filed the case in Lamar County and
asked that it remain in Lamar County. Jason Sartor argues that venue should be in
Lamar County based upon his residence or, in the alternative, Hopkins County
based upon the fact that that is where the children had resided for more than six
months prior to the filing of this case as per the attached transcript page 15, line 19
to page 16, line 2. Relator, Stacey Diane Sartor, when asked ifthe case should be
in Hopkins County or Lamar County responded with " Absolutely,ma' am, yes. I
believe it should be where the kids are and where they're going to be, in Hunt
County forever. I've been adopted there." As per the attached transcript page 15,
line 25 through page 16, line 5. When specifically asked if Stacey Diane Sartor
understood that the venue question was whether the case should be in Lamar
10
County or Hopkins County, Stacey Diane Sartor stated "So it should've been in
Hopkins, if it wasn' t transferred to Hunt, yes, ma'am." As per the attached
transcript page 16, line 8-9.
Respondent denied Relator, Stacey Diane Sartor' s First Amended Motion to
Transfer Venue to Hunt County in the hearing and signed an Order Denying
Motion to Transfer on May 5, 2015.
Arguments and Authorities
A: Standard ofReview: Availability of Mandamus Relief
Requisite of mandamus relief are a showing of (1) a legal duty to perform a
nondiscretionary act, (2) a demand for performance of a nondiscretionary act, and
(3) a refusal to perform after such demand was made. Erbs v. Bedard, 760 S.W.2d
750,755 (Tex. App.- Dallas 1988) (orig proceeding). Mandamus relief is
available when under the circumstances of the case the facts and law permit the
trial court to make but one decision- ad the trial court has refused to make that
decision- and remedy by appeal to correct the ruling is inadequate. Proffer v.
Yates, 734 S.W.2d 671 , 673 (Tex. 1987) (orig.proceeding).
B: Issue No. 1: Respondent did not abuse his discretion or fail to perform his
mandatory ministerial duty when he denied Respondent's ProSe Notice of Motion
11
and Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or,
In the Alternative, to Transfer Venue.
Relator did not follow proper procedure in her Notice of Motion and Motion
to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or, In the
Alternative, to Transfer Venue because it does not follow Texas Family Code
§155.204 Procedure to Transfer. Contrary to the code, this motion did not contain
a certification that all other parties have been informed of the filing ofthe motion
as required by Texas Family Code § 155.204(a). As such, this was a defective
motion and did not constitute a Motion to Transfer Venue under the Family code.
Additionally, Relator, Stacey Diane Sartor, did not serve a copy of this motion to
the Real Party in Interest, Jason Sartor or to his attorney, Jennifer Gibo. Stacey
Diane Sartor merely filed this document with the clerk. Under Texas Rules of
Civil Procedure 21 , every pleading, plea, motion or application to the court for an
order. .. shall be filed with the clerk of the court in writing ... and at the same time a
true copy shall be served on all other parties. Relator, Stacey Diane Sartor did not
do this and thus invalidated her initial attempt at filing a Motion to Transfer Venue.
Additionally, under Relator's Notice of Motion and Motion to Dismiss for
Lack ofPersonal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or, In the Alternative, to
Transfer Venue, no Order was ever filed with the Court seeking a transfer.
Alexander v. Russell, 699 S.W.2d 209,210 (Tex. 1985). Family Code §11.06 now
12
§155.204, ''requires a timely motion by any party to the suit to transfer the
proceedings. Absent a motion and order of transfer, the 243rd District Court
retained exclusive jurisdiction. Despite what the conservatorship order says about
the 327th District Court having jurisdiction, there is no order transferring the cause
to the 327th District Court. Thus, the 243rd District Court retained jurisdiction." In
addition to failing to notify all interested parties of her Notice of Motion and
Motion to Dismiss for Lack ofPersonal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or, In
the Alternative, to Transfer Venue, Relator Stacey Diane Sartor also failed to
submit an Order to Transfer thereby maintaining Lamar County as the proper
venue until such an order was filed .. Thus, Relator's Notice of Motion and Motion
to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or, In the
Alternative, to Transfer Venue did not comply with the Texas Family Code
procedure for filing a Motion to Transfer Venue, it did not comply with the Texas
Rules of Civil Procedure for proper notice, and no order was ever filed requesting
the court to act upon the motion. Prior to a request by Relator, Stacey Diane
Sartor, for the court to act upon her motion, she filed Respondent's First Amended
Motion to Transfer Venue and this became the live motion.
Therefore, Respondent did not abuse his discretion or fail to perform his
mandatory ministerial duty when he denied Respondent's ProSe Notice of Motion
and Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or,
13
In the Alternative, to Transfer Venue. That motion never came before the Court.
The motion itself was defective as it did not comply with the Texas Family Code
§155.204(a) as it did not include a certificate of service showing that it had been
served on all parties. Furthermore, the document was filed with the clerk but was
not served on all interested parties, thereby not complying with Texas Rules of
Civil Procedure Rule 21 or Rule 2la. Additionally, Relator never requested that
Respondent act on the motion as she did not submit an order to the court in regards
to her motion. The case remains with the court until an Order Transferring Suit
Affecting Parent-Child Relationship is presented to the court, signed, and filed.
Prior to any order transferring the suit being filed, Relator filed an amended motion
and that became the live pleading.
C: Issue No.2: Respondent did not abuse his discretion or fail to
perform his mandatory ministerial duty when he denied Respondent's First
Amended Motion to Transfer Venue.
Respondent's First Amended Motion to Transfer Venue did follow proper
procedure and included a Certificate of Service that the Motion was filed on all
interested parties as of January 16, 2015. A Controverting Affidavit was timely
filed in regards to Respondent's First Amended Motion to Transfer Venue.
14
Mandatory transfer is available under Texas Family Code §155.201 to
transfer the case to a county in which the children had been living for six months
prior to the filing ofthis lawsuit. In re Nabors 276 S.W.3d 190, 197 (Tex App-
Houston [14lh Dist.] 2009) (orig. proceeding) Under [Fam Code] §155.201(b) the
Legislature does not require that the children currently reside in the other county,
only that they 'have resided' there for six months or longer when the modification
suit is filed.
