ACCEPTED
14-15-00860-CV
FOURTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS
Appellate Docket Number: 14-15-00860-CV HOUSTON, TEXAS
10/23/2015 1:13:37 PM
CHRISTOPHER PRINE
Appellate Case Style: W.A. "Andy" Meyers, Individually and in his capacity as Fort Bend County Commissioner CLERK
Vs.
JDC/Firethorne, Ltd., a Texas Limited Partnership
Companion Case No.:
FILED IN
14th COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
10/23/2015 1:13:37 PM
Amended/corrected statement: DOCKETING STATEMENT (Civil) CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk
Appellate Court:14th 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: J.
First Name: W. Middle Name: Mark
Middle Name: A. "Andy" Last Name: Breeding
Last Name: Meyers Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Andrews Kurth LLP
Pro Se: Address 1: 600 Travis, Suite 4200
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77002-2929
Telephone: (713) 220-4200 ext. 4709
Fax: (713) 238-7360
Email: markbreeding@andrewskurth.com
SBN: 02942500
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: Frederick
First Name: Middle Name: D.
Middle Name: Last Name: Junkin
Last Name: Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Andrews Kurth LLP
Pro Se: Address 1: 600 Travis, Suite 4200
Address 2:
Page 1 of 11
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77002-2929
Telephone: (713) 220-4200 ext. 4766
Fax: (713) 238-7387
Email: fredjunkin@andrewskurth.com
SBN: 11058030
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: Roy
First Name: Middle Name: L.
Middle Name: Last Name: Cordes
Last Name: Suffix: Jr.
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Fort Bend County Attorney
Pro Se: Address 1: 401 Jackson Street, 3rd Floor
Address 2:
City: Richmond
State: Texas Zip+4: 77469-3108
Telephone: (281) 341-4555 ext.
Fax: (281) 341-4557
Email: Roy.Cordes@fortbendcountytx.gov
SBN: 04821000
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: Marcus
First Name: Middle Name: D.
Middle Name: Last Name: Spencer
Last Name: Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: First Assistant County Attorney
Pro Se: Address 1: 401 Jackson Street, 3rd Floor
Address 2:
City: Richmond
State: Texas Zip+4: 77469-3108
Telephone: (281) 341-4555 ext.
Fax: (281) 341-4557
Email: Marcus.Spencer@fortbendcountytx.gov
SBN: 24033091
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I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: Salvatore
First Name: Middle Name: P.
Middle Name: Last Name: LoPiccolo
Last Name: Suffix: II.
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Assistant County Attorney
Pro Se: Address 1: 401 Jackson Street, 3rd Floor
Address 2:
City: Richmond
State: Texas Zip+4: 77469-3108
Telephone: (281) 341-4555 ext.
Fax: (281) 341-4557
Email: Sal.LoPiccolo@fortbendcountytx.gov
SBN: 12571000
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: Randall
First Name: Middle Name: W.
Middle Name: Last Name: Morse
Last Name: Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: First Assistant County Attorney
Pro Se: Address 1: 401 Jackson Street, 3rd Floor
Address 2:
City: Richmond
State: Texas Zip+4: 77469-3108
Telephone: (281) 341-4555 ext.
Fax: (281) 341-4557
Email: Randy.Morse@fortbendcountytx.gov
SBN: 14549700
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: William
First Name: Middle Name: H.
Middle Name: Last Name: Vidor
Last Name: Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Assistant County Attorney
Pro Se: Address 1: 401 Jackson Street, 3rd Floor
Address 2:
Page 3 of 11
City: Richmond
State: Texas Zip+4: 77469-3108
Telephone: (281) 341-4555 ext.
Fax: (281) 341-4557
Email: Bill.Vidor@fortbendcountytx.gov
SBN: 20579200
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
Organization Name: JDC/Firethorne, Ltd. First Name: Don
First Name: Middle Name: C.
Middle Name: Last Name: Griffin
Last Name: Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Vinson & Elkins LLP
Pro Se: Address 1: 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77002-6760
Telephone: (713) 758-3508 ext.
Fax: (713) 615-5985
Email: dgriffin@velaw.com
SBN: 08456975
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s)
Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney
First Name: H.
