ACCEPTED 06-15-00017-CV SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS Appellate Docket Number: TEXARKANA, TEXAS 3/2/2015 9:08:30 PM DEBBIE AUTREY Appellate Case Style: Billy Fitts and Freida Fitts CLERK
Vs. Melissa Richards-Smith, The Law Firm of Gillam & Smith, LLP, E. Todd Tracy, and The Tracy Firm, Attorneys at Law Companion Case No.: FILED IN 6th COURT OF APPEALS TEXARKANA, TEXAS 3/3/2015 11:19:00 AM Amended/corrected statement: DOCKETING STATEMENT (Civil) DEBBIE AUTREY Clerk Appellate Court:6th 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: Lindsey First Name: BILLY Middle Name: M Middle Name: Last Name: Rames Last Name: FITTS Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Rames Law Firm, P.C.
Pro Se: Address 1: 5661 Mariner Drive Address 2: City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75237 Telephone: (214) 884-8860 ext. Fax: (888) 482-8894 Email: lindsey@rameslawfirm.com SBN: 24072295
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Lindsey First Name: FREIDA Middle Name: M Middle Name: Last Name: Rames Last Name: FITTS Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Rames Law Firm, P.C.
Pro Se: Address 1: 5661 Mariner Drive Address 2:
Page 1 of 11 City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75237 Telephone: (214) 884-8860 ext. Fax: (888) 482-8894 Email: lindsey@rameslawfirm.com SBN: 24072295
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Carter First Name: Additional counsel for all Appellants Middle Name: L Middle Name: Last Name: Hampton Last Name: Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name:
Pro Se: Address 1: 1000 Houston Street Address 2: Fourth Floor City: Fort Worth State: Texas Zip+4: 76102 Telephone: (817) 877-4202 ext. Fax: (817) 877-4204 Email: clhampton@hamptonlawonline.com SBN: 08872100
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Shawn First Name: MELISSA Middle Name: W Middle Name: Last Name: Phelan Last Name: RICHARDS-SMITH Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Thompson Coe Pro Se: Address 1: 700 North Pearl Address 2: Suite 2500 City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75201 Telephone: (214) 871-8200 ext. Fax: (214) 871-8209 Email: sphelan@thompsoncoe.com SBN: 00784758
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney Organization Name: The Law Firm of Gillam & Smith, L.L.P. First Name: Shawn First Name: Middle Name: W Page 2 of 11 Middle Name: Last Name: Phelan Last Name: Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Thompson Coe Pro Se: Address 1: 700 North Pearl Address 2: Suite 2500 City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75201 Telephone: (214) 871-8200 ext. Fax: (214) 871-8209 Email: sphelan@thompsoncoe.com SBN: 00784758
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Bruce First Name: E. Todd Middle Name: A Middle Name: Last Name: Campbell Last Name: Tracy Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Campbell & Chadwick, P.C. Pro Se: Address 1: 4201 Spring Valley Road Address 2: Suite 1250 City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75244 Telephone: (972) 277-8585 ext. Fax: (972) 277-8586 Email: bcampbell@cllegal.com SBN: 03694500
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney Organization Name: The Tracy Firm, Attorneys at Law First Name: Bruce First Name: Middle Name: A Middle Name: Last Name: Campbell Last Name: Suffix:
Page 3 of 11 Suffix: Law Firm Name: Campbell & Chadwick, P.C. Pro Se: Address 1: 4201 Spring Valley Road Address 2: Suite 1250 City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75244 Telephone: (972) 277-8585 ext. Fax: (972) 277-8586 Email: bcampbell@cllegal.com SBN: 03694500
Page 4 of 11 V. Perfection Of Appeal And Jurisdiction
Nature of Case (Subject matter or type of case): Professional Malpractice
Date order or judgment signed: December 3, 2014 Type of judgment: Summary Judgment Date notice of appeal filed in trial court: March 2, 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: December 31, 2014 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 5 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: 71ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT Clerk's Record: County: HARRISON COUNTY Trial Court Clerk: District County Trial Court Docket Number (Cause No.): 14-0150 Was clerk's record requested? Yes No If yes, date requested: March 2, 2015 Trial Judge (who tried or disposed of case): If no, date it will be requested: First Name: Brad Were payment arrangements made with clerk? Middle Name: Yes No Indigent Last Name: Morin (Note: No request required under TRAP 34.5(a),(b)) Suffix: Address 1: 200 West Houston Address 2 : Suite 219 City: Marshall State: Texas Zip + 4: 75670 Telephone: (903) 935-8407 ext. Fax: (903) 935-9963 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:
If no, date it will be requested: Were payment arrangements made with the court reporter/court recorder? Yes No Indigent
Page 6 of 11 Court Reporter Court Recorder Official Substitute
First Name: Middle Name: Last Name: Suffix: Address 1: Address 2: City: State: Texas Zip + 4: Telephone: ext. Fax: Email:
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.