In determining the county of child's residence, under Texas Family Code
§155.203, the court shall look to the child's principal residence during the six-
month period preceding the commencement of the suit. In re Ferguson 172 S.W.3d
122, 126 (Tex.App.-Beaumont 2005) (orig. proceeding). "We do not deny that
for purposes of construing other venue provisions contained in various Texas codes
and statutes the concept of 'dual residency' or of 'domicile versus residence' has
its place. However, Texas Family Code§ 155.203 requires the trial court to look to
the child's 'principal residence' during the six-month period in question.
Respondent requested that the case be transferred to Hunt County, a county
that she had not lived in with the children for more than six months at the time that
the suit was filed. Respondent did not plead for transfer to Hopkins County in
either her Notice of Motion and Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal
15
Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or, In the Alternative, to Transfer Venue or her
Respondent's First Amended Motion to Transfer Venue.
A Controverting Affidavit was timely filed in regards to Respondent's First
Amended Motion to Transfer Venue.
In Respondent's First Amended Motion to Transfer Venue, paragraph 7,
Section A. Jurisdiction states that "Respondent and both children have resided in
Hunt County, Texas for a period of longer than six months prior to the
commencement of this action." This is a false statement as demonstrated in Stacey
Diane Sartor's testimony at the hearing on March 20th, 2015 when she stated that
they had lived in Hopkins County for more than six months immediately prior to
the filing of the lawsuit and Hunt County for less than a month at the time the
modification was filed.
When specifically asked if Relator, Stacey Diane Sartor understood the
venue question, Stacey Diane Sartor clarified that she did understand the potential
for Hopkins County to be a venue and continued to insist that the case be
transferred to Hunt County. Stacey Diane Sartor did not amend her pleading or
make a request that the case be transferred to Hopkins County. Instead, she asked
for a mandatory transfer to Hunt County based upon a Motion to Transfer that
falsely stated that she had lived in Hunt County for more than six months prior to
16
the filing of the modification suit. This statement was proven false in her
testimony where she stated that she had lived in Hunt Count for less than a month
at the time the suit was filed. The suit was filed on October 23, 2014 and Stacey
Diane Sartor was served on November 19, 2014. Thus, Respondent did not abuse
his discretion or fail to perform his mandatory ministerial duty when he denied
Respondent's First Amended Motion to Transfer Venue as Relator was requesting
a mandatory transfer to Hunt County which was not supported by the pleadings or
the testimony taken at the hearing. Hunt County was not a county that was
available to Relator for mandatory transfer.
Prayer
Real Party in Interest, Jason Sartor, requests that the Court deny Relator's
Petition for Writ ofMandamus and prays for attorney fees.
Law Office of Jennifer Gibo
109 1st Street SE
Paris, Texas 75460
Tel: 903-905-4964
Fax: 903-905-4966
jgibolaw@gmail.com
17
By: ?-
Jennifer Gibo
--c.___..
State Bar No: 24032343
Attorney for Real Party In
Interest, Jason Sartor
18
Certification
I certify that I have read the above response and have concluded that every
factual statement in the response is supported by competent evidence included in
the attached appendix or record.
Jason Sartor
Certificate of Service
I certify that a true copy of this Response was served in accordance
with Rule 9.5 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure on each party or that
party's lead counsel as follows:
Party: Stacey Diane Sartor
Lead Attorney: Marianne Howland
Address of Service: 1940 Forest Lane, Garland, Texas 75042
Method of Service: via facsimile 214-853-5835
Date of Service: June 22, 2015
A copy of this notice is being filed with the appellate clerk in accordance
with Rule 25.1(e) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Jennifer Gibo
Attorney for Real Party in Interest,
Jason Sartor
20
Appendix A: Affidavit of Jason Sartor
Jason Sartor appeared in person before me today and stated under
oath:
"My name is Jason Sartor. I am above the age of 18 years and I am
fully competent to make this affidavit. I am the Real Party in Interest in this
case. The facts stated in this affidavit are true and correct and are within my
personal knowledge.
"I am a resident of Lamar County, Texas and entered the military in
2007 out of Lamar County. Stacey Sartor lives in Hunt County, Texas. At
the time that this case was filed, she had lived in Hunt County with the
children for less than six months. She had moved there from Hopkins
County where she had lived with the children for a period greater than six
months. She had lived in Hopkins County for approximately a year with the
children. Prior to that, she had lived in Lamar County with the children for a
period greater than six months and had been there for approximately seven
or eight months.
''I did not receive notice of a Motion to Transfer Venue until Stacey
Sartor was represented by an attorney in January, 2015. Her fust Notice of
Motion and Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and
Improper Venue, or, In the Alternative, to Transfer Venue was filed pro se
and she did not serve this on either me or my attorney. The second
document was ftled by her attorney at the time and was Respondent's First
Amended Motion to Transfer Venue to Hunt County on January 16,2015.
My Affidavit Controverting Motion to Transfer was ftled on January 26,
2015. A hearing was set for March 5, 2015 that I drove into Paris, Texas to
attend. I was informed by my attorney that Stacey Sartor had called the
Court and canceled the hearing. A hearing was then reset to March 20, 2015
that I was unable to drive in for and so I asked for and had granted a Motion
to Appear by Telephone.
"I was informed by my attorney that the Judge took testimony from
my father, Jeff Sartor, and from Stacey Sartor before he ruled. The Judge
denied her Motion to Transfer Venue. An Order was signed on May 5, 2015
denying the Motion to Transfer Venue.
7
Jason Sartor
SIGNED under oath before me on ::(>n.< ,gC> 1 ,?o/5
&l:n ~ 14o.gXLe:-u
Notary, Public, State of ~S
Appendix B: This Appendix contains the following:
1. A certified copy of the Return of Service in which Relator, Stacey Diane
Sartor was served with citation.
2. A certified copy of Defendant's Notice of Motion and Motion to Dismiss
for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and Improper Venue, or, In the
Alternative, to Transfer Venue.
3. A certified copy of Respondent's First Amended Motion to Transfer
Venue.
4. A certified copy of Petitioner' s Affidavit Controverting Motion to
Transfer.
5. A certified copy of Order Setting Hearing on Motion Transfer.
6. A certified copy ofDavid Leamon' s Motion for Withdrawal of Counsel.
7. A certified copy of David Leamon's Order on Motion for Withdrawal of
Counsel.
