John Moore Services, Inc. and John Moore Renovation, LLC v. the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston Inc.
Opinion
ACCEPTED 01-14-00906-CV FIRST COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS 5/20/2015 9:24:36 PM CHRISTOPHER PRINE CLERK
No. 01-14-00906-CV
FILED IN In The 1st COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS First Court of Appeals 5/20/2015 9:24:36 PM Houston, Texas CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk
JOHN MOORE SERVICES, INC. AND JOHN MOORE RENOVATION, LLC,
Appellants, v.
THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF METROPOLITAN HOUSTON, INC., Appellee.
BRIEF OF APPELLEE
Lauren B. Harris Texas Bar No. 02009470 Lharris@porterhedges.com Jeffrey R. Elkin Texas Bar No. 06522180 Susan K. Hellinger Texas Bar No. 00787855 M. Harris Stamey PORTER HEDGES LLP 1000 Main Street, 36th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 226-6624 Facsimile: (713) 226-6224 Attorneys for Appellee The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan, Houston, Inc.
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 38.2(a)(1)(A), the following
is a list of all parties and the names and addresses of all counsel:
I. APPELLANTS: John Moore Services, Inc. and John Moore Renovation, LLC
II. COUNSEL FOR APPELLANTS:
Douglas Pritchett JOHNSON, TRENT, WEST & TAYLOR LLP 919 Milam, Suite 1700 Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 222-2323 Facsimile: (713) 222-2226
Lori Hood BAKER, DONELSON, BEARMAN, CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ, P.C. 1301 McKinney St., Suite 3700 Houston, Texas 77010 Telephone: (713) 650-9700 Facsimile: (713) 650-9701
III. APPELLEE:
The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc.
IV. COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
Lauren B. Harris Jeffrey R. Elkin Susan K. Hellinger M. Harris Stamey PORTER HEDGES LLP 1000 Main Street, 36th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 226-6624 Facsimile: (713) 226-6224
ii TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
Identity of Parties and Counsel ................................................................................. ii
Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... iii
Table of Authorities ................................................................................................. vi
Statement of the Case.................................................................................................x
Issues Presented ....................................................................................................... xi
Introduction ................................................................................................................1
Statement of Facts ......................................................................................................2
A. The Bureau Successfully Defends John Moore’s Anti-SLAPP Lawsuit.............................................................................2
B. John Moore Fails In Its Attempt To Amend Its Pleadings After This Court’s Decision That Dismissal Was Warranted...............4
C. A Jury Awards The Bureau Its Attorneys’ Fees Pursuant to the TCPA ...............................................................................................6
D. John Moore Fails In Its Post-Trial Attempt To Consolidate This Case With Its Second Pending Lawsuit Against the Bureau ........7
Summary of Argument...............................................................................................8
Standard of Review ....................................................................................................9
Argument..................................................................................................................10
I. The Jury’s Award of Attorneys’ Fees To The Bureau Is Supported By Legally Sufficient Evidence...........................................................................10
A. The Jury’s Award Is Within The Range of The Evidence Presented..............................................................................................11
B. The Bureau’s Documentary Evidence Supports The Jury’s Verdict .................................................................................................18
iii 1. The Redaction of Privileged Information From Client Invoices To Protect Confidentiality Is Entirely Appropriate....19
a. John Moore’s Failure To Object To Any Redaction of Information Waived That Claim ................................19
b. Texas Law Recognizes That Redacted Fee Statements Can Support A Fee Award ...........................20
2. The “Block Billing” In The Bureau’s Invoices Does Not Preclude Any Recovery of Attorneys’ Fees..............................23
C. The Bureau’s Expert’s Testimony Is Legally Sufficient Evidence to Support the Fee Award....................................................................27
D. Alternatively, The Case Should Be Remanded To Allow The Court To Determine The Appropriate Fee Award ..............................29
II. The Trial Court Properly Denied John Moore’s Untimely Attempts To Amend Its Pleadings and To Consolidate This Case With Its Second Lawsuit..............................................................................................31
A. The Trial Court Properly Denied John Moore’s Untimely Request For A Pleading Amendment..................................................31
B. The Trial Court Acted Within Its Sound Discretion In Declining To Consolidate This Case With The New Lawsuit............36
1. John Moore Waived Its Challenge To The Alleged Failure To Consolidate This Case With Its Second Lawsuit ......................................................................................36
2. John Moore’s Post-Verdict Consolidation Request Was Untimely and An Attempt to Avoid The Earlier Denial of Pleading Amendments ..........................................................38
Conclusion and Prayer .............................................................................................40
Certificate of Service................................................................................................42
Certificate of Compliance ........................................................................................43
iv Appendix:
Tab A: TEX. CIV. PRAC & REM. CODE ANN. §51.014
Tab B: Act of May 24, 2013, 83d Leg., R.S., H.B. 2935, § 6
Tab C: Timeline of Procedural Events
v TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Page(s) CASES Allison v. Ark. La. Gas Co., 624 S.W.2d 566 (Tex. 1981) .........................................................................10
Arthur Andersen & Co. v. Perry Equip. Corp., 945 S.W.2d 812 (Tex. 1997) .................................................................. 14, 15
Better Bus. Bureau of Metro. Houston, Inc. v. John Moore Servs., Inc., 441 S.W.3d 345 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet. denied)........................................................................................... x, 1, 3, 4, 33
Breitling Oil & Gas Corp. v. Petroleum Newspapers of Ak., LLC, No. 05-14-00299-CV, 2015 WL 1519667 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 1, 2015, no pet. h.) .................................................................................30
Burroughs Wellcome Co. v. Crye, 907 S.W.2d 497 (Tex. 1995) .........................................................................26
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ACCEPTED 01-14-00906-CV FIRST COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS 5/20/2015 9:24:36 PM CHRISTOPHER PRINE CLERK
No. 01-14-00906-CV
FILED IN In The 1st COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS First Court of Appeals 5/20/2015 9:24:36 PM Houston, Texas CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk
JOHN MOORE SERVICES, INC. AND JOHN MOORE RENOVATION, LLC,
Appellants, v.
THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF METROPOLITAN HOUSTON, INC., Appellee.
BRIEF OF APPELLEE
Lauren B. Harris Texas Bar No. 02009470 Lharris@porterhedges.com Jeffrey R. Elkin Texas Bar No. 06522180 Susan K. Hellinger Texas Bar No. 00787855 M. Harris Stamey PORTER HEDGES LLP 1000 Main Street, 36th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 226-6624 Facsimile: (713) 226-6224 Attorneys for Appellee The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan, Houston, Inc.
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 38.2(a)(1)(A), the following
is a list of all parties and the names and addresses of all counsel:
I. APPELLANTS: John Moore Services, Inc. and John Moore Renovation, LLC
II. COUNSEL FOR APPELLANTS:
Douglas Pritchett JOHNSON, TRENT, WEST & TAYLOR LLP 919 Milam, Suite 1700 Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 222-2323 Facsimile: (713) 222-2226
Lori Hood BAKER, DONELSON, BEARMAN, CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ, P.C. 1301 McKinney St., Suite 3700 Houston, Texas 77010 Telephone: (713) 650-9700 Facsimile: (713) 650-9701
III. APPELLEE:
The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc.
IV. COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
Lauren B. Harris Jeffrey R. Elkin Susan K. Hellinger M. Harris Stamey PORTER HEDGES LLP 1000 Main Street, 36th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 226-6624 Facsimile: (713) 226-6224
ii TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
Identity of Parties and Counsel ................................................................................. ii
Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... iii
Table of Authorities ................................................................................................. vi
Statement of the Case.................................................................................................x
Issues Presented ....................................................................................................... xi
Introduction ................................................................................................................1
Statement of Facts ......................................................................................................2
A. The Bureau Successfully Defends John Moore’s Anti-SLAPP Lawsuit.............................................................................2
B. John Moore Fails In Its Attempt To Amend Its Pleadings After This Court’s Decision That Dismissal Was Warranted...............4
C. A Jury Awards The Bureau Its Attorneys’ Fees Pursuant to the TCPA ...............................................................................................6
D. John Moore Fails In Its Post-Trial Attempt To Consolidate This Case With Its Second Pending Lawsuit Against the Bureau ........7
Summary of Argument...............................................................................................8
Standard of Review ....................................................................................................9
Argument..................................................................................................................10
I. The Jury’s Award of Attorneys’ Fees To The Bureau Is Supported By Legally Sufficient Evidence...........................................................................10
A. The Jury’s Award Is Within The Range of The Evidence Presented..............................................................................................11
B. The Bureau’s Documentary Evidence Supports The Jury’s Verdict .................................................................................................18
iii 1. The Redaction of Privileged Information From Client Invoices To Protect Confidentiality Is Entirely Appropriate....19
a. John Moore’s Failure To Object To Any Redaction of Information Waived That Claim ................................19
b. Texas Law Recognizes That Redacted Fee Statements Can Support A Fee Award ...........................20
2. The “Block Billing” In The Bureau’s Invoices Does Not Preclude Any Recovery of Attorneys’ Fees..............................23
C. The Bureau’s Expert’s Testimony Is Legally Sufficient Evidence to Support the Fee Award....................................................................27
D. Alternatively, The Case Should Be Remanded To Allow The Court To Determine The Appropriate Fee Award ..............................29
II. The Trial Court Properly Denied John Moore’s Untimely Attempts To Amend Its Pleadings and To Consolidate This Case With Its Second Lawsuit..............................................................................................31
A. The Trial Court Properly Denied John Moore’s Untimely Request For A Pleading Amendment..................................................31
B. The Trial Court Acted Within Its Sound Discretion In Declining To Consolidate This Case With The New Lawsuit............36
1. John Moore Waived Its Challenge To The Alleged Failure To Consolidate This Case With Its Second Lawsuit ......................................................................................36
2. John Moore’s Post-Verdict Consolidation Request Was Untimely and An Attempt to Avoid The Earlier Denial of Pleading Amendments ..........................................................38
Conclusion and Prayer .............................................................................................40
Certificate of Service................................................................................................42
Certificate of Compliance ........................................................................................43
iv Appendix:
Tab A: TEX. CIV. PRAC & REM. CODE ANN. §51.014
Tab B: Act of May 24, 2013, 83d Leg., R.S., H.B. 2935, § 6
Tab C: Timeline of Procedural Events
v TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Page(s) CASES Allison v. Ark. La. Gas Co., 624 S.W.2d 566 (Tex. 1981) .........................................................................10
Arthur Andersen & Co. v. Perry Equip. Corp., 945 S.W.2d 812 (Tex. 1997) .................................................................. 14, 15
Better Bus. Bureau of Metro. Houston, Inc. v. John Moore Servs., Inc., 441 S.W.3d 345 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet. denied)........................................................................................... x, 1, 3, 4, 33
Breitling Oil & Gas Corp. v. Petroleum Newspapers of Ak., LLC, No. 05-14-00299-CV, 2015 WL 1519667 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 1, 2015, no pet. h.) .................................................................................30
Burroughs Wellcome Co. v. Crye, 907 S.W.2d 497 (Tex. 1995) .........................................................................26
Cherry v. McCall, 138 S.W.3d 35 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, pet. denied)................ 27, 28
Chevron Chem. Co. v. Southland Contracting, Inc., No. 05-96-00560-CV, 1998 WL 640987 (Tex. App.— Dallas 1998, pet. denied) (not designated for publication) ...........................11
Circle Y of Yoakum v. Blevins, 826 S.W.2d 753 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1992, writ denied) .......................17
City of Austin v. Whittington, 384 S.W.3d 766 (Tex. 2012) .........................................................................34
