in Re Manhattan Vaughn, JVP

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided May 19, 2015·No. 01-15-00349-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED 01-15-00349-CV FIRST COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS 5/19/2015 3:52:15 PM CHRISTOPHER PRINE CLERK

NO. 01-15-00349-CV FILED IN 1st COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE 5/19/2015 3:52:15 PM 1•1 JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF HOUSTON CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk

IN RE MANHATTAN I VAUGHN, JVP

On Appeal From the 801hJudicial District Court of Harris County, Texas Cause No. 2013-76550

RESPONSE TO MANHATTAN I VAUGHN, JVP'S PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

Respectfully Submitted,

THE GIBSON LAW f"IRM

Jason A. Gibson State Bar No. 24000606 Casey L. Jordan State Bar No. 24090599 The Lyric Centre 440 Louisiana, Suite 2400 Houston, Texas 77002 E-mail: efile@jag-lawfirm.com Ph: (713) 650-1010 Fax: (713) 650-1011

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFFS IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Pursuant to Rule 52.3(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure,

Appellants give the following identity of parties and counsel of record.

HONORABLE LARRY WEIMAN, 801 H Judicial District Court of Harris County, Respondent

JOSEFINA GARCIA, Individually and as Heir to the Estate of ANGEL GARCIA and ORBELINDA HERRERA, as Next Friend of ASHLEY GARCIA and BRYAN GARCIA, Minors, Plaintiffs and Real Parties in Interest

Represented by: Jason A. Gibson Casey L. Jordan THE GIBSON LAW F'IRM The Lyric Centre 440 Louisiana, Suite 2400 Houston, Texas 77002 Ph: (713) 650-1010 Fax: (713) 650-1011

MANHATTAN I VAUGHN, JVP, DefendantandRelator

Represented by: Mike Miller JJ. Knauff Clark C. Butler The Miller Law Firm 3811 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 1950 Dallas, Texas 775219 Ph: (469) 916-2552 Fax: (469) 916-2555 TEXAS CUTTING & CORING LP, TEXAS CUTTING & CORING GP, INC., LINDAMOOD DEMOLITION, INC., Defendants

Represented by: Mike Miller JJ. Knauff Clark C. Butler The Miller Law Firm 3811 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 1950 Dallas, Texas 775219 Ph: (469) 916-2552 Fax: (469) 916-2555

ii TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ........................ .

TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................... iii

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES .................................... v

STATEMENT OF THE CASE .................................. 2

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

Was Relator's due process violated after the court 1) considered argument at four separate hearings on Relator's privilege claim; 2) admitted two affidavits Relater offered as evidence in support of its claim; 3) allowed Relater to file a privilege log seven months after the deadline to do so and 4) reviewed the documents at issue in camera for two months before ruling? ................. 3

Did Relater waive its right to assert privilege when it concealed requested documents for seven months and failed to make a withholding statement? .................................. 3

Are Gary Lambert's investigation report and related documents, generated in the ordinary course of business and as required by Relator's own operating policies and procedures, attorney work- product or attorney-client communications? ................... 3

FACTUAL BACKGROUND .................................... 4

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND ................................ 5

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT & EVENTS ........................ 10

ARGUMENT .............................................. 12

The Court Did Not Violate Relator's Right to Due Process ...... 13 Relater Waived Right to Assert Any Privilege ................ 15 The Documents Are Not Work Product ..................... 20 When Relator's Counsel "Arrived" On-Site Is Irrelevant ......... 24 The Documents Do Not Contain Attorney-Client Communications ...................................... 26

iii CONCLUSION ............................................ 28

REQUEST FOR RELIEF ..................................... 29

CERTIFICATION OF FACTS ................................. 30

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ................................. 31

INDEX TO APPENDIX ...................................... 32

VERIFICATION ............................................ 33

iv INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

CASES

In re Anderson, 163 S.W.3d 136 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 2005, no pet.) ....... 15,18,19

In re Avantel, S.A., 343 F.3d 311 (5th Cir. 2003) ............................... 26, 27

In re E. I. Dupont de Nemours & Co., 136 S.W.3d 218 (Tex. 2004) ............................... 13, 14

In re Maher, 143 S.W.3d 907 (Tex. App. Fort Worth 2004, no pet.) ....... 18, 20, 27

In re Monsanto Co., 998 S.W.2 d 917, 924 (Tex.App.-Waco 1999, orig. proceeding) ...... 13

Nat'/ Tank Co. v. Brotherton, 851 S.W.2d 193 (Tex. 1993) .............................. 18,20

STATUTES

TEX. R. C1v. P. 193.3(a) ................................... 15, 19

TEX. R. C1v. P. 193.4(a) ..................................... 13

TEX. R. C1v. P. 199.6 ........................................ 13

TEX. R. EVID. 503 ........................................ 26, 27

v NO. 01-15-00349-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE 1st JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF HOUSTON

IN RE MANHATTAN I VAUGHN, JVP

On Appeal From the 1 80 Judicial District Court h

of Harris County, Texas Cause No. 2013-76550

RESPONSE TO MANHATTAN I VAUGHN, JVP'S PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

TO THE HONORABLE FIRST COURT OF APPEALS:

JOSEFINA GARCIA, Individually and as Heir to the Estate of ANGEL

GARCIA; and ORBELINDA HERRERA, as Next Friend of ASHLEY GARCIA

and BRYAN GARCIA, Minors ("Real Parties In Interest" or "Plaintiffs"), file this

Response to Relater, MANHATTAN I VAUGHN, JVP's Petition for Writ of

Mandamus, and would respectfully show the following: I. STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Nature of the Case: This is a wrongful death case. Relator's negligence caused the caterpillar skid steer Angel Garcia was operating to flip over the side of the fifth floor ramp of Kyle Field Stadium at Texas A&M University. During the fall Angel Garcia suffered traumatic life-ending injuries.

Trial Judge & Court: The Honorable Judge Larry Weiman, 801h Judicial District, Harris County, Texas

Trial Court's Disposition: Granted Plaintiffs' Motion to Compel Manhattan IVaughn, JVP's Responses to Plaintiffs' Requests for Production and Ordered production of documents wrongfully withheld by Relator.

2 11. ISSUES PRESENTED

A. Was Relator's due process violated after the court 1) considered argument at four separate hearings on Relator's privilege claim; 2) admitted two affidavits Relater offered as evidence in support of its claim; 3) allowed Relater to file a privilege log seven months after the deadline to do so and 4) reviewed the documents at issue in camera for two months before ruling?

B. Did Relater waive its right to assert privilege when it concealed requested documents for seven months and failed to make a withholding statement?

C. Are Relator's investigation report and related documents, generated in the ordinary course of business and as required by Relator's own operating policies and procedures, attorney work-product or attorney-client communications?

3 111. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

1. On December 3, 2013, 28 year-old Angel Garcia sustained fatal injuries

from a four-story fall while working on the Kyle Field renovation project in

College Station, Texas. Appendix 1, Pl.s' Sec. Am.

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