8. A certified copy of Order Resetting Hearing on Motion to Transfer.
9. A certified copy of Petitioner's Motion for Petitioner to Appear by
Telephone.
1O.A certified copy of Order Denying Motion to Transfer.
1l.A certified copy of the Transcript from the March 20, 2015 hearing on
Motion to Transfer Venue in this case.
23
12.A Copy ofTexas Family Code Sections 155.201 , 155.203, and 155.204.
14.A copy ofTexas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 21 and Rule 2la.
24
1112512014 st
FAMILY LAW CITATION
CLERK OF THE COURT Attorney Requesting
MARVIN ANN PATTERSON JENNIFER M. GmO
119 N. MAIN, ROOM 405 1091ST ST S E
PARIS, TX 75460 PARIS TX 75460-4259
THE STATE OF TEXAS
NOTICE TO RESPONDENT: "You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your
attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who Issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on tbe
Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a
default judgment may be taken against you."
• 3 -
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TO: ~ ~ 4; ~:!l
STACEY DIANE SARTOR ~, !2<
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SULPHUR SPRINGS TX 65482, Respondent, Greeting: ~~ ~f
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YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to appear before the 6th District Court ofL. ~ty.~x~~
the said County in Paris, Texas, by filing a written answer, at or before 10 o'clock~·
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CIULDREN § LAMAR COUNTY, E~ ~ ~:
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AFFIDAVIT CONTROVERTING MOTION TO TRArin:i~ f.l1 ~~
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Jason Sartor appeared in person before me today and stated under o~: ~ l;;
"My name is Jason Sartor. J am above the age of eighteen years, and I am fully
competent to make this affidavit. The facts stated in this affidavit are within my personal
knowledge and are true and correct.
"I am a current active member of the military. I entered the military out of Lamar
County, Texas and maintain my residency there. I pay taxes out of Texas and am eligible to
vote out ofTexas. Texas and Lamar County remain my counties of residence. As such, Lamar
County is the appropriate venue for this case. The divorce was originally done in New York,
however, neither of us lives there. Ms. Sartor is currently living in Greenville and previously
lived in Sulphur Springs. Texas is the appropriate state and Lamar County is the appropriate
county for this case. I have been a resident of Lamar County tor about 19 years."
Page 1 of2
SIGNED under oath before me on 03= ~t\IJ," bf 2. 0 IS
&.T &oCt le, ~ . ~ :..;er"-
Notary Public, State of to,+ I(;I'Gt.f K::>
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I U,!"t;::;~·, C'r~T;;:y ThAi THE Ar'Ol\~SAID i2 ATR!JE
~~D CORP.ECT COPY ONFILEOR OF RECORD iN 1hE
l 0~ JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, LAMAR CO., TX
b.UWAND SEALE~ TH~~&Q. DAY OF ~
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IN THE INTEREST OF § IN THE DISTRICT C UR!~ ~
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A.N.S. AND J.R.S. 6"' JUDICIAL DIST CT~~
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CHILDREN LAMAR COUNTY, TdA~G t!J
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ORDER SETTING HEARING ON MOTION TO IBANSiiR
IT IS ORDERED that a hearing be set in the above-styled and numbered cause on
the ~dayof ~ 2015at C).'oo o'clock--f?-.m., atthe
Lamar County Courthouse, 119 North Main Street, Paris, Texas 75460.
Signed this 3tJ~y of_ L'S"" the Court considered the Motion for Withdrawal of
Counsel of David Leamon.
The Court finds that good cause exists for withdrawal of David Leamon as counsel.
The Court finds that a copy ofthe Motion for Withdrawal of Counsel was properly served on
and delivered to Stacey Sartor, that Stacey Sartor did not to object to the motion, that Stacey Sartor
consented to the motion, and that the pending senings and deadlines in the case are as follows:
Hearing on Stacey Sartor's motion to transfer venue- TBD (rescheduled from March 5, 2015
at 2:00p.m.)
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that David Leamon is pennitted to withdraw as counsel of
record for Stacey Sartor in this case.
The Court finds that the last known mailing address of Stacey Sartor is 3201 Kari Lane, Apt
#512, Green vi lie, Texas 75402 and ORDERS that all notices in this case shall be either delivered to
Stacey Sartor in person or sent to Stacey Sartor at that address by both certified and regular first-class
mail. The Court further ORDERS that David Leamon immediately notify Stacey Sartor in writing of
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I w-.cr::,y C'F.RTIFY THAT THE AFORESAIDISATRUE
AND CORPECT COPY ON FILEOR OF RECORD IN THE
\ Q~ JUDICIAL ~!~T~T·COURT, LAMAR CO., TX
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Slf:NEO AND SEALED~~~:-----· -~~ qF
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NOTICE: TIDS DOCUMENT
CONTAINS SENSITIVE DATA
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IN THE INTEREST OF § IN THE DISTRICT COURT
§
A.N.S. AND J.R.S. § 6tta JUDICIAL DISTRICT
§
CHILDREN § LAMAR COUNTY, TEXAS
ORDER RESETfiNG HEARING ON MOTION TO TRANSFER
IT IS ORDERED that a hearing be set in the above-styled and numbered cause on
the 20th day of March. 2015 at 10:00 o'clock a.m., at the Lamar County Courthouse,
119 North Main Street. Paris, Texas 75460.
Signed this~~ ~~ .J-.., ~ '2015.
JUDGE PRESIDING
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By:
Jennifer Gibo
State Bar No. 24032343
jgibolaw@gmail.com
Attorney for Petitioner
Page 1 of2
Certifieate of Service
I certify that a true copy of the above was served on each attorney of record or party in
accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure on ---=-f_-__;../_2
_____:,2015.
Page2of2
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NOTICE: THIS DOCUMENT
CONTAINS SENSITIVE OATA
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IN THE INTEREST OF § IN THE DISTRICT COURT
§
A.N.S. AND J.RS. § 6TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
§
CHILDREN § LAMAR COUNTY, TEXAS
ORDER DENYING MOTION TO TRANSFER
On March 20, 2015 the Court heard the Motion to Transfer filed by Stacey Diane Sartor.
The Court, after considering the pleadings and hearing the evidence and argument of
counsel, finds that the Motion to Transfer should be denied.