City of Laredo v. Montano, 414 S.W.3d 731 (Tex. 2013) .................................................................. 25, 28
City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802 (Tex. 2005) .........................................................................10
Clark v. Trailways, Inc., 774 S.W.2d 644 (Tex. 1989) .........................................................................20
vi Table of Authorities (continued) Douglas v. Am. Title Co., 196 S.W.3d 876 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.)...................2
El Apple I, Ltd. v. Olivas, 370 S.W.3d 757 (Tex. 2012) ............................................................ 23, 24, 25
Estate of Johnson, No. 11-00467-CV, 2012 WL 1940656 (Tex. App.—San Antonio May 30, 2012, no pet.)...................................................................................22
Garcia v. Gomez, 319 S.W.3d 638 (Tex. 2010) .........................................................................28
Gaughan v. Nat’l Cutting Horse Ass’n, 351 S.W.3d 408 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011, pet. denied).......................22
Gulf States Utils. Co. v. Low, 79 S.W.3d 561 (Tex. 2002) ...........................................................................11
Hardin v. Hardin, 597 S.W.2d 347 (Tex. 1980) .........................................................................10
Helena Chem. Co. v. Wilkins, 47 S.W.3d 486 (Tex. 2001) ...........................................................................11
Hines v. Parks, 128 Tex. 289 S.W.2d 970 (1936) ............................................................................. 19
Hunter v. Andrews, 570 S.W.2d 590 (Tex. Civ. App.—Waco 1978, no writ)..............................39
In re Ethyl Corp., 975 S.W.2d 606 (Tex. 1998) .........................................................................39
James v. Calkins, 446 S.W.3d 135 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, pet. filed) ...... 33, 35
Jarvis v. Rocanville Corp., 298 S.W.3d 305 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, pet. denied)........................ 20, 21
John Moore Servs., Inc. v. Better Bus. Bureau of Metro. Hous., Inc., No. 13-0658 (Tex. Feb. 14, 2014) ...................................................................6
vii Table of Authorities (continued) Kinney v. BCG Attorney Search, Inc., No. 03-12-00579-CV, 2014 WL 1432012 (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 11, 2014, no. pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) .............34
Lemons v. EMW Mfg. Co., 747 S.W.2d 372 (Tex. 1998) (per curiam) ....................................................38
Lone Star Ford, Inc. v. McCormick, 838 S.W.2d 734 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, writ denied)..........10
Long v. Griffin, 442 S.W.3d 253 (Tex. 2014) ............................................................ 23, 24, 25
Mayberry v. Texas Dep’t of Agric., 948 S.W.2d 312 (Tex. App.—Austin 1997, writ denied)..............................11
Mitchell v. Fort Davis State Bank, 243 S.W.3d 117 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2007, no pet.) ...................................11
Perez v. Embree Constr. Group, Inc., 228 S.W.3d 875 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007, pet. denied) ..............................35
Ramsey v. Lynch, No. 10-12-00198-CV, 2013 WL 1846886 (Tex. App.—Waco May 2, 2013, no pet. h.).................................................................................30
Rehak Creative Servs., Inc. v. Witt, 404 S.W.3d 716 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet. denied)........30
Schaefer v. Tex. Employers’ Ins. Ass’n, 612 S.W.2d 199 (Tex. 1980) .........................................................................27
Schimmel v. McGregor, 438 S.W.3d 847 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015, pet. denied) ..........36
Sentinel Integrity Solutions, Inc. v. Mistras Grp., Inc., 414 S.W.3d 911 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet. denied) ..........22
Shipp v. Malouf, 439 S.W.3d 432 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2014, pet. denied).................................6
South W. Prop. Trust, Inc. v. Dallas Cty Flood Control Dist., 136 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2002, no pet.) .........................................39
viii Table of Authorities (continued) Sterner v. Marathon Oil Co., 767 S.W.2d 686 (Tex. 1989) ...........................................................................9
Subaru of Am., Inc. v. David McDavid Nissan, Inc., 84 S.W.3d 212 (Tex. 2002) ...........................................................................34
Watler v. Watler, No. 01-01-01038-CV, 2003 WL 1091765 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Mar. 13, 2003, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) ....................................................................................................22
Woodhaven Partners, Ltd. v. Shamoun & Norman, LLP, 422 S.W.3d 821 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2014, no pet.) .....................................20
RULES AND STATUTES TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.001 et seq.................................................x
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §27.009(a)(1).............................................8, 30
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §51.014 ............................................ 32, 33, 34
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §51.014(b).................................................5, 33
TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1..................................................................................................20
TEX. R. CIV. P. 21 .....................................................................................................37
TEX. R. CIV. P. 269(e)...............................................................................................17
TEX. R. CIV. P. 301 ...................................................................................................19
TEX. R. EVID. 103(a)(1) ............................................................................................20
TEX. R. EVID. 703 .....................................................................................................29
TEX. R. EVID. 705 .....................................................................................................29
ix STATEMENT OF THE CASE Nature of the Case: Plaintiffs John Moore Services, Inc. and John Moore Renovation, LLC (“John Moore”) filed suit against The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. (“the Bureau”) based on the Bureau’s publication of an online review of John Moore. FirstSupp.CR5-23. The Bureau filed a motion pursuant to the Texas Citizens Participation Act (“TCPA”) to dismiss the lawsuit, and the trial court denied the motion. SecondSupp.CR4-58; TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §27.001 et seq. (Vernon 2012). Following an interlocutory appeal, this Court reversed the trial court’s order, and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings. See Better Bus. Bureau of Metro. Houston, Inc. v. John Moore Servs., Inc., 441 S.W.3d 345 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet. denied). The Bureau then moved for the recovery of attorneys’ fees, costs, and sanctions against John Moore. FirstSupp.CR149-352. John Moore objected to the motion, and sought a jury trial on the issue of attorneys’ fees. First Supp.CR359-412.
