Case Information

*0 FILED IN 3rd COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 10/6/2016 10:51:57 AM JEFFREY D. KYLE Clerk NO. 03-16-00091-CV THIRD COURT OF APPEALS 10/6/2016 10:51:57 AM JEFFREY D. KYLE AUSTIN, TEXAS 03-16-00091-CV *1 ACCEPTED ^[13096560] CLERK IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN JAMES A. DAVIS AND VERONICA L. DAVIS Appellants, v.

STATE FARM LLOYDS TEXAS AND GERALD KROUSE, Appellees.

On Appeal from the 250th

Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas BRIEF OF APPELLEE, GERALD KROUSE APPELLEE REQUESTS ORAL ARGUMENT

Gregory A. Whigham State Bar No. 21266800 MacINNES, WHIGHAM & SIEFKEN, L.L.P.

3305 Northland Drive, Suite 205 Austin, TX 78731 (512) 477-6813 Telephone (512) 477-7573 Facsimile ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE GERALD KROUSE *2 NO. 03-16-00091-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN JAMES A. DAVIS AND VERONICA L. DAVIS Appellants, v.

STATE FARM LLOYDS TEXAS AND GERALD KROUSE, Appellees.

BRIEF OF APPELLEE, GERALD KROUSE TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:

Appellee, GERALD KROUSE respectfully presents this his Brief of Appellee in support of the Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, signed on January th

19, 2016, by the 345 District Court, Travis County, Texas, and in support of the

preceding Order, signed on November 16, 2015, by that same District Court (which

Order dismissed Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, following Plaintiffs/Appellants’

Notice of Non-Suit), and respectfully represents the following:

i *3 IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL Appellants/Plaintiffs: James A. Davis and Veronica L. Davis

Trial/Appellate Counsel: Veronica L. Davis

State Bar No. 05557300

Law Office of Veronica L. Davis 226 N. Mattson

West Columbia, Texas 77486 Telephone: 979-345-2953 Facsimile: 979-345-5461 Appellee/Co-Defendant: Gerald Krouse

Trial/Appellate Counsel: Robert A. MacInnes

State Bar No. 12760550

Gregory A. Whigham

State Bar No. 21266800

MacINNES, WHIGHAM & SIEFKEN, L.L.P. 3305 Northland Drive, Suite 205 Austin, TX 78731

Telephone: 512-477-6813 Facsimile: 512-477-7573 Appellee/Co-Defendant: State Farm Lloyds Texas

Trial/Appellate Counsel: Edward F. Kaye

State Bar No. 24012942

Skelton & Woody

248 Addie Roy Rd., Ste. B-302 Austin, Texas 78746

Telephone: 512-651-7000 Facsimile: 512-651-7001 ii

PARTY REFERENCES

References to Appellee, Gerald Krouse, will sometimes be “Krouse”

References to Appellee, State Farm Lloyds Texas, will sometimes be “State Farm”

CITATION REFERENCES Clerk’s Record will be cited as “CR”.

Supplemental Clerk’s Record will be cited as “SCR”.

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES & COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

PARTY REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

CITATION REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

STATEMENT OF THE CASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

STATEMENT OF FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

A. The Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, signed on January 19,

th 2016, by the 345 District Court, Travis County, Texas, and the preceding

Order, signed on November 16, 2015, by that same District Court (which Order

dismissed Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, following Plaintiffs/Appellants’ Notice

of Non-Suit), are final, disposing of all issues in that Cause Number . . . . . 3, 6

B. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to allow venue transfer once the

previous severance order was granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 8

C. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Vacating Prior “Order” &

Order on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Sanctions, Motion to Compel, and Motion for

Continuance, signed on July 15, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 8

D. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to grant a continuance in Cause No.

D-1-GN-13-001724 on November 16, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 9

*6 E. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion

to Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 10

F. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Sustaining Contest to

Affidavit of Indigence Inability to Pay Fees and Related Costs of Appeal, signed

on March 8, 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 10

G. There is nothing in the record before this Honorable Appellate Court to

demonstrate that the Court made any “determination of mistake” that allegedly

forced Plaintiffs/Appellants to non-suit Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 . . 5, 11

CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

PRAYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

v *7 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES CASES

st Ashpole v. Millard, 778 S.W.2d 169 (Tex. App-Houston [1 Dist.]) . . . . . . . . . . 7

Brainard v. Trinity Universal Ins. Co., 216 S.W.3d 809 (Tex. 2006) . . . . . . . . . . 7

Couch Mortgage Company v. Roberts, 544 S.W.2d 944 (Tex. App.-Houston [1 Dist.] st

1977) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Hjalmarson v. Langley, 840 S.W.2d 153 (Tex. App.-Waco 1992) . . . . . . 7, 10, 11

th Lentino v. Front National Bank, 159 S.W.3d 651 (Tex. App.-Houston [14 Dist.])