First Name: Middle Name: Dixon
Middle Name: Last Name: Montague
Last Name: Suffix:
Suffix: Law Firm Name: Vinson & Elkins LLP
Pro Se: Address 1: 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500
Address 2:
City: Houston
State: Texas Zip+4: 77002-6760
Telephone: (713) 758-2086 ext.
Fax: (713) 615-5461
Email: dmontague@velaw.com
SBN: 14277700
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V. Perfection Of Appeal And Jurisdiction
Nature of Case (Subject matter or type of case): Injunction
Date order or judgment signed: September 18, 2015 Type of judgment: Interlocutory Order
Date notice of appeal filed in trial court: October 7, 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):
Section 51.014(a)(8) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
Accelerated appeal (See TRAP 28): Yes No
If yes, please specify statutory or other basis on which appeal is accelerated:
Rule 28.1 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.
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:
Rule 40.1 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.
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 5 of 11
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: 268th Judicial District Clerk's Record:
County: Fort Bend Trial Court Clerk: District County
Trial Court Docket Number (Cause No.): 15-DCV-221725 Was clerk's record requested? Yes No
If yes, date requested: October 7, 2015
Trial Judge (who tried or disposed of case): If no, date it will be requested:
First Name: Brady Were payment arrangements made with clerk?
Middle Name: G. Yes No Indigent
Last Name: Elliott
(Note: No request required under TRAP 34.5(a),(b))
Suffix:
Address 1: 301 Jackson
Address 2 :
City: Richmond
State: Texas Zip + 4: 77469-0000
Telephone: (281) 341-8610 ext.
Fax: (281) 341-8614
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: October 7, 2015
If no, date it will be requested:
Were payment arrangements made with the court reporter/court recorder? Yes No Indigent
Page 6 of 11
Court Reporter Court Recorder
Official Substitute
First Name: Mindy
Middle Name: R.
Last Name: Hall
Suffix:
Address 1: 8913 Jeske Rd.
Address 2:
City: Needville
State: Texas Zip + 4: 77461
Telephone: (281) 341-8611 ext.
Fax: (281) 341-8614
Email: Mindy.Hall@fortbendcountytx.gov
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 is an appeal from the denial of a plea to the jurisdiction. The issue is the Appellants' immunity from suit.
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? Governmental Immunity
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 is whether Commissioner Meyers is immune from suit. Commissioner Meyers seeks reversal of the trial court's Order denying his plea to the
jurisdiction. Review is de novo.
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: $0.00
Punitive (or similar) damages: $0.00
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Attorney's fees (trial): $0.00
Attorney's fees (appellate): $0.00
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?
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:
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: Trial Court:
Style:
Vs.
Page 8 of 11
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).
XV. Signature
Signature of counsel (or pro se party) Date: October 23, 2015
Printed Name: J. Mark Breeding State Bar No.: 02942500
Electronic Signature: /s/ J. Mark Breeding
(Optional)
Page 9 of 11
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 October 23, 2015 .
Signature of counsel (or pro se party) Electronic Signature: /s/ J. Mark Breeding
(Optional)
State Bar No.: 02942500
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: October 23, 2015
Manner Served: eServed
First Name: Don
Middle Name: C.
Last Name: Griffin
Suffix:
Law Firm Name: Vinson & Elkins LLP
Address 1: 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500
Address 2:
City: Houston
State Texas Zip+4: 77002-6760
Telephone: (713) 758-3508 ext.
Fax: (713) 615-5985
Email: dgriffin@velaw.com
If Attorney, Representing Party's Name: JDC/Firethorne, Ltd.
Please enter the following for each person served:
Page 10 of 11
Date Served: October 23, 2015
Manner Served: eServed
First Name: H.
Middle Name: Dixon
Last Name: Montague
Suffix:
Law Firm Name: Vinson & Elkins LLP
Address 1: 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500
Address 2:
City: Houston
State Texas Zip+4: 77002-6760
Telephone: (713) 758-2086 ext.
Fax: (713) 615-5461
Email: dmontague@velaw.com
If Attorney, Representing Party's Name: JDC/Firethorne, Ltd.
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