Trial Court: The Honorable Dan Hinde, 269th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, Cause No. 2012-35162.
Trial Court The trial court denied the Bureau’s motion for attorneys’ Disposition: fees, and set the issue for trial. First Supp.CR450. The issue of attorneys’ fees was tried to a jury that awarded the Bureau $250,001.44 in defense costs incurred in the trial court and for the interlocutory appeal. CR108-115. The trial court signed a final judgment in favor of the Bureau dismissing the case, and awarding it a total of $250,001.44 in attorneys’ fees and $6,000 as sanctions against John Moore under the TCPA. CR115-19.
Parties in the Court Appellants: John Moore Services, Inc. and John Moore of Appeals: Renovation, LLC
Appellee: The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc.
x ISSUES PRESENTED 1. Whether the testimony of the Bureau’s expert witness and contemporaneous monthly billing records offered at trial constitute legally sufficient evidence to support the jury’s award of attorneys’ fees to the Bureau? (Response to Appellants’ First Issue)
2. Whether the trial court properly exercised its discretion in declining:
a. to permit John Moore to assert new claims and add new parties after this Court decided in the Bureau’s interlocutory appeal that the case warranted dismissal under the TCPA, and after the pleading amendment and party joinder deadlines had long expired?
b. to consolidate this case with John Moore’s newly filed second lawsuit when it did not file its motion to consolidate until after the jury trial on attorneys’ fees, and never properly presented its motion to the trial court for a ruling, thereby waiving the complaint? (Response to Appellants’ Second Issue)
xi INTRODUCTION The Texas Citizens Participation Act (“TCPA”) was enacted to deter
litigation aimed at squelching the exercise of free speech and brought for purposes
of harassment. Undeterred by this statute, John Moore has strived to defy the
legislative mandate. Through multiple lawsuits in state court, John Moore has
sought nothing more than to keep its claims alive and avoid this Court’s prior
determination that this litigation is governed by the TCPA and should be
dismissed.1 See John Moore Servs., 441 S.W.3d at 345. In this appeal, John
Moore challenges the denial of its attempts to assert new claims and join new
parties following this Court’s ruling, and the legal sufficiency of the jury’s award
of attorneys’ fees against it despite the wealth of support for the verdict in the
record. The trial court’s judgment against John Moore should be affirmed.
1 Q: (By the Court): “Ultimately, whether we have an Anti-SLAPP statute or not, you know, courts really frown on satellite litigation. Isn’t this case just an end-run around the trial court’s ruling that the pleadings, could not be amended and isn’t this just an effort through a new lawsuit to amend pleadings that the trial court said could not be amended?”
A: (By John Moore’s counsel): “Um, (pause) I guess the short answer is, is ‘yes,’. . .”
See Oral argument transcript from March 31, 2015 argument in the related appeal, Cause no. 01-14-687-CV.
1 STATEMENT OF FACTS
A. The Bureau Successfully Defends John Moore’s Anti-SLAPP Lawsuit. John Moore filed suit against the Bureau in June 2012. FirstSupp.CR5-23;
3RR143. Among other things, John Moore complained that while it once received
A+ ratings, its rating was later changed to an unfavorable “F.” FirstSupp.CR5-23.
John Moore asserted claims against the Bureau for tortious interference with
existing and prospective business relationships, fraud, business disparagement,
defamation, and “equitable remedies,” all based on, related to, or in response to the
Bureau’s review and rating. 3RR147; FirstSupp.CR 5-23.
The Bureau filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit based on the TCPA.
