Elness Swenson Graham Architects, Inc.// RLJ II-C Austin Air, LP RLJ II-C Austin Air Lessee, LP And RLJ Lodging Fund II Acquisitions, LLC v. RLJ II-C Austin Air, LP RLJ II-C Austin Air Lessee, LP And RLJ Lodging Fund II Acquisitions, LLC// Elness Swenson Graham Architects, Inc.
ACCEPTED
03-14-00738-CV
4280904
THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
2/25/2015 2:18:35 PM
JEFFREY D. KYLE
CLERK
NO. 03-14-00738-CV
Elness Swenson Graham Architects, § From the 200th District Court
FILED IN
3rd COURT OF APPEALS
Inc., § AUSTIN, TEXAS
§ 2/25/2015 2:18:35 PM
Appellants & § JEFFREY D. KYLE
Cross-Appellees, § Clerk
§
v. §
§
RLJ II-C Austin Air, LP, RLJ II-C §
Austin Air Lessee, LP and RJL §
Lodging Fund II Acquisitions, §
§
Appellees & §
Cross-Appellants. § Of Travis County, Texas
____________________________________________________________
Cross-Appellants' Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time
to File Cross-Appellants' Brief
____________________________________________________________
TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF APPEALS:
RLJ II-C Austin Air, LP, RLJ II-C Austin Air Lessee, LP and RJL Lodging
Fund II Acquisitions, (“RLJ” collectively) are appellees and cross-appellants in the
above-referenced cause. RLJ respectfully moves pursuant to Texas Rule of
Appellate Procedure 10.5 (b) to extend by thirty days the time in which to file its
brief. In support thereof, RLJ would respectfully show the court as follows:
I. Current Deadline
RLJ's cross-appellants' brief is currently due to be filed with this Court on or
before Wednesday, March 11, 2015. RLJ seeks an extension of thirty days, up to
Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Cross- Appellants’ Brief Page 1
and including Friday, April 10, 2015, of the time to file the cross-appellant’s brief
in this cause.
II. Explanation of Need for Extension
RLJ’s request for this extension is based on the following facts. These facts
are within the personal knowledge of the undersigned counsel.
The current briefing preparation period includes and the deadline falls within
a family spring break trip scheduled long before the briefing deadline was set.
Lead Counsel for RLJ, Michael W. Huddleston ("Huddleston") is scheduled to be
on a family vacation over the break from March 5, 2015, until March 15, 2015.
Given pre-existing deadlines on other matters during the time period leading up to
this trip, Huddleston cannot complete the brief before the trip, and, therefore, RLJ
requests that an extension be granted.
Huddleston is serving as an expert witness in a case styled Rimkus
Consulting Group, Inc. et al. v. Prosight Specialty Management Company f/k/a
Mutual Marine Office, Inc. et al., cause number 2011-48945, in the 80th District
Court of Harris County, Texas. Huddleston has been reviewing and analyzing
materials and preparing for testimony in this complex insurance coverage case
since the week of the 9th of February. Huddleston was also preparing for his
deposition in this matter, which was taken on February 16, 2015. The case was set
for trial on February 23, 2015. The trial was moved by the court to March 2, 2015.
Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Cross- Appellants’ Brief Page 2
Huddleston has also been involved during the first two weeks of February in
the review and preparation of an expert report in American Modern Lloyds
Insurance Company v. Big Sky Business Solutions LLC d/b/a/ Quest RV Rental, et
al., cause number DC14-02682, in the 44th District Court of Dallas County, Texas,
which was filed on February 16, 2015.
During this same time period, Huddleston has also had to direct attention to
extensive research an analysis of coverage issues and preparation of demands on
the excess carrier in connection with Kenneth Shaw, et al. v. CG 2006-GG6
Boardwalk Inc., et al., case number 2014-30072 CICI, in The Circuit Court,
Seventh Judicial Circuit in Volsia County, Florida in anticipation of a previously
scheduled mediation on March 26, 2015.
Huddleston is also completing investigation, research and preparation of suit
papers in a first-party commercial insurance coverage matter for Cedar Creek
Corp. v. Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company.
Finally, Huddleston has had to devote significant time during the brief
preparation period to multiple issues of law enforcement, attorney-client and work
product privileges in connection with Ricardo Villareal v. State Farm Lloyds,
cause number 342-266154-13, in the 342nd District Court of Tarrant County,
Texas. Huddleston is representing a non-party attorney and firm (counsel for the
defendant) in that matter. Counsel continues to have to deal with unusual
Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Cross- Appellants’ Brief Page 3
discovery requests and related issues in connection with a motion for sanctions
against the firm and its client in that matter.
The record in this case consists of more than 4,934 pages of clerk’s record
and more than 4,844 pages of reporter’s record, inclusive of approximately 3,166
pages of exhibits. It is now apparent that despite the undersigned’s best efforts it
will not be possible to complete an appropriate presentation of the appellant’s
arguments and authorities in time for timely filing with this court by Wednesday,
March 11, 2015. Further, in light of the undersigned’s present workload, the
undersigned believes that if an extension of thirty days to file RLJ’s brief of cross-
appellant were granted, he would be able to complete and file the appellant’s brief
in this matter on or before Friday, April 10, 2015.
III. No Previous Extensions Requested
RLJ has neither requested nor received any prior extensions of time to file
the appellant’s brief in this cause.
IV. Relief Requested
Wherefore, for the foregoing reasons, RLJ respectfully requests that the
court grant this motion and extend the time to file cross-appellants’ brief from
Wednesday, March 11, 2015, by thirty days up to and including Friday, April 10,
2015, and for all other legal or equitable relief to which RLJ may be justly entitled
under this motion.
Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Cross- Appellants’ Brief Page 4
Respectfully submitted,
Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, PC
/s/ Michael W. Huddleston
Michael W. Huddleston
State Bar No. 10148415
3800 Ross Tower
500 North Akard Street
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 855-7500 Main Tel.
(214) 855-7579 Direct Tel.
(214) 855-7584 Main Fax
mhuddleston@munsch.com
Attorneys for Appellees and
Cross-Appellants
Certificate of Conference
On February 24, 2015, the undersigned spoke by telephone with Gregory
Ziegler, counsel for appellant and cross-appellee, who advised that appellant and
cross-appellee is not opposed to this motion.
/s/ Michael W. Huddleston
Michael W. Huddleston
Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Cross- Appellants’ Brief Page 5
Certificate of Service
I certify that I served a true and correct copy of the foregoing document
upon counsel listed below on this 25th day of February, 2015 by e-file:
Weston M. Davis
Gregory N. Ziegler
Matthew Mumm
Macdonald Devin, P.C.
1201 Elm Street
3800 Renaissance Tower
Dallas, TX 75270
/s/ Michael W. Huddleston
Michael W. Huddleston
Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Cross- Appellants’ Brief Page 6