My Three Sons, LTD., My Three Sons Management, LLC, Prestonwood OB/GYN Associates, P.A., Christopher Riegel, M.D., P.A., and Christopher Riegel v. Midway/Parker Medical Center, L.P., Kinsman Ventures, LLC, Manhattan Construction Company, TD Industries, Inc., Southstar Fire Protection Company, CMA Management Company, and Midway Medical Center Owners Association, Inc.
ACCEPTED
05-15-01068-CV
FIFTH COURT OF APPEALS
DALLAS, TEXAS
11/16/2015 12:24:56 PM
,k WILSON ELSER
SON 11:LSCR rs,OSK(1,8111. LOCILMAN h DICKLIt
LISA MATZ
CLERK
FILED IN
5th COURT OF APPEALS
DALLAS, TEXAS
11/16/2015 12:24:56 PM
November 16, 2015 LISASean
MATZ M. Higgins
713.353.2000
Clerk (main)
713.785.7780 (facsimile)
Sctin.11igginsiirwilsonelser.com
Via E-file
Lisa Matz
Clerk of the Court
Fifth Court of Appeals at Dallas
600 Commerce Street, Suite 200
Dallas, Texas 75202
Re: Court of Appeals Number:
05-15-01068-CV
5th Court of Appeals- Dallas, Texas
Trial Court Case Number:
380-00398-2013
My Three Sons, LTD., et al vs. Midway/Parker Medical Center, L.P.,
et al.; In the 380th Judicial District Court of Collin County, Texas
Dear Ms. Matz:
The Court requested letter briefs concerning the basis for appellate
jurisdiction. This will serve as the responsive brief of Appellee Southstar Fire
Protection Company.
Summary:
Any question as to the finality of the judgment was resolved on November 9,
2015, when the District Court disposed of all lingering claims through an order
granting nonsuits. A copy of the order is attached, and the undersigned has
requested preparation of a supplemental clerk's record. Consequently, this Court
2112965v.1
Ms. Lisa Matz
November 16, 2015
Page 2
possesses jurisdiction and the notice of appeal, while premature, is deemed filed as
of November 9, 2015.
Which of the two dismissal orders is the appealable order?
The clerk's record contains two dismissal orders. One, appearing at CR 366,
dismisses the entire case, while the other, appearing at CR 367, dismisses only
Plaintiffs' claims. As between the two orders, it appears that the last one signed by
the Court controls. The undersigned believes that the order appearing at CR 367
was signed after the order appearing at CR 366.
How, then, does the Court possess appellate jurisdiction?
The following notices of nonsuit appearing in the clerk's record lacked
corresponding orders granting them:
1. Plaintiffs' Partial Notice of Nonsuit of Claims Against TD Industries,
Inc. CR 200-01.
2. Manhattan Construction Company's notice of nonsuit without
prejudice of its cross claims against TD Industries, Inc. and Southstar
Fire Protection Company.CR 401-03.
3. Midway/Parker Medical Center, LP's notice of nonsuit without
prejudice of its claims against Plaintiffs/Counter-Defendants
Christopher Riegel, MD and My Three Sons Management,
LLC. CR 407-09.
4. Cross-Plaintiff Kinsman Ventures LLC's Notice of Nonsuit
without prejudice of its claims against cross-defendant
Manhattan Construction Company. CR 410-12.
As to Plaintiffs' notice of nonsuit, no further order is required, irrespective
of which of dismissal order controls, as both orders expressly dispose of all of
Plaintiffs' claims.
On November 9, 2015, the District Court entered an order granting the
nonsuits by Manhattan Construction, Midway/Parker and Kinsman Ventures. This
order disposes of the last remaining claims. As a result, the judgment is now final
and appealable. A copy of the order is attached to this letter, and the undersigned
has requested preparation of a supplemental clerk's record containing the order.
In light of the foregoing facts, Plaintiffs' notice of appeal, while premature,
2112965v.1
Ms. Lisa Matz
November 16, 2015
Page 3
is effective and deemed filed as of November 9, 2015, the latest date on which the
judgment became final and appealable. Tex. R. App. P. 27.1(a).