SecondSupp.CR4-58;2 3RR144. John Moore opposed the motion and immediately
sought discovery from the Bureau. 3RR144. Its response to the motion to dismiss
included 48 pages of briefing and 367 pages of exhibits. 3RR146. John Moore
also sought a continuance of the hearing on the motion to dismiss and the
opportunity to pursue further discovery. 3RR145. The trial court granted John
2 Many of the pleadings relevant to this dispute are also included in the record in Cause no. 01-12-00990-CV, the interlocutory appeal previously pending in this Court related to the merits of the Bureau’s motion to dismiss. See e.g. CR27-79 (the Bureau’s motion to dismiss), CR127-545 (John Moore’s response), and CR557-570 (the Bureau’s reply). This Court may take judicial notice of its own records relating to the same parties and subject matter. See Douglas v. Am. Title Co., 196 S.W.3d 876, 878 n.1 (Tex. App.— Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).
2 Moore’s request for additional discovery, and ordered the production of
documentary evidence. FirstSupp.CR30; 3RR145. The Bureau filed a detailed
reply to John Moore’s response, refuting John Moore’s arguments that there was
evidence as to any of its claims. 3RR147.
The parties participated in a hearing on the Bureau’s motion to dismiss in
September 2012. 3RR148. The trial court ultimately denied the motion. Second
Supp.CR85-86; 3RR148. The Bureau then filed an interlocutory appeal. Second
Supp.CR89-90; 3RR149; John Moore Servs., 441 S.W.3d at 345.
While the case was on appeal, John Moore served the Bureau with requests
for production seeking approximately 75 categories of documents. 3RR149. The
Bureau produced approximately 12,000 pages of documents in response to the
requests. 3RR151. The Bureau asked John Moore to agree to a stay of discovery
during the pendency of the interlocutory appeal, but John Moore declined.
3RR150. The court of appeals also denied the Bureau’s requests for a discovery
stay. 3RR150; 4RR104-05. Discovery continued from approximately February
through May 2013. 3RR151; 4RR105.
In April 2013, John Moore sought to extend the pleading amendment
deadline in the docket control order. SecondSupp.CR104-07. The Bureau agreed
to the request, and the trial court extended the pleading amendment deadline to
3 July 26, 2013. FirstSupp.CR35-37. John Moore did not request a corresponding
extension of the party joinder deadline.
Meanwhile, both sides filed extensive briefing in the court of appeals, and
the case was submitted for oral argument. 3RR152; 4RR28-29. The parties
attempted to mediate the case, but were unable to settle their dispute. 3RR153;
240. In July 2013, this Court reversed the district court’s order and remanded the
case, holding that the Bureau met its burden to prove that John Moore’s legal
action related to the exercise of its right of free speech and was governed by the
TCPA. John Moore Servs., 441 S.W.3d at 354; 3RR152. The Court further held
that “John Moore has failed to sustain its burden to show, by clear and specific
evidence, a prima facie case for each essential element of its claims, or that its
claims fall within the commercial-speech exception.” John Moore Servs., 441
S.W.3d at 362.
B. John Moore Fails In Its Attempt To Amend Its Pleadings After This Court’s Decision That Dismissal Was Warranted. Attempting to keep its litigation against the Bureau alive, after this Court’s
decision, on September 27, 2013, John Moore filed an amended petition. CR4-40.
The amended petition joined a number of officers and directors of the Bureau and
others and asserted several additional claims, including violations of the Texas
Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act (“Antitrust Act”), breach of contract, unjust
enrichment, detrimental reliance, fraud in the inducement, and violations of the
4 Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act (“DTPA”). CR4-40;
3RR153. A few days after filing its amended pleading, on September 30, 2013,
John Moore filed a petition for review with the Texas Supreme Court. 3RR154.
Then, John Moore sought another continuance of the deadlines in the docket
control order. SecondSupp.CR116-120. It also sought leave to join new parties in
the lawsuit. FirstSupp.CR44-49. The Bureau opposed the motions because the
deadlines had passed, and this Court had rendered a decision on the merits of the
appeal. FirstSupp.CR51-92; SecondSupp.CR122-163.
Although the trial court initially granted leave to file the amended petition
and issued an amended docket control order, FirstSupp.CR94-97, the court
withdrew that ruling when the Bureau moved for reconsideration. CR43-73. In
June 2013, the Legislature had amended the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies
Code to establish an automatic stay of any trial court proceedings during the
pendency of an interlocutory appeal under the TCPA. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.
CODE ANN. §51.014(b); App. A–B. As a result, the trial court lacked the authority
to allow any pleading amendment while John Moore’s appeal continued.
On November 1, 2013, the trial court struck John Moore’s amended petition.
FirstSupp.CR143-144; 3RR155. The trial court also vacated its prior order
granting a continuance and extending the deadlines in the docket control order, and
vacated its new trial preparation and docket control orders. FirstSupp. CR143-44.
5 C. A Jury Awards The Bureau Its Attorneys’ Fees Pursuant to the TCPA. The Supreme Court denied John Moore’s petition for review on February
14, 2014. 3RR153-54. See John Moore Servs., Inc. v. Better Bus. Bureau of
Metro. Hous., Inc., No. 13-0658 (Tex. Feb. 14, 2014). Once the appellate court’s
mandate issued on April 4, 2014, the Bureau requested its attorneys’ fees in the
trial court. FirstSupp.CR149-352; 3RR156. Jeff Elkin, counsel for the Bureau,
provided an affidavit supporting the fee request. FirstSupp.CR201-313; 3RR157.
The affidavit discussed the work that Porter Hedges performed, and summarized
the invoices. Id. Mr. Elkin also testified that the amount of fees, rates charged,
and work performed was reasonable and necessary. Id. John Moore challenged
the Bureau’s request and sought a jury trial of the issue. FirstSupp.CR359-412;
3RR158. The trial court ultimately denied the Bureau’s fee request, and set the
case for trial. FirstSupp.CR450.
