in Re Vicki Johns, Individually and as an Heir of Brian Edward Johns

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided October 29, 2015·No. 01-15-00919-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED 01-15-00919-CV FIRST COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS 10/29/2015 8:39:34 AM CHRISTOPHER PRINE CLERK 01-15-00919-CV NO. ________________

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN 1st COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ______DISTRICT OF TEXAS HOUSTON, TEXAS HOUSTON, TEXAS 10/29/2015 8:39:34 AM CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk In Re:

VICKI JOHNS, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS AN HEIR OF BRIAN EDWARD JOHNS, DECEASED

On Petition for Writ of Mandamus to the Probate Court Number One (1) of Harris County, Texas, in Cause No. 415980-401

PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

GEORGE K. FARAH State Bar No. 24040882 SARAH C. DIONNE State Bar No. 24072229 GUERRA & FARAH, PLLC 4101 Washington Ave., 3rd Floor Houston, Texas 77007 T: (713) 529-6606 F: (713) 529-6605 Email: gkf@gflawoffices.com Email: scd@gflawoffices.com

ATTORNEYS FOR RELATOR

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Relator: Vicki Johns (Intervenor in the trial court) GEORGE K. FARAH State Bar No. 24040882 SARAH C. DIONNE State Bar No. 24072229 GUERRA & FARAH, PLLC 4101 Washington Ave., 3rd Floor Houston, Texas 77007 T: (713) 529-6606 F: (713) 529-6605 Email: gkf@gflawoffices.com Email: scd@gflawoffices.com

Respondent: Honorable Loyd Wright Presiding Judge of Probate Court Number One (1) Harris County Civil Courthouse 201 Caroline, 6th Floor Houston, Texas 77002

Real Parties in Interest: Francis Sowell and Corey Johns (Plaintiffs in trial court) Rusty Hardin Bob Wynne RUSTY HARDIN & ASSOCIATES, LLP 5 Houston Center 1401 McKinney, Suite 2250 Houston, TX 77010

Robert S. MacIntyre, Jr. MacIntyre McCulloch Stanfield Young 2900 Weslayan, Suite 150 Houston, Texas 77027

ii

Party: James Johns, Sr. (Intervenor in trial court) Darrell A. Apffel S. Benjamin Shabot BETTISON DOYLE APFFEL & GUARINO, P.C. 1100 Gulf Freeway, Suite 100 League City, Texas 77573

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ………….......................................... ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS …………....................................................................... iv

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES....................................................................................vi

STATEMENT OF CASE .......................................................................................viii

STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION.......................................................................ix

ISSUE PRESENTED.............................................................................................ix

Whether Respondent’s Order Denying Intervenor, Vicki Johns’, Motion to Compel Discovery Responses pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 215.1 (b) was an abuse of discretion by ignoring the Plaintiffs’ failure to timely and adequately respond to Intervenor’s Interrogatories and Intervenor’s Request for Production.

RELATORS’ RECORD ...........................................................................................x

STATEMENT OF FACTS........................................................................................1

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

STANDARD OF REVIEW………………………………………………………...4

ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................4

A. Plaintiffs have waived their objections to Relator’s discovery requests when Plaintiffs failed to timely assert their objections. Therefore, the court should compel production...........................4

B. Relator has no adequate remedy on appeal as the case would proceed to trial without allowing Relator a sufficient opportunity for discovery of evidence which goes to the heart of her claim……………………..…………….........................................9

iv

CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………...17

PRAYER.............................................................................................................…18

CERTIFICATION………………………………………………………………...19

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE................................................................................20

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ......................................................................21

APPENDIX……………………………………………………………………….22

v

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

CASES

Alvarado v. Farah Mfg., 830 S.W.2d 911, 914 (Tex. 1992)………………….……6

Clark v. Trailways, Inc., 774 S.W.2d 647 (Tex. 1989)……………………..……...7

Hobson v. Moore, 734 S.W.2d 341 (Tex.1987)……………………………..….…6

Independent Insulating Glass Southwest, Inc. v. Street, 722 S.W.2d 798, 802 (Tex. App. - Fort Worth 1987, writ dism'd)………………………………………………8

In re Cerberus Capital Mgmt., L.P., 164 S.W.3d 379, 382 (Tex. 2005)………..….4

In re Dana Corp., 138 S.W.3d 298, 301 (Tex.2004)………………...…………..viii

In re Prudential Ins., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135-36 (Tex.2004)………...…….…...viii, 4

In re Texas Farmers Insurance Exchange, 990 S.W.2d 337 (Tex. App. Texarkana 1999, original proceeding)………………………………………………………...8

Jampole v. Touchy, 673 S.W.2d 569 (Tex.1984)…………………………………14

Nat'l Hockey League v. Metro. Hockey Club, Inc., 427 U.S. 639 (1976)…..….…..7

Remington Arms Co. v. Canales, 837 S.W.2d 624, 625 (Tex.1992)……….……5, 6

Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 843(Tex. 1992)……………………….....10, 17