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

McClendon v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 796 S.W.2d 229

(Tex. App.-El Paso 1990) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 12

United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company v. Beuhler, 597 S.W.2d 523 (Tex.

App.-Beaumont 1980) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

vi *8 STATEMENT OF THE CASE Nature of the case. The Plaintiffs/Appellants brought Cause No. D-1-GN-12-

004077 in the 345 District Court, Travis County, Texas, against both th

Defendants/Appellees, asserting a right to tort and contractual damages relating to

three automobile claims and two homeowner claims [CR: 4-28].

Course of proceedings. The Trial Court subsequently signed its Order, on May

22, 2013, which essentially severed the automobile claims from the homeowner

claims [CR: 41-43]. The latter remained in Cause No. D-1-GN-12-004077, and the

former were assigned to a newly created Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, in the 250 th

District Court. Furthermore, that same Order abated all contractual and extra-

contractual claims in Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724.

Trial Court Disposition. The Trial Court signed its Order Denying Plaintiffs’

Motion to Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016, and its preceding Order, signed on

November 16, 2015, (which Order dismissed Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724,

following Plaintiffs/Appellants’ Notice of Non-Suit) [CR: 282; 318].

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT This Defendant/Appellee contends that oral argument, which has been requested, would assist this Honorable Appeals Court in determining the issues

involved in this appeal by the Appellant. Therefore, oral argument should be

permitted.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The Plaintiffs/Appellants brought Cause No. D-1-GN-12-004077 in the 345 th District Court, Travis County, Texas, against both Defendants/Appellees, asserting

a right to tort and contractual damages relating to three automobile claims and two

homeowner claims [CR: 4-28].

The Trial Court subsequently signed its Order, on May 22, 2013, which essentially severed the automobile claims from the homeowner claims [CR: 41-43].

The latter remained in Cause No. D-1-GN-12-004077, and the former were assigned th

to a newly created Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, in the 250 District Court [CR: 41-

43]. Furthermore, that same Order abated all contractual and extra-contractual claims

in Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 [CR: 41-43].

The Trial Court signed its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, on January 19, 2016, and signed its preceding Order, on November 16, 2015, (which

Order dismissed Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, following Plaintiffs/Appellants’

Notice of Non-Suit) [CR: 318; 282; 280-281].

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT A. The Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate and the preceding Order, dismissing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 are final, disposing of all issues in that lawsuit When the Trial Court signed its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, and the preceding Order, dismissing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, all causes of

action in that lawsuit were dismissed, including the previously abated ones.

B. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to allow venue transfer once the previous severance order was granted The Trial Court did not err in refusing to allow venue transfer once the previous severance order was granted.

There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court that the Plaintiffs/Appellants moved for a transfer of venue after the creation of Cause No. D-

1-GN-13-001724.

Furthermore, Travis County was the venue chosen by the Plaintiffs/Appellants when this lawsuit was originally commenced. There is no procedural rule permitting

a plaintiff to move for a transfer of venue after that plaintiff has chosen the venue for

the lawsuit.

C. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Vacating Prior “Order” & Order on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Sanctions, Motion to Compel, and Motion for Continuance The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Vacating Prior “Order” & Order on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Sanctions, Motion to Compel, and Motion for Continuance,

signed on July 15, 2015.

The Trial Court, by signing that order, was modifying its previously signed order (regarding those issues), which was signed on July 9, 2014.

Furthermore, this issue is completely irrelevant to the issues before this Court, regarding the finality of the Trial Court’s subsequent dismissal order following the

non-suit by Plaintiffs/Appellants.

D. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to grant a continuance in Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 on November 16, 2015

There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court regarding a Motion for Continuance presented by the plaintiffs before the commencement of jury trial on

November 16, 2015, and there is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court

regarding any rulings by the Trial Court regarding any request for any continuance.

E. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016.

It is within the sound discretion of the Trial Court to deny that Motion, because the Plaintiffs/Appellants did not present sufficient grounds to the Trial Court to

support reinstatement of Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724.

F. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Sustaining Contest to Affidavit of Indigence Inability to Pay Fees and Related Costs of Appeal The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Sustaining Contest to Affidavit of Indigence Inability to Pay Fees and Related Costs of Appeal, signed on March 8,

2016, because sufficient grounds were presented to the Trial Court to support that

Contest. This Honorable Appellate Court has already resolved this issue, by previous

Order in this appeal.