In July 2014, the Bureau’s claim for attorneys’ fees was tried to a jury.
CR108-114. At trial, the Bureau sought $375,000 in attorneys’ fees,
approximately $15,000 less than it incurred. 3RR167-68. The Bureau decided to
omit any request for paralegal fees or fees incurred based on the work of very
young associates, and did not seek fees for the time it incurred in trying the
attorneys’ fees dispute or in seeking the recovery of its fees. 3RR161-62.
6 The jury awarded the Bureau $106,369.28 for the attorneys’ fees it incurred
in the trial court before and during the interlocutory appeal; $81,360.80 for
representation in the court of appeals; $37,982.08 for fees it incurred in the
supreme court at the petition for review stage, and $24,289.28 for its lawyers’
work performed after the appeal was decided. CR111-112. The jury declined to
award fees for any future attorneys’ fees incurred for this appeal. CR112.
D. John Moore Fails In Its Post-Trial Attempt To Consolidate This Case With Its Second Pending Lawsuit Against The Bureau. After John Moore’s failed attempt to amend its pleadings, it simply filed
another lawsuit in state court. FirstSupp.CR693. The new lawsuit included the
same allegations and named the same new parties as the amended petition filed
earlier in this lawsuit. FirstSupp.CR552-81.
The Bureau moved for entry of final judgment in this case in accordance
with the jury’s verdict. FirstSupp.CR.458-487. The Bureau set its motion for
hearing on August 8, 2014. FirstSupp.CR488-89. Then, the day before the
hearing (and approximately two weeks after the attorneys’ fees trial), John Moore
filed a motion to consolidate this case with its second lawsuit. FirstSupp.CR490-
684. However, it never set its motion for hearing.
The following day, at the hearing on the Bureau’s motion for entry of
judgment, the Bureau objected to the trial court’s consideration of any issues
relating to consolidation. 5RR21. The trial court sustained the objection, and
7 entered a final judgment. 5RR22; CR115-19. The trial court dismissed John
Moore’s claims with prejudice and awarded the Bureau attorneys’ fees of
$250,001.44 plus interest in accordance with the jury’s verdict, and $6,000 in
sanctions against John Moore. CR115-19. John Moore never sought or obtained
any ruling on its consolidation request.
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
The judgment awarding the Bureau its attorneys’ fees should be affirmed.
The Bureau succeeded on its motion to dismiss under the TCPA, and the statute
entitles it to the recovery of its attorneys’ fees. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE
ANN. §27.009(a)(1). The jury’s award of $250,000 in attorneys’ fees is supported
by the Bureau’s expert witness’s testimony and the monthly invoices describing
the work done, amounts charged, and identifying the lawyer performing the work.
DX3; 3RR167-68. The Bureau’s expert testified as to the reasonableness and
necessity of the Bureau’s attorneys’ fees, and the jury’s $250,000 fee award was
within the range of the evidence presented, and certainly less than the $375,000 in
fees sought. Id.; 4RR54, 108. John Moore’s assertions that the invoices the
Bureau’s expert relied upon were legally insufficient to support the verdict because
they were redacted to protect client confidentiality or included “bulk billing” rather
than task-billing has no support in Texas law.
8 Likewise, the trial court acted within its sound discretion in denying John
Moore’s requests to amend its pleadings to add new claims and parties, and to
consolidate this case with its second lawsuit. John Moore missed the docket
control order deadlines, and never sought to amend its pleadings until after this
Court’s decision that the case should be dismissed—over a year after suit was
filed. CR4-40; FirstSupp.CR33, 35-37. Even after the mandate issued and an
automatic statutory stay was no longer in effect, John Moore did not make any
request for leave to amend. Further, the trial court correctly declined to
consolidate this case with the second one where John Moore never properly set its
request for hearing, and the motion was not filed until after the trial and the day
before judgment. FirstSupp.CR490-684; See App. C (Timeline). John Moore’s
attempts to circumvent the TCPA through serial litigation should not be condoned.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
If an appellant is attacking the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support an
adverse finding on an issue on which he did not have the burden of proof at trial,
he must demonstrate that “no evidence” supports the finding. See Sterner v.
Marathon Oil Co., 767 S.W.2d 686, 690 (Tex. 1989). In Issue One, John Moore
challenges the legal sufficiency of the jury’s findings awarding attorneys’ fees to
the Bureau. A “no evidence” point should be sustained only when the record
reveals: (1) a complete absence of a vital fact; (2) the court is barred by rules of
9 law or evidence from giving weight to the only evidence offered to prove a vital
fact; (3) the evidence offered to prove a vital fact is no more than a scintilla of
evidence; or (4) the evidence establishes conclusively the opposite of a vital fact.
See City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 810-28 (Tex. 2005).
In Issue Two, John Moore challenges the trial court’s decisions to preclude
further pleading amendments to allow it to assert new causes of action and join
new parties, and allow this case to be consolidated with its second lawsuit.
Appellate courts review the trial court’s rulings on pleading amendments under an
abuse of discretion standard. See Hardin v. Hardin, 597 S.W.2d 347, 349-50 (Tex.