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JUDGE PRESIDING
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VOLUME OF
CAUSE NO. 83894
IN THE INTEREST OF * IN THE DISTR I CT COURT
*
A . S . and J.S, * LAMAR COUNTY , TEXAS
*
MINOR CHILDREN * 618 JUDICIAL DISTRICT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STATEMENT OF FACTS
MARCH 20, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
On the 20th day of March, 2015 the following proceedings
came on to be heard in the above-entitled and numbered
cause before the Honorable Judge Clifford , Judge
Presiding, held in Paris, Lamar County, Texas:
Reported by Oral Stenography .
A P P E A R A N C E S
MS . JENNIFER GIBO
SBNO: 24032343
109 1s t Southeast
Paris, Texas 75460
INDEX
APPEARANCES 2
INDEX 3
END OF PROCEEDINGS 21
REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE 22
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CHRONOLOGICAL WITNESS INDEX
NAME DIRECT CROSS
JEFF SARTOR 7 10
STACEY SARTOR 12
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1 P R 0 C E E 0 I N G S
(Open court.)
THE COURT : This is Cause Number 83894, in
the interest of A.S. and J.S . , minor children .
Mrs. Gibo, if y' all will come up here, please.
MS. GIBO: No w , Your Honor, if you'll
recall I asked that my client be able to appear by
telephone because he was here last time and then Mrs.
Sartor -- was not able to be here and my client had to go
back to Kansas.
THE COURT: Okay.
MS . GIBO : So we filed a motion requesting
that he be able to appear by telephone.
THE COURT: We will allow him to appear by
telephone.
MS . GIBO : Okay. So I will need to call
I him then and
THE COURT: Get him on the phone .
I Now who is filing what
MS . GIBO:
in this?
We have filed a motion to
I transfer an out-of-court order, Your Honor . The order
was originally done in New York . Mrs. Sarto r lives in
Hunt County now. She moved there from Hopkins County.
THE COURT: Okay .
MS. GIBO : We filed this -- my client lives
1 in -- he is with the military. He went into the military
2 out of Lamar County. Lamar County is still his county of
3 residence. He is in Kansas at this point
4 THE COURT: I understand .
5 MS. GIBO : with the military; but he is
6 out of Lamar County. We are asking that the case be in
7 Lamar County.
8 Mrs . Sartor, I believe, is asking that it
9 transfer to Hunt County, or in the alternative Hopkins
0 County because when we filed this she had been living in
1 Hopkins. She hadn't been living in Hunt County for six
2 months at the time that we filed this motion.
3 THE COURT: She had not?
MS . GIBO: Had not.
5 THE COURT: Okay .
MS. GIBO: So we are wanting i t here in
Lamar County because my client is the only person who
8 hasn ' t actually moved . He was in Lamar County a t the
9 time we did this in New York. He's in Lamar County
0 still.
THE COURT : Get him on the phone .
MS. GIBO: And, Your Honor, we have some
witnesses here, his family, who is also from Lamar
County.
THE COURT : Do you want to get him on the
1 phone right now or do you want to take these other
2 witnesses?
3 MS . GIBO : We could do the other witnesses
4 first, Your Honor.
5 THE COURT: Let's get the other witnesses
6 first.
7 Ma'am, have a seat at that table there .
8 There's a microphone there. Talk into it.
9 THE COURT: Okay. Mrs. Gibo, your first
0 witness?
1 MS. GIBO: Your Honor, I call Jeff Sartor .
2 J EFF SARTOR,
3 The witness, having been duly sworn, was
~ examined and testified as follows:
5 DIRECT EXAMINATION
6 BY MS. GIBO:
l
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8
Q. Mr.
for the rec'brd?
Sartor, could you please state your name
;•
9 A. My name is Jeffrey Alan Sartor .
Q. What is your relationship to your son?
I A. He's my oldest boy, Travis - - Jason Travis.
THE COURT: That's a good question, Mrs.
Gibo.
MS . GIBO: I know. Well, I can give you
;s the background but I wanted to make sure --
1 THE COURT : Okay.
2 Q. (By Ms. Gibo) Okay. You th r ew me when you
3 introduced your brother, Jason, given that your son ' s
4 name is Jason .
5 A. That's who he's named after.
6 Q. I see . Okay . Have you kno wn your son his
7 whole life -- I'm teasing, I ' m sorry .
8 Okay . So you live here in Lamar County?
9 A. Actually we do not any longer. We live in
1 0 Gregg County .
1 Q. In where?
'2 A. Gregg -- actually our --
13 Q. Gregg County.
·-"'.
'4 A. Gregg County . We actually have a mailing
5 address in Henderson, Texas which is just -- they ' re just
6 right adjacent to.
Q. At the time in which your son signed up for the
8 military
9 A. Yes .
.o Q. -- where was he living?
•1 A. Lamar County.
Q. And to your knowledge does your son continue to
pay his taxes out of Lamar County?
A. Yes .
Q • And so to your knowledge is this -- Lamar
..--.
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1 County is your son ' s residence?
2 A. Yes .
3 Q. Okay . And you understand that although he ' s in
4 the military and living in Kansas he has continued to
5 maintain Te x as and Lamar County as his - -
6 A. Home of residence.
7 Q. -- residence?
8 A. Yes .
9 Q. Okay . Now, you know we're here today to see
0 about which is the proper venue for this hearing
1 regarding your grandchildren?
2 A. Yes, I do.
3 Q. Do you have visitation with your grandchildren?
4 Do you get to see them?
5 A. We do. We haven't seen them since November .
6 It ' s not visitation; it ' s just whenever we get an
7 opportunity to see them.
j8 Q. Certainly you've seen your son with his
9 children?
0 A. Ab so 1 u t e 1 y .
Q. And so you can spe a k as to how - - what kind of
father he is and that sort of thing?
A. Yes , I can .
Q. So Lamar County would be an appropriate venue
.5 for this hearing?
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1 A. It would.