G. There is nothing in the record before this Honorable Appellate Court to demonstrate that the Court made any “determination of mistake” that allegedly forced Plaintiffs/Appellants to non-suit Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court regarding any “determination of mistake” by the Trial Court which allegedly forced

Plaintiffs/Appellants to non-suit Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724.

ARGUMENT A. The Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate and the preceding Order, dismissing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 are final, disposing of all issues in that lawsuit When the Trial Court signed its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, and the preceding Order, dismissing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, all causes of

action in that lawsuit were dismissed, including the previously abated ones.

The underlying lawsuit originally bore Cause No. D-1-GN-12-004077, filed in the 345 District Court, Travis County, Texas [CR: 4-28]. That lawsuit contained th

causes of action for damages relating to three different automobile claims and two

different homeowner claims [CR: 4-28]. Thereafter, the Trial Court considered the

Motion to Sever and Abate Plaintiffs’ Extra-Contractual Claims, filed by

Defendant/Appellee, State Farm. On May 22, 2013, the Court signed its Order, which

granted that Motion [CR: 41-43]. That Order specified that the automobile claims

were to be severed from the homeowner claims, and assigned Cause No. D-1-GN-13-

001724 [CR: 41-43]. That is the lawsuit underlying this appeal. Furthermore, since

the automobile claims included one claim for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists

insurance benefits, two claims for personal automobile insurance benefits, and also

included claims for extra-contractual damages by the plaintiffs, the Court, by that

Order, properly abated the contractual and extra-contractual automobile claims until

the resolution of the negligence claims being made against this Defendant/Appellee,

Krouse. See, Brainard v. Trinity Universal Ins. Co., 216 S.W.3d 809 (Tex. 2006);

[CR: 41-43].

When this lawsuit was reached for jury trial, the Plaintiffs voluntary filed their Notice of Non-Suit [CR: 280-281]. In that Notice of Non-Suit, the Plaintiffs made

no attempt to reserve the abated contractual and extra-contractual causes of action

[CR: 280-281]. Therefore, the entire lawsuit bearing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724

was dismissed by the Trial Court’s Order, signed on November 16, 2015, which

Order stated “...this case is DISMISSED” [CR: 282].

The Plaintiffs thereafter presented their Amended Motion to Reinstate Cause [CR: 292-317]. On January 19, 2016, the Trial Court signed its Order Denying

Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate [CR: 318]. Accordingly, the entire lawsuit bearing

Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, including the abated issues therein, was dismissed. th

Lentino v. Front National Bank, 159 S.W.3d 651 (Tex. App.-Houston [14 Dist.]); Hjalmarson v. Langley, 840 S.W.2d 153 (Tex. App.-Waco 1992); Ashpole v. Millard,

st 778 S.W.2d 169 (Tex. App-Houston [1 Dist.]), and United States Fidelity and

Guaranty Company v. Beuhler, 597 S.W.2d 523 (Tex. App.-Beaumont 1980).

*15 Therefore, neither the Trial Court’s Order dismissing Cause No. D-1-GN-13- 001724 nor the Trial Court’s subsequent Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to

Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016, were in any way interlocutory [CR: 282; 318].

There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court that the Plaintiffs/Appellants moved for a transfer of venue after the creation of Cause No. D-

1-GN-13-001724.

Furthermore, Travis County was the venue chosen by the Plaintiffs/Appellants when this lawsuit was originally commenced, under Cause No. D-1-GN-12-004077

[CR: 428]. There is no procedural rule permitting a plaintiff to move for a transfer

of venue after that plaintiff has chosen the venue for the lawsuit.

signed on July 15, 2015 [CR: 96].

The Trial Court, by signing that order, was simply modifying its previously signed order (regarding those issues), which previous order was signed on July 9,

2014 [CR: 94-95].

The Plaintiffs/Appellants rely incorrectly on Couch Mortgage Company v. st Roberts, 544 S.W.2d 944 (Tex. App.-Houston [1 Dist.] 1977). In Couch Mortgage

Company, that appellate court was dealing with a final court order adjudicating the

merits of the cause of action, as would a judgment. Couch Mortgage Company,

supra. Here, the Trial Court was resolving pre-trial issues relating to Plaintiffs’

Motion for Sanctions, Motion to Compel, and Motion for Continuance [CR: 94-96].

Furthermore, this issue is completely irrelevant to the issues before this Court, regarding the finality of the Trial Court’s subsequent dismissal order following the

non-suit by Plaintiffs/Appellants.

D. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to grant a continuance in Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 on November 16, 2015

There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court regarding a Motion for Continuance presented by the Plaintiffs/Appellants before the commencement of

jury trial on November 16, 2015, and there is no record before this Honorable

Appellate Court regarding any rulings by the Trial Court regarding any request for

any continuance.

It is within the sound discretion of the Trial Court to deny that Motion, because the Plaintiffs/Appellants did not present sufficient grounds to the Trial Court to

support reinstatement of Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724. Hjalmarson v. Langley, 840

S.W.2d 153 (Tex. App.-Waco 1992), and McClendon v. State Farm Mutual

Automobile Insurance Company, 796 S.W.2d 229 (Tex. App.-El Paso 1990).

2016, because sufficient grounds were presented to the Trial Court to support that

Contest [SCR: 32].

After the Plaintiff/Appellant, Veronica L. Davis, dropped her claim for indigency status, the other Plaintiff/Appellant, James A. Davis, filed a motion

challenging the Trial Court’s order sustaining the contests to his indigency before this

Honorable Appellate Court. By Order dated March 31, 2016, this Honorable

Appellate Court denied that motion. Therefore, this issue has already been resolved

by this Honorable Appellate Court.

In the Appellant’s Brief, regarding this issue, the Plaintiffs/Appellants reference documents that are not part of the record that is before this Honorable

Appellate Court, and, therefore, should not be considered (See, e.g., Appellant’s

Brief, pp. 18, 20).

Plaintiffs/Appellants to non-suit Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, other than the

matters asserted in the Motion to Reinstate Cause and Amended Motion to Reinstate

Cause filed by the Plaintiffs/Appellants [CR: 292-317]. However, the allegations and

attestations by the Plaintiffs/Appellants regarding this issue in those motions are

vague, ambiguous, and factually in error [CR: 292-317].

As stated above, the issue of reinstatement was addressed to the sound discretion of the Trial Court. Hjalmarson v. Langley, 840 S.W.2d 153 (Tex. App.-

*19 Waco 1992), and McClendon v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company,

796 S.W.2d 229 (Tex. App.-El Paso 1990).

The Trial Court denied reinstatement, in its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016 [CR: 318].

CONCLUSION The orders of the Trial Court pertaining to dismissal of Cause No. D-1-GN-13- 001724 after the non-suit by the Plaintiffs/Appellants, and pertaining to denying

reinstatement of that lawsuit, were proper, and were within the sound discretion of

the Trial Court.

The Plaintiffs/Appellants have not presented a record before this Honorable Appellate Court relating to venue transfer, court order modification, continuance,

contest to indigence, or “determination of mistake”, such that there is no basis for the

Plaintiffs/Appellants to seek any remedy from this Honorable Appellate Court

regarding those issues.

Furthermore, this Honorable Appellate Court has already ruled upon the indigency issue herein, previously asserted by the Plaintiffs/Appellants in this appeal.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellee, GERALD KROUSE, respectfully prays the Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, signed on *20 th

January 19, 2016, by the 345 District Court, Travis County, Texas, and the

preceding Order, signed on November 16, 2015, by that same District Court (which

Order dismissed Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, following Plaintiffs/Appellants

Notice of Non-Suit), be in all things affirmed, that Plaintiffs/Appellants take nothing

against this Appellee, that this Appellee recover his costs, and for any and all other

relief to which he may show himself justly entitled, at law or in equity.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE Defendant/Appellee, Gerald Krouse, pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 9.4, certifies that this document is in 14-point font or larger, and, according to the

word count feature on WordPerfect, this document is 3,328.

/S/ Gregory A. Whigham ________________________________ Gregory A. Whigham *21 Respectfully submitted,

MacINNES, WHIGHAM & SIEFKEN, L.L.P. 3305 Northland Drive, Suite 205 Austin, TX 78731

512-477-6813 Telephone 512-477-7573 Facsimile /S/ Gregory A. Whigham By:_______________________________ Gregory A. Whigham State Bar No. 21266800 gwhigham@mwstx.com ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE, GERALD KROUSE

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Brief of Appellee, Gerald Krouse was served on the parties listed below by the method indicated on this th

6 day of October, 2016.

/S/ Gregory A. Whigham ________________________________ Gregory A. Whigham *22 By Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested and Facsimile:

Ms. Veronica L. Davis

Law Office of Veronica L. Davis

226 N. Mattson

West Columbia, Texas 77486

Mr. Edward F. Kaye

Skelton & Woody

248 Addie Roy Rd., Ste. B-302

Austin, Texas 78746