Case Information
*0 FILED IN 15th COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk *1 ACCEPTED 15-25-00083-CV FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 6/27/2025 10:32 AM NO. 15-25-00083-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE ______________________________________________ CLERK IN THE FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS ______________________________________________ DR. ROBERT TAFEL, et al.
V.
D.S.L. _________________________________________________ REPLY IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO ABATE APPEAL PENDING RESOLUTION OF RELATED ACTION __________________________________________________ Appellants Dr. Robert Tafel, et al
. asked this Court to abate this appeal pending resolution of a related mandamus action pending before the Supreme Court
of Texas. The related mandamus is No. 24-1062, In re Dr. Robert Tafel . If the
Supreme Court grants mandamus relief, it would moot this interlocutory appeal,
which can then be dismissed. Abatement therefore would serve efficiency by
avoiding briefing and submission of this appeal that may ultimately be unnecessary.
Appellee Lauren Ludlow, executrix of the Estate of Scott Ludlow (the “Executrix”) does not dispute the relation between this appeal and the mandamus
action. Nor does she dispute that this appeal will be rendered moot if the Supreme
Court grants mandamus relief. Instead, she urges the Court to deny abatement on the
grounds that neither this appeal nor the related mandamus action have merit, so
4913-0245-4609
abatement pending resolution of the “speculative mandamus” simply delays the
inevitable. Response p.2. Appellants disagree with that characterization, but to the
point, the purpose of abatement would be to avoid having to brief and decide the
merits of this appeal at all if the Supreme Court grants mandamus relief. Appellants
seek abatement for purposes of efficiency, and the Executrix does not address that
issue in her response in any way.
Regarding whether the related mandamus proceeding is “speculative,” Appellants note that the Supreme Court called for briefs on the merits, indicating
that the Court believes it presents bona fide issues warranting further study.
Moreover, the State has appeared in the mandamus action and filed its own brief on
the merits, indicating that the State believes the mandamus action presents issues
important to the jurisprudence.
Nor will abatement result in indefinitely delay. Briefing on the merits will be complete in July. It is therefore likely that the Supreme Court will make a decision
in the fall, either (1) denying the mandamus petition; (2) setting the petition for oral
argument; or (3) issuing an opinion addressing the merits of the petition. Thus,
within just a few months the parties and this Court will have some indication of the
potential impact the mandamus action will have on this appeal. Appellant would, of
course, keep the Court apprised of the status of the mandamus action.
Appellants therefore pray that this Court abate this appeal pending resolution of the related mandamus action. In the alternative, if the Court denies abatement,
Appellants pray that the Court grant them an extension of time to file their Brief of
Appellants until 15 days after the order denying abatement.
Respectfully submitted, SCOTT DOUGLASS & MCCONNICO LLP 303 Colorado Street, Suite 2400 Austin, TX 78701-3234 Phone: (512) 495-6300 Fax: (512) 495-6399 By: ___________________________ Jane Webre State Bar No. 21050060 jwebre@scottdoug.com CRAIG D. CHERRY Bar No. 24012419 ccherry@cjsjlaw.com CHERRY JOHNSON SIEGMUND JAMES, PLLC 7901 Fish Pond Rd., Second Floor Waco, Texas 76710 Telephone: (254) 732-2242 Facsimile: (866) 627-3509 *4 CHRISTOPHER S. AYRES, Bar No. 24036167 csayres@ayreslawoffice.com R. JACK AYRES, JR.
Bar No. 01473000 rjayres@ayreslawoffice.com AYRES LAW OFFICE, P.C.
8140 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 105 Dallas, Texas 75231 972-991-2222 – Phone 972-386-0091 – Fax CHRIS DAVIS
State Bar No. 24050483 cdavis@grayreed.com GRAY REED
1601 Elm Street, Suite 4600 Dallas, TX 75201 (214) 954-4135—Phone Counsel for Appellants CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that I served this pleading through the electronic filing system on counsel of record on June 27, 2025.
___________________________ Jane Webre *5 Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system
on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing
certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a
certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.
Michaelle Peters on behalf of Jane Webre
Bar No. 21050060
mpeters@scottdoug.com
Envelope ID: 102516350
Filing Code Description: Response
Filing Description: Reply in Support of Motion to Abate Appeal Pending
Resolution of Related Action
Status as of 6/27/2025 11:35 AM CST
Case Contacts
Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status
Michaelle Peters mpeters@scottdoug.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
Jane Webre jwebre@scottdoug.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
Luis Garcia lgarcia@scottdoug.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
Christopher Davis 24050483 cdavis@grayreed.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
Andrew Sommerman 18842150 andrew@textrial.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
Jerry Alexander 993500 alexanderj@passmanjones.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
Craig Cherry 24012419 ccherry@cjsjlaw.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
Sean McCaffity 24013122 smccaffity@textrial.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
Christopher Ayres 24036167 csayres@ayreslawoffice.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
Rowe Ayres 1473000 rjayres@ayreslawoffice.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
George Quesada 16427750 quesada@textrial.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT
D. HunterPolvi polvih@passmanjones.com 6/27/2025 10:32:47 AM SENT