Richard Fawcett, Kevin Roberts, Darrin Pitts, George Lillard, Christopher Matthews, Armando Florido, Billy Moreno, David Vukovic, Ken Kirkpatrick, James Lemons, Douglas Hissong and Salomon Lahana v. Robert J. Rogers
ACCEPTED
01-15-00121-CV
FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
Appellate Docket Number: 01-15-00121-CV HOUSTON, TEXAS
2/18/2015 9:11:44 AM
Richard Fawcett, Kevin Roberts, Darrin Pitts, George Lillard, Christopher Matthews, CHRISTOPHER
Armando Florido, Billy PRINE
Appellate Case Style: CLERK
Moreno, David Vukovic, Ken Kirkpatrick, James Lemons, and Douglas Hissong
Vs.
Robert J. Rogers
Companion Case No.: N/A
FILED IN
1st COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
2/18/2015 9:11:44 AM
Amended/corrected statement: DOCKETING STATEMENT (Civil) CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk
Appellate Court:1st Court of Appeals
(to be filed in the court of appeals upon perfection of appeal under TRAP 32)
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: Richard Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Fawcett Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: Kevin Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Roberts Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
Page 1 of 13
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: Darrin Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Pitts Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: George Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Lillard Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
Page 2 of 13
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: Christopher Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Matthews Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: Armondo Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Florido Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: Billy Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Moreno Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
Page 3 of 13
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: David Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Vukovic Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4:
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: Ken Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Kirkpatrick Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
Page 4 of 13
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: James Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Lemons Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: Douglas Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Miller
Last Name: Hissong Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: dmiller@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 14067300
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: Luke
First Name: Middle Name: C.
Middle Name: Last Name: Carrabba
Last Name: Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba, PC
Pro Se: Address 1: 6525 Washington Ave
Address 2:
Page 5 of 13
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 770007
Telephone: 713-861-3595 ext.
Fax: 713-861-3596
Email: lcarrabba@msc-lawyer.com
SBN: 03869050
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: David
First Name: Saloman Middle Name: N.
Middle Name: Last Name: Harvey
Last Name: Lahana Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Harvey & Associates, P.L.L.C.
Pro Se: Address 1: 6121 Cypress Creek Parkway
Address 2: Suite 200
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77069
Telephone: 281-203-0022 ext.
Fax: 281-203-0024
Email: david@drhvlaw.com
SBN: 24040049
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: Keith
First Name: Robert Middle Name:
Middle Name: J. Last Name: Grady
Last Name: Rogers Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: The Grady Law Firm, P.C.
Pro Se: Address 1: 801 Congress
Address 2: Suite 250
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77002
Telephone: 713-228-2200 ext.
Fax: 713-228-2210
Email:
SBN: 00786853
Page 6 of 13
V. Perfection Of Appeal And Jurisdiction
Nature of Case (Subject matter or type of case): Personal Injury
Date order or judgment signed: January 20, 2015 Type of judgment: Interlocutory Order
Date notice of appeal filed in trial court: February 6, 2015
If mailed to the trial court clerk, also give the date mailed:
Interlocutory appeal of appealable order: Yes No
If yes, please specify statutory or other basis on which interlocutory order is appealable (See TRAP 28):
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Section 27.008
Accelerated appeal (See TRAP 28): Yes No
If yes, please specify statutory or other basis on which appeal is accelerated:
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Section 27.008
Parental Termination or Child Protection? (See TRAP 28.4): Yes No
Permissive? (See TRAP 28.3): Yes No
If yes, please specify statutory or other basis for such status:
Agreed? (See TRAP 28.2): Yes No
If yes, please specify statutory or other basis for such status:
Appeal should receive precedence, preference, or priority under statute or rule: Yes No
If yes, please specify statutory or other basis for such status:
Does this case involve an amount under $100,000? Yes No
Judgment or order disposes of all parties and issues: Yes No
Appeal from final judgment: Yes No
Does the appeal involve the constitutionality or the validity of a statute, rule, or ordinance? Yes No
VI. Actions Extending Time To Perfect Appeal
Motion for New Trial: Yes No If yes, date filed:
Motion to Modify Judgment: Yes No If yes, date filed:
Request for Findings of Fact Yes No If yes, date filed:
and Conclusions of Law:
Yes No If yes, date filed:
Motion to Reinstate:
Yes No If yes, date filed:
Motion under TRCP 306a:
Other: Yes No
If other, please specify:
VII. Indigency Of Party: (Attach file-stamped copy of affidavit, and extension motion if filed.)
Affidavit filed in trial court: Yes No If yes, date filed:
Contest filed in trial court: Yes No If yes, date filed:
Date ruling on contest due:
Ruling on contest: Sustained Overruled Date of ruling:
Page 7 of 13
VIII. Bankruptcy
Has any party to the court's judgment filed for protection in bankruptcy which might affect this appeal? Yes No
If yes, please attach a copy of the petition.
