Bernice Yost Special Conservator for Georgia Cox v. James Fails

Opinion

ACCEPTED 01-15-00773-CV FIRST COURT OF APPEALS Appellate Docket Number: 1-15-00773-CV HOUSTON, TEXAS 9/24/2015 3:10:33 PM CHRISTOPHER PRINE Appellate Case Style: Bernice Yost Special Conservator for Georgia Cox CLERK

Vs. James Fails

Companion Case No.: FILED IN 1st COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS 9/24/2015 3:10:33 PM Amended/corrected statement: DOCKETING STATEMENT (Civil) CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk Appellate Court:1st 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: Thomas First Name: Bernice Middle Name: C. Middle Name: Last Name: Wright Last Name: Yost Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Wright & Close, LLP

Pro Se: Address 1: One Riverway Address 2: Suite 2200 City: Houston State: Texas Zip+4: 77056 Telephone: 713-572-4321 ext. Fax: 713-572-4320 Email: wright@wrightclose.com SBN: 22059400

I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Wanda First Name: Middle Name: McKee Middle Name: Last Name: Fowler Last Name: Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Wright & Close, LLP

Pro Se: Address 1: One Riverway Address 2: Suite 2200

Page 1 of 11 City: Houston State: Texas Zip+4: 77056 Telephone: 713-572-4321 ext. Fax: 713-572-4320 Email: fowler@wrightclose.com SBN: 13698700

I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Andrea First Name: Middle Name: G. Middle Name: Last Name: Tindall Last Name: Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Wright & Close, LLP

Pro Se: Address 1: One Riverway Address 2: Suite 2200 City: Houston State: Texas Zip+4: 77056 Telephone: 713-572-4321 ext. Fax: 713-572-4320 Email: tindall@wrightclose.com SBN: 24079467

I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: John First Name: Middle Name: T. Middle Name: Last Name: Elliott Last Name: Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Law Office of Sharon C. Stodghill

Pro Se: Address 1: 952 Echo Lane Address 2: Suite 330 City: Houston State: Texas Zip+4: 77024 Telephone: 713-464-6412 ext. Fax: 713-827-7483 Email: John.elliott@scslawyer.com SBN: 24055444

Page 2 of 11 I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Gus First Name: Middle Name: G. Middle Name: Last Name: Tamborello Last Name: Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Gus G. Tamborello, P.C.

Pro Se: Address 1: 2900 Weslayan Address 2: Suite 150 City: Houston State: Texas Zip+4: 77027 Telephone: 713-659-7777 ext. Fax: 713-658-7780 Email: gus@tamborellolaw.com SBN: 19632000

III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Michael First Name: James Middle Name: Scott Middle Name: Sampson Last Name: Thomas Last Name: Fails Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Thomas & Williams, LLP Pro Se: Address 1: 2626 S. Loop West Address 2: Suite 561 City: Houston State: Texas Zip+4: 77054 Telephone: 713-665-8558 ext. Fax: 713-665-8562 Email: mstlawyer@aol.com SBN: 19861200

Page 3 of 11 V. Perfection Of Appeal And Jurisdiction

Nature of Case (Subject matter or type of case): Estate proceedings and Administration

Date order or judgment signed: August 20, 2015 Type of judgment: Jury Trial Date notice of appeal filed in trial court: September 4, 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):

Accelerated appeal (See TRAP 28): Yes No If yes, please specify statutory or other basis on which appeal is accelerated:

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:

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 4 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: Probate Court No. 3 Clerk's Record: County: Harris Trial Court Clerk: District County Trial Court Docket Number (Cause No.): 412,338 Was clerk's record requested? Yes No If yes, date requested: September 11, 2015 Trial Judge (who tried or disposed of case): If no, date it will be requested: First Name: Hon. Rory Were payment arrangements made with clerk? Middle Name: Yes No Indigent Last Name: Olsen (Note: No request required under TRAP 34.5(a),(b)) Suffix: Address 1: 201 Caroline Address 2 : 7th Floor City: Houston State: Texas Zip + 4: 77002 Telephone: 713-368-6730 ext. Fax: 713-368-7166 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: September 11, 2015

If no, date it will be requested: Were payment arrangements made with the court reporter/court recorder? Yes No Indigent

Page 5 of 11 Court Reporter Court Recorder Official Substitute

First Name: Robin Middle Name: Last Name: Day Suffix: Address 1: 201 Caroline Address 2: 7th Floor City: Houston State: Texas Zip + 4: 77002 Telephone: (713) 368-6746 ext. Fax: Email: Robin.Kulhanek@prob.hctx.net

Court Reporter Court Recorder Official Substitute

First Name: Ramona Middle Name: Last Name: Gonzalez Suffix: Address 1: Address 2: City: State: Texas Zip + 4: Telephone: ext. Fax: Email: csramona@sbcglobal.net

Page 6 of 11 Court Reporter Court Recorder Official Substitute

First Name: Elizabeth Middle Name: Last Name: Cordova Suffix: Address 1: Address 2: City: State: Texas Zip + 4: Telephone: ext. Fax: Email: elizabethcordova@yahoo.com

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:Appellent believes that Appellee does not wish to mediate this case. Has the case been through an ADR procedure? Yes No If yes, who was the mediator? Helen B. Jenkins What type of ADR procedure? 1/2 Day Mediation At what stage did the case go through ADR? Pre-Trial Post-Trial Other

If other, please specify:

Type of case? Estate proceedings and Administration 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): Reversal of judgment in which the trial court disregarded the jury's findings that Appellee exerted undue influence and tortiously interfered with Appellant's inheritance and awarded Appellee fees.

How was the case disposed of? Trial Summary of relief granted, including amount of money judgment, and if any, damages awarded. Jury findings set aside in favor of Appellee and fees awarded If money judgment, what was the amount? Actual damages: Punitive (or similar) damages:

Page 7 of 11 Attorney's fees (trial): $198,296.33 Attorney's fees (appellate): $35,000.00 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: Wanda McKee Fowler

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: 01-14-00975-CV Trial Court: Probate Court 3

Style: James Fails

Vs. Bernice Yost Special Conservator for Georgia Cox

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: September 24, 2015

Printed Name: Wanda McKee Fowler State Bar No.: 13698700

Electronic Signature: /s/ Wanda McKee Fowler (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 September 24, 2015 .

Signature of counsel (or pro se party) Electronic Signature: /s/ Wanda McKee Fowler (Optional)

State Bar No.: 13698700 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: Manner Served: eServed

First Name: Michael

Middle Name: Scott Last Name: Thomas Suffix: Law Firm Name: Thomas & Williams, LLP Address 1: 2626 S. Loop West Address 2: Suite 561

City: Houston State Texas Zip+4: 77054 Telephone: 713-665-8558 ext. Fax: 713-665-8562

Email: mstlawyer@aol.com

If Attorney, Representing Party's Name: James Sampson Fails Please enter the following for each person served:

Page 10 of 11 Date Served: Manner Served: eServed

First Name: Roy

Middle Name: Last Name: Camberg Suffix: Law Firm Name: The Camberg Law Firm, P.C. Address 1: 17225 El Camino Real Address 2: Suite 444

City: Houston State Texas Zip+4: 77057 Telephone: ext. Fax: Email: roy@camberglawfirm.com

If Attorney, Representing Party's Name: Temporary Administrator

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