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ACCEPTED 06-15-00017-CV SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS Appellate Docket Number: TEXARKANA, TEXAS 3/2/2015 9:08:30 PM DEBBIE AUTREY Appellate Case Style: Billy Fitts and Freida Fitts CLERK
Vs. Melissa Richards-Smith, The Law Firm of Gillam & Smith, LLP, E. Todd Tracy, and The Tracy Firm, Attorneys at Law Companion Case No.: FILED IN 6th COURT OF APPEALS TEXARKANA, TEXAS 3/3/2015 11:19:00 AM Amended/corrected statement: DOCKETING STATEMENT (Civil) DEBBIE AUTREY Clerk Appellate Court:6th 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: Lindsey First Name: BILLY Middle Name: M Middle Name: Last Name: Rames Last Name: FITTS Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Rames Law Firm, P.C.
Pro Se: Address 1: 5661 Mariner Drive Address 2: City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75237 Telephone: (214) 884-8860 ext. Fax: (888) 482-8894 Email: lindsey@rameslawfirm.com SBN: 24072295
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Lindsey First Name: FREIDA Middle Name: M Middle Name: Last Name: Rames Last Name: FITTS Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Rames Law Firm, P.C.
Pro Se: Address 1: 5661 Mariner Drive Address 2:
Page 1 of 11 City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75237 Telephone: (214) 884-8860 ext. Fax: (888) 482-8894 Email: lindsey@rameslawfirm.com SBN: 24072295
I. Appellant II. Appellant Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Carter First Name: Additional counsel for all Appellants Middle Name: L Middle Name: Last Name: Hampton Last Name: Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name:
Pro Se: Address 1: 1000 Houston Street Address 2: Fourth Floor City: Fort Worth State: Texas Zip+4: 76102 Telephone: (817) 877-4202 ext. Fax: (817) 877-4204 Email: clhampton@hamptonlawonline.com SBN: 08872100
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Shawn First Name: MELISSA Middle Name: W Middle Name: Last Name: Phelan Last Name: RICHARDS-SMITH Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Thompson Coe Pro Se: Address 1: 700 North Pearl Address 2: Suite 2500 City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75201 Telephone: (214) 871-8200 ext. Fax: (214) 871-8209 Email: sphelan@thompsoncoe.com SBN: 00784758
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney Organization Name: The Law Firm of Gillam & Smith, L.L.P. First Name: Shawn First Name: Middle Name: W Page 2 of 11 Middle Name: Last Name: Phelan Last Name: Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Thompson Coe Pro Se: Address 1: 700 North Pearl Address 2: Suite 2500 City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75201 Telephone: (214) 871-8200 ext. Fax: (214) 871-8209 Email: sphelan@thompsoncoe.com SBN: 00784758
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney First Name: Bruce First Name: E. Todd Middle Name: A Middle Name: Last Name: Campbell Last Name: Tracy Suffix: Suffix: Law Firm Name: Campbell & Chadwick, P.C. Pro Se: Address 1: 4201 Spring Valley Road Address 2: Suite 1250 City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75244 Telephone: (972) 277-8585 ext. Fax: (972) 277-8586 Email: bcampbell@cllegal.com SBN: 03694500
III. Appellee IV. Appellee Attorney(s) Person Organization (choose one) Lead Attorney Organization Name: The Tracy Firm, Attorneys at Law First Name: Bruce First Name: Middle Name: A Middle Name: Last Name: Campbell Last Name: Suffix:
Page 3 of 11 Suffix: Law Firm Name: Campbell & Chadwick, P.C. Pro Se: Address 1: 4201 Spring Valley Road Address 2: Suite 1250 City: Dallas State: Texas Zip+4: 75244 Telephone: (972) 277-8585 ext. Fax: (972) 277-8586 Email: bcampbell@cllegal.com SBN: 03694500