2 Q. All right. Thank you.
3 MS. GIBO: I ' l l pass the witness, Your
4 Honor.
5 THE COURT: Any questions, ma'am.
6 MRS. SARTOR: Yes, sir.
7 CROSS EXAMINATION
8 BY MRS. SARTOR:
9 Q. Are you aware that your son owns property in
0 New York currently right now?
1 A. Actually that land is in foreclosure .
Q. Yes, sir. I have right here where i t says the
3 husband and wife owned the property located in Jefferson
~ County , New York, during the time of the divorce. I have
s right here, printed off right now printed off
6 yesterday --
MS . GIBO: Your Honor --
Q. (By Mrs. Sartor) -- that the house wa s never
sold .
THE COURT: Ma'am, wait a minute.
MS. GIBO : I'm going to object . Mrs.
Sartor is testifying rather than asking questions. And
I'm also going to question the relevance .
THE COURT: Okay. You'll get a chance to
1
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1 MRS. SARTOR : Okay. Yes, sir. But he does
2 know that we bought a house togethe r in New Yor k .
3 THE COURT : Okay .
4 THE WITNESS: I do know that .
s THE COURT : Ma ' am, I'm going to advise you
6 that when someone joins the military they designate their
7 horne address.
8 MRS . S ARTOR: Yes , sir. I was also in the
9 military . I was in the Army. When he joined the
jQ militar y out of Lamar County he joined the National
1 Guard. I was active duty. We were stationed in New York
2 together . He had to back out of National Guard from New
3 York and join active duty from New York to go to Kansas.
4 He was stationed in Ne w York originally and was changed
S to Kansas after we moved to Texas .
6 MS . GIBO: And , Your Honor , of course our
argument is that he has designated Texas as his horne
state.
9 THE COURT : Ma'am , it ' s where they entered
~0 and where they designate . They may move all over the
•1 country but if I join the Army when I ' m 18 here and I
2 designate this as my residence , i t stays my residence
3 until I change the records and designate another home
4 address.
~s MRS. SARTOR: Yes, si r. I have where it
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1 says when we signed the VA loan that is says we had to
2 make New York State - - and pay taxes to New York State
3 which i t also says in the divorce decree we have to pay
4 taxes to New York State. We have to make it the state --
5 -- in order to sign the loan on the house through the VA ,
6 which is military .
7 THE COURT: Well --
8 MRS . SARTOR: They were aware that you move
9 around, but they say it has to be New York.
0 THE COURT: Okay. I will listen to you in
1 just a moment .
2 MRS. SARTOR : Yes , sir .
3 THE COURT: Go ahead, Mrs. Gibo.
4 MS. GIBO: Your Honor, I woul d pass the
5 witness.
THE COURT: Do you have any questions,
I ma'am?
MRS . SARTOR : No , sir, no further
;•
9 questions.
'0 MS. GIBO: Your Honor, I would call Mrs .
I .1 Sarto r.
2 STACEY SARTOR,
~3 The witness, having been duly s worn , was
examined and testified as follows:
5 DIRECT EX AMIN ATION
1
1 BY MS. GIBO :
2 Q. Mrs. Sartor
3 A. Yes, ma'am .
4 Q. -- where are you currently living?
5 A. I live in Hunt County with my children.
6 Q. Okay. When did you move there?
7 A. I moved there in we just resigned the lease.
8 We've already lived there for seven months .
9 Q. When did you move there?
0 A. Seven months ago -- from today's date seven
1 months ago, ma'am.
2 Q. Okay . So you
3 A. Today's March
4 Q. Hold on. I'm going to look on my calendar.
5 Give me just a moment . So in September?
6 A. Yes, ma ' am .
7 Q. Okay . Now, before that where did you live?
t 8 A. We lived in Hopkins County because we moved to
I 9 Texas because -- I ' m not even from Texas at all.
Travis made an agreement that we would both liv e
Me and
in Texas
I and raise our children in Texas.
Q. Okay. So where did you live prior to Hunt
County?
A. In Hopkins County, ma'am.
Q. Okay. How long did you live in Hopkins County?
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1 A. For a year.
2 Q. Okay . And when was that? Can you give me a
3 date?
4 A. Well, January 1 we moved to Texas in general so
5 I guess we lived there for three months. So i t would be
6 around April -- around Ap ril of 2013 .
7 Q. Okay. Where did you live before that?
8 A. We lived in New York , ma 'a m.
9 Q. When did you guys divorce?
0 A. We divorced December of 2013 , when I was
'1 already in Texas.
Q. Okay. And what is your horne state?
A. My horne state is Pennsylvania.
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Q. Okay. And are you s t i l l in the military?
A. No, ma ' am.
Q. So as we sit here today your home state now is
§
Texas?
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0
A.
Q.
Yes,
Okay .
than six months?
ma ' am.
Because you've been in Texas for longer
I '1 A. Yes, ma ' am. Both my children are Texans so --
.2 Q. Okay. Now, you don't do your ta xe s with Mr.
' 3 Sartor, obviously?
.4 A. No, ma ' am, not anymore.
'5 Q. Okay. When was the last time that you guys
1
1 filed a joint return?
2 A. We filed together in New York the year after we
3 purchased the house so in 2012 in the spring of 2012
4 we filed taxes in New York through H&R Block .
s Q. Now, you understand that we filed this petition
6 in October of 2014, correct?
7 A. Yes , ma ' am .
8 Q. And at the time that we filed this petition you
9 had been living in Hunt County for -- by your reckoning
0 about a month?
1 A. We would've been there for five months, so it
2 wasn't quite six months .
Q. You said that you moved to --
A. When you filed it, I'm sorry - - so, yes . When
S you filed -- I wasn't aware that you filed i t under
6 months afterwards because he filed it with the wrong
7 address. He had already had our addresses as Hunt County
"8 but he sent it to the one in Sulphur Springs .
9 Q. And at the time that we filed it you had been
living in Hunt County for less than a month, correct?
A. Yes , ma'am .
Q. Okay . And had been living in Hopkins County
prior to that?
A. Yes, ma ' am .
Q . Okay . So, really the argument is coming do wn
11
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1 to whether Hopkins County is the correct venu e or Lamar
2 County?
3 A. Absolutely , rna ' am, yes. I beli e ve i t should be
4 where the kids are and where they're going to be , in Hunt
5 County forever. I ' ve been adopted there .
6 Q. You understand that b e c a use this was filed
7 prior to you being --
8 A. So i t should ' ve been in Hopkins , if i t wasn ' t
9 transferr e d to Hunt, yes, ma'am.
