in Re: Amy E. Davis

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 22, 2015
Docket05-15-00888-CV
StatusPublished

This text of in Re: Amy E. Davis (in Re: Amy E. Davis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
in Re: Amy E. Davis, (Tex. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

ACCEPTED 05-15-00888-CV 05-15-00888-CV FIFTH COURT OF APPEALS DALLAS, TEXAS 7/22/2015 9:57:39 AM LISA MATZ CLERK

No. ______________

____________________________________________________ FILED IN 5th COURT OF APPEALS DALLAS, TEXAS In the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District7/22/2015 9:57:39 AM Dallas, Texas LISA MATZ ____________________________________________________ Clerk

Ann Caldwell Rupe, as Trustee for the Dallas Gordon Rupe, III 1995 Family Trust v. Lee C. Ritchie, Paula Rupe Dennard and Rupe Investment Corporation ____________________________________________________

On Petition for Writ of Mandamus to the 44th District Court Dallas County, Texas Case No. DC-06-06944 ____________________________________________________

PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

____________________________________________________

Amy E. Davis (TSBN 24007083) CHRISTIANSEN DAVIS LLC 4100 Spring Valley Road, Suite 450 Dallas, TX 75244 (214) 838-3501 (Phone) (972) 332-2306 (Fax)

ATTORNEYS FOR RELATOR AMY E. DAVIS IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Relator Counsel

Amy E. Davis Amy E. Davis (TSBN 24007083) CHRISTIANSEN DAVIS LLC 4100 Spring Valley Road, Suite 450 Dallas, TX 75244 (214) 838-3501 (Phone) (972) 332-2306 (Fax)

Real Parties in Interest Counsel Ann Caldwell Rupe, as Trustee for Steven E. Aldous (TSBN 00982100) the Dallas Gordan Rupe, III 1995 FORSHEY PROSTOK, LL P. Family Trust 500 Crescent Court, Suite 240 Dallas, Texas 75201 (214) 716-2101 (817) 877-4151 (fax)

Charla G. Aldous (TSBN 04783250) ALDOUS LAW FIRM 2305 Cedar Springs, Suite 200 Dallas, Texas 75201 (214) 526-5595 (214) 526-5525 (fax)

Lee C. Ritchie, Paula Rupe Robert B. Gilbreath (TBSN 07904620) Dennard, Dennis Lutes and Rupe HAWKINS, PARNELL & THACKSTON, Investment Corporation LLP Highland Park Place 4514 Cole Avenue, Suite 500 Dallas, Texas 75205 (214) 780-5100 (214) 780-5200 (fax)

ii Respondent The Hon. Bonnie Lee Goldstein 44th District Court 600 Commerce Street, 5th Floor Dallas County, TX 75202

iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ............................................................ ii

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES...................................................................................... v

STATEMENT OF THE CASE .................................................................................. 1 STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION .......................................................................... 2

ISSUES PRESENTED ............................................................................................... 3

STATEMENT OF FACTS ......................................................................................... 3 ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................. 5 PRAYER .................................................................................................................... 5

VERIFICATION OF FACTS AND APPENDIX AND RECORD ........................... 7 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE................................................................................... 8

APPENDIX OF RECORD ......................................................................................... 9

iv TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

Cases Hunt v. Bass, 664 S.W.2d 323 (Tex. 1984) ...............................................................2 Kenseth v. Dallas County, 126 S.W.3d 584 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, pet. denied) 2 Mitchell v. Dixon, 168 S.W.2d 654 (Tex. 1994)........................................................2 Terrazas v. Ramirez, 829 S.W.2d 712, 723 (Tex. 1991) ........................................2,3

v STATEMENT OF THE CASE Nature of Underlying Proceeding:

Acting as Trustee for the Dallas Gordan Rupe, III 1995 Family Trust, Ann

Caldwell Rupe (“Plaintiff”) brought the underlying action against Lee C. Ritchie,

Paula Rupe Dennard, Dennis Lutes and Rupe Investment Corporation (collectively,

“Defendants”) in July 2006. In 2008 the trial court, Judge Carlos Cortez presiding,

entered judgment on a jury verdict. The judgment has been appealed to this Court

and the Texas Supreme Court. On remand from the Texas Supreme Court, the

case is now pending before this Court.

Prior to entry of judgment, the trial court entered an order granting sanctions

(the “Sanctions Order”) against Relator, who at the time represented Defendants.

(R. Tab. 1). On May 12, 2012, after appeal of the judgment, Plaintiff and

Defendants jointly moved the trial court to vacate the Sanctions Order (the “Joint

Motion to Vacate”) with prejudice. (R. Tab 2.)

The trial court has been unable to rule on the Joint Motion to Vacate due to a

lack of plenary power. It may never have such an opportunity as this Court may

render judgment in the underlying case rather than remand it to the trial court for

further action. In the absence of plenary power, judicial action taken by a trial

court is void. Relator, therefore, respectfully requests this Court mandate the trial

court to rule on the Joint Motion to Vacate, lest her and the parties’ desire that the

Order be vacated go without consideration.

1 Respondent:

The Honorable Bonnie Lee Goldstein, 44th District Court, Dallas, Texas.

Action from Which Relator Seeks Relief:

Relator and the parties have requested that the trial court consider and rule

upon the Joint Motion to Vacate; however, that action has been rendered

impossible by the trial court’s lack of plenary power. Therefore, Relator requests

the Court issue a mandate compelling the trial court to act on the Joint Motion to

Vacate.

STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION This Court has jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus at the request of

Relator because Relator has an interest in the trial court’s consideration of the Joint

Motion to Vacate. See Terrazas v. Ramirez, 829 S.W.2d 712, 723 (Tex. 1991)

(mandamus is available to relator with a justiciable interest in the underlying

controversy); Hunt v. Bass, 664 S.W.2d 323, 324 (Tex. 1984) (same); Mitchell v.

Dixon, 168 S.W.2d 654, 656 (Tex. 1994) (same).

Mandamus is not available to compel an action which has not been

demanded and refused unless the relator has had no reasonable opportunity to

make such a demand. See Terrazas, 829 S.W.2d at 723. This Court has

jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus against the Respondent because Relator

(like the parties and Respondent) has had no reasonable opportunity to demand that

2 Respondent consider and rule upon the Joint Motion to Vacate given the trial

court’s lack of plenary power. See id. at 723-24.

ISSUES PRESENTED 1. Whether Relator has a justiciable interest in the trial court’s

consideration of the Joint Motion to Vacate.

2. Whether Relator has had no reasonable opportunity to demand that

Respondent consider and rule upon the Joint Motion to Vacate given the trial

court’s lack of plenary power.

STATEMENT OF FACTS Acting as Trustee for the Dallas Gordan Rupe, III 1995 Family Trust, Ann

Caldwell Rupe (“Plaintiff”) brought this minority shareholder action against Lee C.

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