Date bankruptcy filed: Bankruptcy Case Number:
IX. Trial Court And Record
Court: 113th Judicial District Court Clerk's Record:
County: Harris County Trial Court Clerk: District County
Trial Court Docket Number (Cause No.): 2014-51782 Was clerk's record requested? Yes No
If yes, date requested: February 9, 2015
Trial Judge (who tried or disposed of case): If no, date it will be requested:
First Name: Michael Were payment arrangements made with clerk?
Middle Name: Yes No Indigent
Last Name: Landrum
(Note: No request required under TRAP 34.5(a),(b))
Suffix:
Address 1: 113th Judicial District
Address 2 : 201 Caroline St, 10th Floor
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip + 4: 77002
Telephone: 713-368-6113 ext.
Fax:
Email:
Reporter's or Recorder's Record:
Is there a reporter's record? Yes No
Was reporter's record requested? Yes No
Was there a reporter's record electronically recorded? Yes No
If yes, date requested: February 9, 2015
If no, date it will be requested:
Were payment arrangements made with the court reporter/court recorder? Yes No Indigent
Page 8 of 13
Court Reporter Court Recorder
Official Substitute
First Name: Sheila
Middle Name:
Last Name: Skidmore
Suffix:
Address 1: 201 Caroline
Address 2: 10th Floor
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip + 4: 77002
Telephone: 713-368-6123 ext.
Fax:
Email: sheila_skidmore@justex.net
X. Supersedeas Bond
Supersedeas bond filed: Yes No If yes, date filed:
Will file: Yes No
XI. Extraordinary Relief
Will you request extraordinary relief (e.g. temporary or ancillary relief) from this Court? Yes No
If yes, briefly state the basis for your request:
XII. Alternative Dispute Resolution/Mediation (Complete section if filing in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th,
or 14th Court of Appeal)
Should this appeal be referred to mediation?
Yes No
If no, please specify:This appeal involves only a legal question and occurs relatively early in the underlying matter.
Has the case been through an ADR procedure? Yes No
If yes, who was the mediator?
What type of ADR procedure?
At what stage did the case go through ADR? Pre-Trial Post-Trial Other
If other, please specify:
Type of case? Personal Injury
Give a brief description of the issue to be raised on appeal, the relief sought, and the applicable standard for review, if known (without
prejudice to the right to raise additional issues or request additional relief):
The issue on appeal is whether the trial court erred in failing to apply Chapter 27 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code to this defamation action.
How was the case disposed of? Other
Summary of relief granted, including amount of money judgment, and if any, damages awarded. N/A
If money judgment, what was the amount? Actual damages:
Punitive (or similar) damages:
Page 9 of 13
Attorney's fees (trial):
Attorney's fees (appellate):
Other:
If other, please specify:
Will you challenge this Court's jurisdiction? Yes No
Does judgment have language that one or more parties "take nothing"? Yes No
Does judgment have a Mother Hubbard clause? Yes No
Other basis for finality? n/a
Rate the complexity of the case (use 1 for least and 5 for most complex): 1 2 3 4 5
Please make my answer to the preceding questions known to other parties in this case. Yes No
Can the parties agree on an appellate mediator? Yes No
If yes, please give name, address, telephone, fax and email address:
Name Address Telephone Fax Email
Languages other than English in which the mediator should be proficient:
Name of person filing out mediation section of docketing statement: Counsel for Defendants
XIII. Related Matters
List any pending or past related appeals before this or any other Texas appellate court by court, docket number, and style.
Docket Number: n/a Trial Court:
Style:
Vs.
Page 10 of 13
XIV. Pro Bono Program: (Complete section if filing in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, or 14th Courts of Appeals)
The Courts of Appeals listed above, in conjunction with the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section Pro Bono Committee and local Bar
Associations, are conducting a program to place a limited number of civil appeals with appellate counsel who will represent the appellant in
the appeal before this Court.