1980). Similarly, appellate courts review trial courts’ decisions regarding
consolidation under an abuse of discretion standard. See Allison v. Ark. La. Gas
Co., 624 S.W.2d 566, 568 (Tex. 1981); Lone Star Ford, Inc. v. McCormick, 838
S.W.2d 734, 737 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, writ denied).
ARGUMENT
I. The Jury’s Award of Attorneys’ Fees to the Bureau Is Supported by Legally Sufficient Evidence. Attempting to undermine the Bureau’s proof at the outset, John Moore
mischaracterizes testimony in the record as a concession from the Bureau that “the
jury could not determine whether the [Bureau’s] attorneys’ fees were reasonable
without looking at the invoices.” App. Br. 6-7. The record, however, belies that
claim as the invoices were not the sole source of support for Bureau’s claim for
10 attorneys’ fees. Although the invoices provide information to determine “exactly
what work was done to incur those fees,” the jury was also entitled to rely on the
testimony of the Bureau’s expert witness, Jeff Elkin, as to the necessity and
reasonableness of those fees. 3RR156-67. Through expert witness testimony and
supporting documentary evidence, legally sufficient evidence supports the jury’s
fee award.
A. The Jury’s Award Is Within The Range of The Evidence Presented.
A jury has broad discretion to award damages within the range of evidence
presented at trial. See Gulf States Utils. Co. v. Low, 79 S.W.3d 561, 566 (Tex.
2002); see Mayberry v. Texas Dep’t of Agric., 948 S.W.2d 312, 317 (Tex. App.—
Austin 1997, writ denied). When the evidence supports a range of awards, an
award of damages within that range will be upheld. See Helena Chem. Co. v.
Wilkins, 47 S.W.3d 486, 506 (Tex. 2001); Mitchell v. Fort Davis State Bank, 243
S.W.3d 117, 127 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2007, no pet.) (finding attorneys’ fee award
to be within the range of the evidence offered); Chevron Chem. Co. v. Southland
Contracting, Inc., No. 05-96-00560-CV, 1998 WL 640987, at *5 (Tex. App.—
Dallas Sept. 21, 1998, pet. denied) (not designated for publication) (same).
The Bureau provided substantial evidence of reasonable and necessary fees
of $375,000. The invoices it offered in evidence detailed the work performed on
the Bureau’s behalf that resulted in a successful outcome. DX3. These invoices
11 were sent to the Bureau on a monthly basis for its review and payment. They not
only describe the work performed, but identify the person performing the work, the
date it was performed, the time spent, and the charge. DX3. Summaries of the
invoices broken down by phase of the litigation (DX7, 3RR158); the chronological
history of the case (DX9, 3RR160); the lawyers working on the case and hourly
rates charged by lawyer (DX8, 3RR163); and the work performed on a monthly
basis (DX6, 3RR160), were also admitted in evidence. 3RR5.
Jeff Elkin, the Bureau’s attorney in the litigation, also testified as an expert
on the Bureau’s attorneys’ fees. Mr. Elkin has been practicing for almost 30 years
as a commercial litigation lawyer and has handled litigation for hundreds of clients.
3RR128-29, 166. He was previously employed with Baker Botts in Houston, but
has been a partner at Porter Hedges since 1996. 3RR129. He has been recognized
for his legal skills in Chambers USA. 3RR131. He served as the lead lawyer in
this litigation, and has represented the Bureau for over twenty years. 3RR132.
Mr. Elkin opined that he was qualified to testify as an expert based on his
years of experience as a commercial litigator, and through his position as billing
partner on hundreds of matters. 3RR166. He has also reviewed periodicals and
surveys and conversed with other lawyers about rates that are typically charged in
the Houston and Dallas areas. 3RR166, 169-70. Therefore, he had the experience
12 to determine what work is necessary on a litigation matter, the time it should take,
and the rate for the work that would be reasonable. 3RR166.
Mr. Elkin further testified that it was his opinion that the $375,000 in
attorneys’ fees the Bureau was seeking was reasonable. 3RR167-68. In forming
his opinion, Mr. Elkin considered the type of lawsuit, the amount of work
necessary to win the case, and the rates that are charged for lawyers with similar
experience in the Houston area. 3RR167-68. Mr. Elkin, an equity partner, has an
hourly rate of $525, which he testified to be reasonable and in the “middle of
market” for a lawyer of his experience handling complex commercial litigation at a
comparable firm. 3RR168-70.
Similarly, other lawyers working on the case were billed at hourly rates
varying downward from Mr. Elkin’s depending in part on their years in practice
and legal experience. See DX8. For example, the Bureau used the services of an
appellate specialist to handle the interlocutory appeal. 3RR170-72. The appellate
lawyer drafted the majority of the legal briefing on appeal and participated in oral
argument at a rate of approximately $470 per hour. 3RR171-72. Two senior
associates working on the case charged rates of approximately $290-$325 per hour,
depending on their years in practice. 3RR172-73; DX8. A second-year associate
helping on a discrete matter related to the case was charged at a rate of $220 per
13 hour. 3RR173. Mr. Elkin testified that he believed these rates to be reasonable.
3RR172-73.
Mr. Elkin further testified that the work performed was necessary in order to
win the case, and that the time spent was reasonable. 3RR173. He again based his
opinion on his years of experience in business litigation, among other things.