Appellant's motion for new trial was overruled by operation of law:
Appellant asserts that the District Court has yet to rule on its motion for new
trial. In fact, that motion was overruled by operation of law on August 18, 2015,
which is 75 days after the District Court signed the dismissal orders. Tex. R. Civ.
P. 329(b)(c).
Conclusion:
For the reasons stated, this Court now possesses appellate jurisdiction over
this matter.
Best regards,
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
(St SeCWV M. -146043-1414(
Sean M. Higgins
SMH/jmf
cc:
Craig P. Henderson Via Facsimile: 214-368-1395
WOLF & HENDERSON, P.C.
4309 Irving Avenue, Suite 200
Dallas, Texas 75219
Attorney for Appellants
J. David Apple Via Facsimile: 972-315-1955
APPLE & FINK, LLP
735 Plaza Blvd., Suite 200
Coppell, Texas 75019
Attorney for Kinsman Ventures, LLC and
Midway/Parker Medical Center, L.P.
2112965v,1
Ms. Lisa Matz
November 16, 2015
Page 4
Chad Robinson Via Facsimile: 214-521-4246
RIDDLE & WILLIAMS, P.C.
3710 Rawlins Street, Suite 1400 — Regency Plaza
Dallas, Texas 75219
Attorney for CllIA Management Company and
Midway Medical Center Owners Association, Inc.
Robert Shapiro Via Facsimile: 972-490-7739
CANTERBURY Good SURRATT SHAPIRO,
STEIN & GASWIRTH, P.C.
Occidental Tower
5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1000
Dallas, Texas 75244
Attorney for Manhattan Construction Company
Theodore J. Riney Via Facsimile: 214-461-1210
RINEY PACKARD, PLLC
5420 LBJ Freeway, Suite 220
Dallas, Texas 75240
Attorney for TD Industries, Inc.
2112965v.1
Filed: 11/4/2015 4:07:52 PM
Andrea S. Thompson
District Clerk
Collin County, Texas
By Laura Edwards Deputy
Envelope ID: 7687235
CAUSE NO. 380-00398-2013
MY THREE SONS, LTD., MY IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
THREE SONS MANAGEMENT,
LLC, PRESTONWOOD OB/GYN
ASSOCIATES, P.A.,
CHRISTOPHER RIEGEL, MD,
P.A., and CHRISTOPHER RIEGEL
Plaintiffs,
v. COLLIN COUNTY, TEXAS
MIDWAY/PARKER MEDICAL
CENTER, L.P., KINSMAN
VENTURES, LLC, MANHATTAN
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, TD
INDUSTRIES, INC., SOUTHSTAR
FIRE PROTECTION COMPANY,
CMA MANAGEMENT
COMPANY, and MIDWAY
MEDICAL CENTER OWNERS
ASSOCIATION, INC.
Defendants.
380TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
ORDER GRANTING NONSUITS
The following notices of nonsuit are before the Court:
1. Manhattan Construction Company's notice of nonsuit without prejudice of
its cross claims against TD Industries, Inc. and Southstar Fire Protection
Company.
2. Midway/Parker Medical Center, LP's notice of nonsuit without prejudice
of its claims against Plaintiffs/Counter-Defendants Christopher Riegel, MD
and My Three Sons Management, LLC; and
3. Cross-Plaintiff Kinsman Ventures LLC's Notice of Nonsuit without
prejudice of its claims against cross-defendant Manhattan Construction
Company.
Order Granting Nonsuits— Page 1
1949578v.1
The Court, being fully advised in the premises, hereby orders that the claims identified
above shall be and hereby are nonsuited and dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Tex R. Civ.
P. 162. Costs shall be taxed against the party incurring same
So ordered.
Dated .1/09/2015
/s/ BENJAMIN N. SMITH
JUDGE PRESIDING
Agreed as to form and substance:
go-be,vt T. Shapiro-
Robert J. Shapiro, attorney for Manhattan
Construction Company
/.I T. Dcw141,AppLe.
J. David Apple, attorney for Midway/Parker
Medical Center, LP and Kinsman Ventures LLC
Agreed Order Granting Nonsuits — Page 2
1948038v.1
1949578v.1