0 Q. We ll, Hopkins County or Lamar County, that is
1 the argument, right?
2 A. I would never - - we have no connection to Lamar
County so I wouldn't see and every la wyer I ' v e talked
4 to says it should not be in Lam ar County because he
S doesn't live here.
6 MS. GIBO: Objection, Your Honor , hearsay.
THE COURT : Ma'am, just answer the
8 questions .
9 THE WITNESS : Yes, sir .
.o Q. (By Ms. Gibo) How long we re you in Hopkins
.1 County?
:2 A. I was in Hopkins County for ove r a year so - -
3 Q. Okay . All right.
•4 Now
'5 MS. GIBO : Pass the witness.
1
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1 THE COURT: Do you hav e anything you want
2 to tell me, ma ' am?
3 MRS . SARTOR : Sir, I think ev e n a basic
4 case - - it should always be where th e kids l i v e and where
5 they ' re going to live. He's not a round. I mean - - we
6 changed one court date and he ' s still not a ble to be
7 here. Like, he's not been around for the children. It
8 should be in the best interest of the children wh e re i t ' s
9 at. It should be long - term care for them, which should
J~ be where they liv e .
1 THE COURT: Well
2 MRS. SARTOR : He hasn't taken any
responsibility as a father, whatsoever. Jason, my son --
4 MS. GIBO: Your Honor, I would - -
5 THE COURT: Ma ' am--
MS . GIBO : -- object to that testimony as,
first of all, mischaracterizing any evidence - -
THE COUR T : Do you h a ve any other
witnesses?
MS. GIBO: Yes, Your Honor. I could call
Mr. Sartor but we ' d have to get him on th e phone .
THE COURT: I don ' t think I'm going to need
any more witnesses here.
MS. GIBO: Your Honor , may I make a brief
~IS statem e nt?
1
1 THE COURT: Yes.
MS. GIBO: Okay. Mr. Sartor is in the
military . It takes him away from his family for large
chunks of time. That's the sacrifice that people that
are in the military make. He is -- has the home state of
Lamar County, Texas. He has had that home state of Lamar
County, Texas.
Mrs. Sartor has moved from one place to
another. The proper venue for this case would be in
Lamar County because he has remained with this as his
home state while Mrs. Sartor has moved from New York to
Hopkins to Hunt County . There isn ' t going to be a lot of
.----..' evidence about the children in Hunt County . There isn't
going to be a lot of evidence about the children in
Hopkins County . They lived for a year in Hopkins County .
They lived seven months in Hunt County.
We have family. We have connections here .
This is Mr. Sartor's home state. I would ask that i t be
in Lamar County, Your Honor.
MRS . SARTOR : Sir, can I speak please?
THE COURT: Ma'am , do you have anything you
want to tell me?
MR S • S A.R T 0 R : Yes . Mr . Sartor and his
current wife or girlfriend -- he won ' t tell me which
have stated they are never returning to Texas ever again.
1!
1 They intend to return to New York --
2 MS . GIBO: Objection , Your Honor, hearsay.
3 THE COURT: Ma'am , we're only ta l king about
4 -- he still has Lamar County as his place of residence.
s MRS . SARTOR: Yes, sir. But the kids - -
6 also they go to church every single week . They have
7 daycare all the information
8 THE COURT: Ma'am, we are talking only
9 about which court is going to hear this matter .
0 MRS . SARTOR: Yes, sir .
1 THE COURT: And I don ' t know what this
2 matter is . It's some sort of motion to modify. I
3 haven't looked at the file.
4 MRS. SARTOR : Yes , sir. I understand. If
S he has never even had the kids - - he ' s never had
6 visitation with the kids. He doesn ' t have information
7 about the kids.
'
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8
9
THE COURT :
MRS. SARTOR:
THE COURT:
Well ,
Yes,
that wi l l come up at --
sir.
-- the hearing on the motion to
I modify. I ' m trying to deny the motion to transfer.
Anything that's going to be heard is going to be heard in
my court here in Lamar County, Texas .
MS . GIBO: Your Honor , we filed a motion to
~S transfer i t here to Lamar County .
1 THE COURT: Then I'm going to grant it.
2 I ' m going to grant it.
3 MS. GIBO: Thank you.
4 THE COURT: So i t ' s going to be in this
5 court.
6 Now , I would highly recommend you retain an
7 attorney. We will hear the case on its merits -- Mrs.
~ Gibo , you might go ahead and get a - -
MS. GIBO : Your Honor, I'm going to have to
1 P talk to my client and see what he is
THE COURT: Okay. Let ' s go ahead and get
1 2 this set.
13 Ma'am, I want you to go hire you an attorney.
14 You're going to need one.
1~ MRS. SARTOR: Yes, sir . But I mean I think
16 i t is illegal that he has this home in New York and he's
17 supposed to be filing taxes in Ne w York and h e 's not .
JB THE COURT: He is still designated Lamar
~ County - -
~p MRS. SARTOR: We were instructed to change
H that . We were instructed when we signed the loan to
n change to New York.
B THE COURT: When you join the military it
24 is your home county where -- when you join -- that
45 remains your horne county .
2
1 MRS. SARTOR: He had to rejoin when -- we
2 had to rejoin from New York . He had to rejoin active
3 duty from New York so --
4 THE COORT : Well, at this point in time I'm
5 going to grant the motion to transfer . It's going to be
6 heard in this court. That will conclude this matter.
7 MRS . SARTOR: Yes, sir. And I'm going to
8 find out if that's illegal, because I ' m pretty sure it
9 is.
0 (End of proceedings.)
2
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2
THE STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF LAMAR
I, Terry Spangler, Official Reporter in and for the 6th Court of
Lamar, State of Texas, do hereby certify that the above and
foregoing contains a true and correct transcription of all
portions of evidence and other proceedings requested in writing
by counsel for the parties to be included in this volume of the
Reporter ' s Record, in that above-styled and numbered cause , all
of which occurred in open court or in chambers and were
reported by me .
I further certify that this Reporter's Record of the
proceedings truly and correctly reflects the exhibits , if any,
admitted by the respective parties.
WITNESS MY OFFICIAL HAND this the 18th day of June, 2015 .
Terry Bryant - Spangler
CSR: 7737
Expiration: 12/16
833 CR 33100
Sumner, Texas 75486
....
