in Re Fraudulent Hospital Lien Litigation

NUMBER 13-19-00644-CV COURT OF APPEALS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS CORPUS CHRISTI–EDINBURG IN RE FRAUDULENT HOSPITAL LIEN LITIGATION On appeal from MDL No. 15-0360-H in the 444th District Court of Cameron County, Texas. MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Benavides, Perkes, and Tijerina Memorandum Opinion by Justice Benavides MedData d/b/a Alegis Revenue Group, L.L.C. (MedData) filed this notice of appeal from MDL No. 15-0360-H, In re Fraudulent Hospital Lien Litigation, pending in the 444th District Court of Cameron County, Texas.1 MedData alleged that the judge of the MDL pretrial court had not ruled on MedData’s motion to dismiss filed pursuant to the Texas 1 This case originated in trial court cause number C-2512-19-L in the 464th District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas, which was transferred to MDL No. 15-0360-H in the 444th District Court of Cameron County, Texas, for consolidated pretrial proceedings. Citizens Participation Act (TCPA) within the statutory deadline, and accordingly, its motion to dismiss was “considered to have been denied by operation of law.” See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §§ 27.005(a), 27.008(a). This appeal ensued. On January 9, 2020, MedData filed a “Motion to Dismiss Appeal as Premature.” Without “abandoning its position that each case in an MDL proceeding is distinct,” MedData asserted that its attempted interlocutory appeal should be dismissed on grounds that the underlying MDL proceedings are stayed, and thus its notice of appeal was premature. MedData’s motion to dismiss is opposed by appellees, Alba Adame, as next friend for R.G., minor, et al.,2 however, more than ten days have passed since the motion to dismiss was filed and appellees have not filed a response or other pleading in opposition to MedData’s motion. See TEX. R. APP. P. 10.1(a)(5), 10.1(b), 10.3(a). The Court, having examined and fully considered the motion to dismiss and the applicable law, is of the opinion that the appeal should be dismissed for the reasons expressed in our opinion in In re Fraudulent Hospital Lien Litigation, No. 13-19-00627- 2 The appellees include: Alba Adame, as next friend for R.G., minor, Amira Martinez, as next friend for J.M., minor, Angel Badillo Saenz, as next friend for D.B., minor, Arnoldo Alegria, as next friend for A.A., minor, Arnoldo Pena, Berta Lopez, Brenda Salinas, Consuelo Delgado Ramirez, Crystal Cerda, as next friend for G.G., minor, Daisy Garza, as next friend for R.G., minor, Dalia Zamora, as next friend for E.R., minor, David Coronado, Dora Graza, as next friend for E.G., minor, Elvia Garcia, Elvira Bernal, as next friend for S.B., minor, Eudelia Guerrero, Ferney Medina, Gustavo Soto, as next friend for J.S., minor, Isela Ramirez, as next friend for X.M., minor, Joanna Hinojosa, as next friend for D.R., minor, Joe Issac Moreno, as next friend for B.M., minor, Joe Issac Moreno, as next friend for B.M., minor, Jose Mercado, Juanita Rendon, Julieta Candanoza, as next friend for A.V., minor, Luis Vicente Mireles, as next friend for V.M., minor, Maria Christina Castorena, as next friend for D.G., minor, Maria Christina Castorena, as next friend for P.G., minor, Maria Cobios, as next friend for L.C., N.C.M., Maria Zuniga, as next friend for Y.Z., minor, Meybol Camarillo, as next friend for K.C., minor, Miguel Lopez, Mirella Garcia, Myrna Guerra, Nemorio Sarmiento, Ophelia Moralez, as next friend for A.M., minor, Oyuky Vela, as next friend for M.V., minor, Quirina Chavez, as next friend for V.C., minor, Rita Perez, Robert Garza, as next friend for I.G., minor, Samuel Garza, Sanjuanita Garcia, as next friend for C.G., minor, Sanjuanita Garcia, Selina Lucio, as next friend for A.P., minor, and Selina Lucio, as next friend for L.P., minor. 2 CV, 2020 WL _____ (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Mar. 5, 2020, no pet. h.) (mem. op.), available at http://www.search.txcourts.gov/case.aspx?cn=13-19-00627-CV. Accordingly, we grant MedData’s motion to dismiss and we dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Pending motions, if any, are dismissed as moot. GINA M. BENAVIDES, Justice Delivered and filed the 5th day of March, 2020. 3