The Pro Bono Committee is solely responsible for screening and selecting the civil cases for inclusion in the Program based upon a number of
discretionary criteria, including the financial means of the appellant or appellee. If a case is selected by the Committee, and can be matched
with appellate counsel, that counsel will take over representation of the appellant or appellee without charging legal fees. More information
regarding this program can be found in the Pro Bono Program Pamphlet available in paper form at the Clerk's Office or on the Internet at
www.tex-app.org. If your case is selected and matched with a volunteer lawyer, you will receive a letter from the Pro Bono Committee within
thirty (30) to forty-five (45) days after submitting this Docketing Statement.
Note: there is no guarantee that if you submit your case for possible inclusion in the Pro Bono Program, the Pro Bono Committee will select
your case and that pro bono counsel can be found to represent you. Accordingly, you should not forego seeking other counsel to represent you
in this proceeding. By signing your name below, you are authorizing the Pro Bono committee to transmit publicly available facts and
information about your case, including parties and background, through selected Internet sites and Listserv to its pool of volunteer appellate
attorneys.
Do you want this case to be considered for inclusion in the Pro Bono Program? Yes No
Do you authorize the Pro Bono Committee to contact your trial counsel of record in this matter to answer questions the committee may have
regarding the appeal? Yes No
Please note that any such conversations would be maintained as confidential by the Pro Bono Committee and the information used solely for
the purposes of considering the case for inclusion in the Pro Bono Program.
If you have not previously filed an affidavit of Indigency and attached a file-stamped copy of that affidavit, does your income exceed 200% of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Poverty Guidelines? Yes No
These guidelines can be found in the Pro Bono Program Pamphlet as well as on the internet at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/06poverty.shtml.
Are you willing to disclose your financial circumstances to the Pro Bono Committee? Yes No
If yes, please attach an Affidavit of Indigency completed and executed by the appellant or appellee. Sample forms may be found in the Clerk's
Office or on the internet at http://www.tex-app.org. Your participation in the Pro Bono Program may be conditioned upon your execution of
an affidavit under oath as to your financial circumstances.
Give a brief description of the issues to be raised on appeal, the relief sought, and the applicable standard of review, if known (without
prejudice to the right to raise additional issues or request additional relief; use a separate attachment, if necessary).
This is an appeal from the trial court's denial of Defendants' Motion to Dismiss under Chapter 27 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies
Code. The issue is whether the trial court erred in failing to find that this legal action was based on, related to, or in response to the
Defendants' exercise of the rights of free speech, right to petition, or right of association and therefore, erred by not applying the dismissal
procedure found in Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 27.
XV. Signature
Signature of counsel (or pro se party) Date: February 17, 2015
Printed Name: David L. Miller State Bar No.: 14067300
Electronic Signature: David L. Miller
(Optional)
Page 11 of 13
XVI. Certificate of Service
The undersigned counsel certifies that this docketing statement has been served on the following lead counsel for all parties to the trial
court's order or judgment as follows on February 17, 2015 .
Signature of counsel (or pro se party) Electronic Signature: David L. Miller
(Optional)
State Bar No.: 14067300
Person Served
Certificate of Service Requirements (TRAP 9.5(e)): A certificate of service must be signed by the person who made the service and must
state:
(1) the date and manner of service;
(2) the name and address of each person served, and
(3) if the person served is a party's attorney, the name of the party represented by that attorney
Please enter the following for each person served:
Date Served: February 17, 2015
Manner Served: eServed
First Name: Keith
Middle Name:
Last Name: Grady
Suffix:
Law Firm Name: The Grady Law Firm, PC
Address 1: 801 Congress
Address 2: Suite 250
City: Houston
State Texas Zip+4: 77002
Telephone: 713-228-2200 ext.
Fax: 713-228-2210
Email:
If Attorney, Representing Party's Name: Robert Rogers
Please enter the following for each person served:
Page 12 of 13
Date Served: February 17, 2015
Manner Served: eServed
First Name: David
Middle Name:
Last Name: Harvey
Suffix:
Law Firm Name: Harvey & Associates, P.L.L.C.
Address 1: 6121 Cypress Creek Parkway
Address 2: Suite 200
City:
State Texas Zip+4: 77069
Telephone: 281-203-0022 ext.
Fax: 281-203-0024
Email: David@drhvlaw.com
If Attorney, Representing Party's Name: Saloman Lahana
Page 13 of 13