Sec . 155 . 201 . MANDATORY TRANSFER . (a) On the filing of a
motion showing that a suit for dissolution of the marriage of
the child ' s parents has been filed in another court and
requesting a transfer to that court , the court having
continuing , exclusive jurisdiction of a suit affecting the
p arent-child relationship shall , within the time required b y
Section 155 . 204 , transfer the proceedings to the court in which
the dissolution of the marriage is pending . The motion must
comply with the requirements of Section 155 . 204(a) .
(b) If a suit to modify or a motion to e nforce an o r der is
filed in the court having continuing , exclusive jurisdiction of
a suit , on the timely motion of a party the court shall , within
the time required by Section 155 . 204 , transfer the proceeding to
another county in this state if the child has resided in the
other county for six months or longer .
(c) If a suit to modify or a motion to enforce an order is
pending at the time a subsequent suit to modify or motion to
enforce is filed , the court may transfer the proceeding as
provided by Subsection (b) only if the court could have
t ransferred the proceeding at the time the first motion or suit
was filed .
Added by Acts 1995 , 74th Leg ., ch . 20 , Sec . 1 , eff . April 20 ,
1 995 . Amended by Acts 1999 , 76th Leg . , ch . 1135 , Sec . 1 , eff .
Sept . 1 , 1999 .
Amended by :
Acts 2005 , 79th Leg ., Ch . 916 (H . B. 260) , Sec . 14 , eff .
June 18 , 2005 .
Sec . 155 . 203 . DETERMINING COUNTY OF CHILD ' S RESIDENCE . In
computing the time during which the child has resided in a
county , the court may not require that the period of residence
be continuous and uninterrupted but shall look to the child ' s
principal residence during the six-month period preceding the
commencement of the suit .
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg . , ch . 20, Sec . 1 , eff . April 20,
1995 .
Sec . 155 . 204 . PROCEDURE FOR TRANSFER . (a) A motion to
transfer under Section 155 . 201(a) may be filed at any time . The
motion must contain a certification that all other parties,
including the attorney general , if applicable , have been
informed of t he filing of the motion .
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (a) or Section
262 . 203 , a motion to transfer by a petitioner or movant is
timely if it is made at the time the initial pleadings are
filed . A motion to transfer by another party is timely if it is
made on or before the first Monday after the 20th day after the
date of service of citation or notice of the suit or before the
commencement of the hearing, whichever is sooner .
(c) If a timely motion to transfer has been filed and no
controverting affidavit is filed within the period allowed for
its filing , the proceeding shall , not later than the 21st day
after the final date of the period allowed for the filing of a
controverting affidavit , be transferred without a hearing to the
proper court .
(d) On or before the first Monday after the 20th day after
the date of notice of a motion to transfer is served , a party
desiring to contest the motion must file a controverting
affidavit denying that grounds for the transfer exist .
(e) If a controverting affidavit contesting the motion to
transfer is filed , each party is entitled to notice not less
than 10 days before the date of the hearing on the motion to
transfer .
(f) Only evidence pertaining to the transfer may be taken
at the hearing .
(g) If the court finds after the hearing on the motion to
transfer that grounds for the transfer exist , the proceeding
shall be transferred to the proper court not later than the 21st
day after the date the hearing is concluded .
(h) An order transferring or refusing to transfer the
proceeding is not subject to interlocutory appeal .
(i) If a transfer order has been signed by a court
exercising jurisdiction under Chapter 262 , a party may file the
transfer order with the clerk of the court of continuing ,
exclusive jurisdiction . On receipt and without a hearing , the
clerk of the court of continuing , exclusive jurisdiction shall
transfer the files as provided by this subchapter .
Added by Acts 1995 , 74th Leg ., ch . 20 , Sec . 1 , eff . April 20,
1995 . Amended by Acts 1999 , 76th Leg ., ch . 1150 , Sec . 1 , eff .
Sept . 1, 1999 ; Acts 1999 , 76th Leg ., ch . 1390 , Sec . 14 , eff .
Sept. 1 , 1999 .
Amended by :
Acts 2005 , 79th Leg ., Ch . 916 (H . B . 260) , Sec . 15 , eff .
June 18 , 2005 .
Rule 21. Filing and Serving Pleadings and Motions (2014)
TEXT
(a) Filing and SeNice Required. Every pleading, plea, motion, or application to the court for an order, whether in the
form of a motion, plea, or other form of request, unless presented during a hearing or trial, must be filed with the clerk
of the court in writing, must state the grounds therefor, must set forth the relief or order sought, and at the same time
a true copy must be served on all other parties, and must be noted on the docket.
(b) Service of Notice of Hearing. An application to the court for an order and notice of any hearing thereon, not
presented during a hearing or trial, must be served upon all other parties not less than three days before the time
specified for the hearing, unless otherwise provided by these rules or shortened by the court.
(c) Multiple Parties. If there is more than one other party represented by different attorneys, one copy of each
pleading must be served on each attorney in charge.
(d) Certificate of Service. The party or attorney of record, must certify to the court compliance with this rule in writing
over signature on the filed pleading, plea, motion, or application.
(e) Additional Copies. After one copy is served on a party, that party may obtain another copy of the same pleading
upon tendering reasonable payment for copying and delivering.
(f) Electronic Filing.
(1) Requirement. Except in juvenile cases under Title 3 of the Family Code, attorneys must electronically file
documents in courts where electronic filing has been mandated. Attorneys practicing in courts where electronic filing
is available but not mandated and unrepresented parties may electronically file documents, but it is not required.
(2) Email Address. The email address of an attorney or unrepresented party who electronically files a document must
be included on the document.
(3) Mechanism. Electronic filing must be done through the electronic filing manager established by the Office of Court
Administration and an electronic filing service provider certified by the Office of Court Administration.
(4) Exceptions.
(A) Wills are not required to be filed electronically.
(B) The following documents must not be filed electronically:
(i) documents filed under seal or presented to the court in camera; and
(ii) documents to which access is otherwise restricted by law or court order.
(C) For good cause, a court may permit a party to file other documents in paper form in a particular case.