Page 4 of 11 V. Perfection Of Appeal And Jurisdiction
Nature of Case (Subject matter or type of case): Professional Malpractice
Date order or judgment signed: December 3, 2014 Type of judgment: Summary Judgment Date notice of appeal filed in trial court: March 2, 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: December 31, 2014 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 5 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: 71ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT Clerk's Record: County: HARRISON COUNTY Trial Court Clerk: District County Trial Court Docket Number (Cause No.): 14-0150 Was clerk's record requested? Yes No If yes, date requested: March 2, 2015 Trial Judge (who tried or disposed of case): If no, date it will be requested: First Name: Brad Were payment arrangements made with clerk? Middle Name: Yes No Indigent Last Name: Morin (Note: No request required under TRAP 34.5(a),(b)) Suffix: Address 1: 200 West Houston Address 2 : Suite 219 City: Marshall State: Texas Zip + 4: 75670 Telephone: (903) 935-8407 ext. Fax: (903) 935-9963 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:
If no, date it will be requested: Were payment arrangements made with the court reporter/court recorder? Yes No Indigent
Page 6 of 11 Court Reporter Court Recorder Official Substitute
First Name: Middle Name: Last Name: Suffix: Address 1: Address 2: City: State: Texas Zip + 4: Telephone: ext. Fax: Email:
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:Mediation would be unsuccessful in light of the relief granted by the trial court and opposing legal arguments Has the case been through an ADR procedure? Yes No If yes, who was the mediator? What type of ADR procedure? At what stage did the case go through ADR? Pre-Trial Post-Trial Other
If other, please specify:
Type of case? Professional Malpractice 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): De novo review and reversal of summary judgments granted by trial court
How was the case disposed of? Summary Judgment Summary of relief granted, including amount of money judgment, and if any, damages awarded. None If money judgment, what was the amount? Actual damages: Punitive (or similar) damages:
Page 7 of 11 Attorney's fees (trial): Attorney's fees (appellate): 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:
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: Trial Court:
Style:
Vs.
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: March 2, 2015
Printed Name: Lindsey M. Rames State Bar No.: 24072295
Electronic Signature: /s/ Lindsey M. Rames (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 March 2, 2015 .
Signature of counsel (or pro se party) Electronic Signature: /s/ Lindsey M. Rames (Optional)
State Bar No.: 24072295 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: March 2, 2015 Manner Served: eServed
First Name: Shawn
Middle Name: W Last Name: Phelan Suffix: Law Firm Name: Thompson Coe Address 1: 700 North Pearl Street Address 2: Suite 2500
City: Dallas State Texas Zip+4: 75201 Telephone: (214) 871-8200 ext. Fax: (214) 871-8209
Email: sphelan@thompsoncoe.com
If Attorney, Representing Party's Name: Melissa Richards-Smith and The Law Firm of Please enter the following for each person served:
Page 10 of 11 Date Served: March 2, 2015 Manner Served: eServed
First Name: Bruce
Middle Name: A Last Name: Campbell Suffix: Law Firm Name: Campbell & Chadwick, P.C. Address 1: 4201 Spring Valley Road Address 2: Suite 1250
City: Dallas State Texas Zip+4: 75244 Telephone: (972) 277-8585 ext. Fax: (972) 277-8586
Email: bcampbell@cllegal.com
If Attorney, Representing Party's Name: E. Todd Tracy and The Tracy Firm, Attorneys
Page 11 of 11