STATUTES AND REGULATIONS

34 CFR 99.31(a)(9)(ii)(A)-(B)…………………………………………...…….…..7

Tex. Govt. Code Sec. 22.221(a) and (b)(1)…………………………………....…viii

vi

Tex. R. Civ. P. 193.2(e)………………………………………………………....1, 6,

Tex. R.Civ.P. 193.4 (a)………………………………………………………..……8

Tex. R. Civ. P. 196.2…….……………………………………………….......….1, 5

Tex. R. Civ. P. 197.2…………………………………………………...…....…..1, 5

Tex. R. Civ. P. 215.1 (b)…………………………………………...……....….viii, 3

vii

STATEMENT OF CASE

Nature of the case: Wrongful Death action brought by Plaintiff Frances Sowell, Individually and as Heir of Brian Edward Johns, deceased, and as Administrator of Brian Edward Johns, deceased; Corey Johns, Individually and as Heir of Brian Edward Johns, deceased; Intervened by James Johns, Sr., and Vicki Johns, Individually and as Heir of Brian Edward Johns, deceased, against The Dow Chemical Company, Rohm and Haas Company, Rohm and Hass Texas, Inc., Tim Fox and Julio Rodriguez for the wrongful death. The Plaintiffs, Intervenor, James Johns and Intervenor, Vicki Johns have all entered into a global settlement with all Defendants. The only remaining issues are how to divide the settlement proceeds between Plaintiffs, Intervenor, James Johns and Intervenor, Vicki Johns. In addition, Plaintiffs are challenging Intervenor, Vicki Johns’ common law marriage to the deceased, Brian Johns.

Trial Court: The Honorable Loyd Wright, Judge Presiding, the Probate Court Number One (1) of Harris County, Texas.

Disposition: Intervenor, Vicki Johns, filed a Motion to Compel discovery responses against Plaintiffs based on Plaintiffs failure to provide adequate responses to Intervenor’s Interrogatories and Requests for Production. The trial court denied the motion, in part.

viii

STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION

This Court has jurisdiction over this mandamus action by virtue of Tex. Govt.

Code Sec. 22.221(a) and (b)(1) which allows a party to apply for a Writ of

Mandamus against a judge of a district or county court in the court of appeals

district, when the trial court abuses its discretion. Relators must show the trial court

abused its discretion and that Relators are without an adequate appellate remedy. In

re Prudential Ins., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135 (Tex.2004); In re Dana Corp., 138 S.W.3d

298, 301 (Tex.2004).

ISSUE PRESENTED

Whether Respondent’s Order Denying Intervenor, Vicki Johns’, Motion to

Compel Discovery Responses pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 215.1 (b) was an abuse of

discretion when Plaintiff’s failed to timely object and respond to Intervenor’s

Interrogatories and Intervenor’s Request for Production.

ix

RELATOR’S RECORD

Relator’s Tab 1 -- Intervenor, Vicki Johns’, Deposition

Relator’s Tab 2 -- Intervenor’s Motion to Compel and CPS’s Motion to Quash Subpoena Hearing Transcript

Relator’s Tab 3 -- Plaintiff, Corey Johns’, Deposition

Relator’s Tab 4 -- Intervenor’s January 28, 2015 Discovery Requests

Relator’s Tab 5 -- Plaintiffs’ responses to Request for Production

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in Re Vicki Johns, Individually and as an Heir of Brian Edward Johns, (Tex. Ct. App. 2015).

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Related

In Re Dana Corp.
138 S.W.3d 298 (Texas Supreme Court, 2004)
In Re Prudential Insurance Co. of America
148 S.W.3d 124 (Texas Supreme Court, 2004)
In Re Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.
164 S.W.3d 379 (Texas Supreme Court, 2005)
Alvarado v. Farah Manufacturing Co.
830 S.W.2d 911 (Texas Supreme Court, 1992)
Remington Arms Co., Inc. v. Canales
837 S.W.2d 624 (Texas Supreme Court, 1992)
Independent Insulating Glass/Southwest, Inc. v. Street
722 S.W.2d 798 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1987)
In Re Texas Farmers Insurance Exchange
990 S.W.2d 337 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1999)
Walker v. Packer
827 S.W.2d 833 (Texas Supreme Court, 1992)
Leos v. State Employees Workers' Compensation Division
734 S.W.2d 341 (Texas Supreme Court, 1987)
Jampole v. Touchy
673 S.W.2d 569 (Texas Supreme Court, 1984)
Houston Finance Corp. v. Stewart
7 S.W.2d 644 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1928)
Pitcher v. Livingston
4 Johns. 1 (New York Supreme Court, 1809)
Yates v. Foot
12 Johns. 1 (Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors, 1814)
Parkhurst v. Van Cortland
14 Johns. 15 (Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors, 1816)