(5) Timely Filing. Unless a document must be filed by a certain time of day, a document is considered timely filed if it
is electronically filed at any time before midnight (in the court's time zone) on the filing deadline. An electronically filed
document is deemed filed when transmitted to the filing party's electronic filing service provider, except:
(A) if a document is transmitted on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it is deemed filed on the next day that is not
a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday; and
(B) if a document requires a motion and an order allowing its filing, the document is deemed filed on the date that the
motion is granted.
(6) Technical Failure. If a document is untimely due to a technical failure or a system outage, the filing party may seek
appropriate relief from the court. If the missed deadline is one imposed by these rules, the filing party must be given a
reasonable extension of time to complete the filing.
(7) Electronic Signatures. A document that is electronically served, filed, or issued by a court or clerk is considered
signed if the document includes:
(A) a "/sf' and name typed in the space where the signature would otherwise appear, unless the document is
notarized or sworn; or
(B) an electronic image or scanned image of the signature.
(8) Format. An electronically filed document must:
(A) be in text-searchable portable document format (PDF);
(B) be directly converted to PDF rather than scanned, if possible;
(C)notbelocked; and
(D) otherwise comply with the Technology Standards set by the Judicial Committee on Information Technology and
approved by the Supreme Court.
(9) Paper Copies. Unless required by local rule, a party need not file a paper copy of an electronically filed
document.
(10) Electronic Notices From the Court. The clerk may send notices, orders, or other communications about the case
to the party electronically. A court seal may be electronic.
(11) Non-Conforming Documents. The clerk may not refuse to file a document that fails to conform with this rule. But
the cler1< may identify the error to be corrected and state a deadline for the party to resubmit the document in a
conforming format.
(12) Original Wills. When a party electronically files an application to probate a document as an original will, the
original will must be filed with the cler1< within three business days after the application is filed.
(13) Official Record. The cler1< may designate an electronically filed document or a scanned paper document as the
official court record. The clerk is not required to keep both paper and electronic versions of the same document
unless otherwise required by local rule. But the cler1< must retain an original will filed for probate in a numbered file
folder.
Amended by order of Dec. 13, 2013, eff. Jan. 1, 2014.
Comment to 2013 Change: Rule 21 is revised to incorporate rules for electronic filing, in accordance with the
Supreme Court's order - Misc. Docket No. 12-9206, amended by Misc. Docket Nos. 13-9092 and 13-9164-
mandating electronic filing in civil cases beginning on January 1, 2014. The mandate will be implemented according
to the schedule in the order and will be completed by July 1, 2016. The revisions reflect the fact that the mandate will
only apply to a subset of Texas courts until that date.
Rule 21a . Methods of Service (2014)
TEXT
(a) Methods of SeNice. Every notice required by these rules, and every pleading, plea, motion, or other form of
request required to be served under Rule 21 , other than the citation to be served upon the filing of a cause of action
and except as otherwise expressly provided in these rules, may be served by delivering a copy to the party to be
served, or the party's duly authorized agent or attorney of record in the manner specified below:
(1) Documents Filed Electronically. A document filed electronically under Rule 21 must be served electronically
through the electronic filing manager if the email address of the party or attorney to be served is on file with the
electronic filing manager. If the email address of the party or attorney to be served is not on file with the electronic
filing manager, the document may be served on that party or attorney under subparagraph (2).
(2) Documents Not Filed Electronically. A document not filed electronically may be served in person, by mail, by
commercial delivery service, by fax, by email, or by such other manner as the court in its discretion may direct.
{b) When Complete.
(1 ) Service by mail or commercial delivery service shall be complete upon deposit of the document, postpaid and
property addressed, in the mail or with a commercial delivery service.
(2) Service by fax is complete on receipt. Service completed after 5:00 p.m . local time of the recipient shall be
deemed served on the following day.
(3) Electronic service is complete on transmission of the document to the serving party's electronic filing service
provider. The electronic filing manager w ill send confirmation of service to the serving party.
(c) Time for Action After Service. Whenever a party has the right or is required to do some act within a prescribed
period after the service of a notice or other paper upon him and the notice or paper is served upon him by mail, three
days shall be added to the prescribed period.
(d) Who May Serve. Notice may be served by a party to the suit, an attorney of record, a sheriff or constable, or by
any other person competent to testify.
(e) Proof of Service. The party or attorney of record shall certify to the court compliance w ith this rule in writing over
signature and on the filed instrument. A certificate by a party or an attorney of record, or the return of the officer, or
the affidavit of any other person showing service of a notice shall be prima facie evidence of the fact of service.
Nothing herein shall preclude any party from offering proof that the document was not received, or, if service was by
mail, that the document was not received within three days from the date that it was deposited in the mail, and upon
so finding, the court may extend the time for taking the action required of such party or grant such other relief as it
deems just.
(f) Procedures Cumulative. These provisions are cumulative of all other methods of service prescribed by these rules.
Amended by order of Dec. 13, 2013, eff. Jan. 1, 2014.
Comment to 2013 Change: Rule 21a is revised to incorporate rules for electronic service in accordance with the
Supreme Court's order- Misc. Docket No. 12-9206, amended by Misc. Docket Nos. 13-9092 and 13-9164-
mandating electronic filing in civil cases beginning on January 1, 2014.
Appendix C: Affidavit of Jennifer Gibo
Jennifer Gibo appeared in person before me today and stated under oath:
"My name is Jennifer Gibo. I am above the age of eighteen years and I am
fully competent to make this affidavit. I am the attorney representing Real Party in
Interest, Jason Sartor, in this Response to Writ of Mandamus. I am licensed to
practice law in the State of Texas. I have thoroughly reviewed the Court's file in
this matter. The facts stated in this affidavit are within my personal knowledge and
are true and correct.
"I am an attorney in good standing practicing out of Lamar County, Texas. I
have been practicing family law for approximately 12 years. I have put over 15
hours into responding to this Mandamus. I bill at $200.00 per hour, which is a
reasonable and standard fee in this area for a lawyer of my experience. I have
billed my client $3000.00 for responding to this Mandamus. This was a reasonable
and necessary expense as a response was required to this Mandamus.
J ~' b ~
enru er 1 o
Signed under oath before me on q )J)'\,L. ex~ , ao 1s
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JUDY FLOYD
Notary Public. Stole of Texas
My Commission Expires
September 18, 2017
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Notary Public, State of Texas
25