3RR174. He testified that he spent a significant amount of time every month going
over the draft invoices. 3RR174. Mr. Elkin also confirmed that he made
adjustments to the billing if he believed that the time spent on certain tasks was too
great. 3RR174. He was not aware of any duplicative time entries, or any billing
for work performed on other files. 3RR176. In both February and April 2013, the
Bureau was given a $15,000 discount on fees. 3RR164.
Mr. Elkin testified that in rendering his expert opinion he considered the
factors for determining whether attorneys’ fees are reasonable as set forth in the
Texas Supreme Court case in Arthur Andersen & Co. v. Perry Equip. Corp., 945
S.W.2d 812, 817-19 (Tex. 1997).3 3RR178. The first factor is the time and labor
3 The factors include: (1) the time and labor involved, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill required to perform the legal services properly; (2) the likelihood that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer; (3) the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services; (4) the amount involved and the results obtained; (5) the time limitations imposed by the client or the circumstances; (6) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; (7) the experience, reputation, and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services; and (8) whether the fee is fixed or contingent on results
14 involved in the case. Id. at 818. Mr. Elkin determined that this case involved
novel and difficult issues because the TCPA was a new statute. 3RR178. As a
result, there was little case authority for the lawyers to rely on to interpret its
provisions, many of which John Moore argued precluded its application in this
case. 3RR179. The absence of controlling case authority required the Bureau’s
lawyers to perform significant additional research and analysis to navigate the
statute.4 3RR179.
Mr. Elkin further opined that the rates that Porter Hedges charged were
customary for Harris County and reasonable for the services the firm provided in
matters similar to this one. 3RR180. Porter Hedges charged the Bureau on an
hourly basis as opposed to a contingent fee. 3RR183. Further, the damages that
John Moore was seeking against the Bureau were significant. 3RR180. Mr. Elkin
believed that John Moore sought damages in the range of $10 to $20 million.
3RR180-81; 4RR30. If the Bureau lost the lawsuit, it could have gone bankrupt.
3RR181.
_______________________
obtained or uncertainty of collection before the legal services have been rendered. Id. at 818. 4 Mr. Elkin agreed that he was not precluded from accepting other employment while working on this case, an issue relating to the second Andersen factor. 3RR180.
15 The Bureau’s lawyers also achieved a great result for their client. 3RR181;
4RR30. The Bureau prevailed in the litigation, entitling it to its attorneys’ fees by
statute. 3RR181. Porter Hedges has also had a long-standing relationship with the
Bureau, having served as its counsel for approximately 20 years.5 3RR182.
In forming his opinion, Mr. Elkin also considered the level of experience of
the lawyers performing the work. 3RR183. He testified that the level of
experience of the attorneys was appropriate for the tasks assigned. 3RR183.
Based upon all of these considerations, it was his opinion that $375,000 was a
reasonable fee for the services Porter Hedges provided to the Bureau over the
course of two years. 3RR183-84.
John Moore’s lawyer, Lori Hood, also testified as an expert with regard to
the Bureau’s attorneys’ fees. Expressing her “dismay[] about [the firm’s] rates,”
John Moore attempted to discredit the reasonableness of the Bureau’s attorneys’
fees by making unfounded personal attacks and accusing the Bureau’s lawyers of
unethical conduct. 4RR45. Among other things, Ms. Hood maligned the Bureau’s
lawyers for allegedly billing for “calling me, and I know they weren’t,” 4RR46,
“hid[ing] time” by “bulk bill[ing],” 4RR55, “plagiarism” of work from Dallas
5 John Moore’s President, Don Valentine, approached Mr. Elkin in 2010 to represent John Moore in pending litigation. 3RR182. The firm was unable to accept the representation. 3RR183.
16 lawyers in similar litigation, 4RR25-26, 72, improperly failing to task-bill, 4RR54,
71, and a “consistent…pattern of overbilling” and “overcharging.” 4RR156-59.
She also went on to criticize the Bureau’s lawyers for telling their client this was
“complex litigation” in order to “have higher rates,” 4RR89-90, disloyalty to their
client by not providing it with significant fee discounts, 3RR191; 4RR22, 163, and
failing to take shortcuts on research by relying only on an outdated version of
O’Connors Causes of Action. 3RR205-08; 4RR50.
With no foundation at all, she also proclaimed that Porter Hedges engaged in
lawyer “trick[ery]” where secretaries charge for reviewing mail because the
invoices include “read and review” billing entries, 4RR58, and that its bills were
not reduced because Porter Hedges lawyers would “get called in to management”
for writing off time equating to more than 5% of the invoice. 4RR65. At closing
argument, Ms. Hood went on to express her “embarrass[ment] that someone in
[her] profession, which [she takes] very seriously, would bring invoices like this to
you-all….”6 4RR169.
6 Also, during closing argument, Ms. Hood asked the jury to do her a “small favor” and decline to “reward a firm for overbilling on attorneys’ fees.” 4RR170. Texas law is clear that “criticism, censure, or abuse of counsel are not permitted. Appeals to passion and prejudice are improper, as are calls to punish a litigant for the acts of counsel.” See Circle Y of Yoakum v. Blevins, 826 S.W.2d 753, 758 (Tex. App.— Texarkana 1992, writ denied); TEX. R. CIV. P. 269(e). Anxious for an end to this serial litigation, the Bureau elected not to seek a new trial for this highly improper and incurable argument or challenge the jury’s failure to award attorneys’ fees for this appeal.
17 Ms. Hood also testified that in her opinion the Bureau’s fees were
unreasonable, and that John Moore had incurred fees in the amount of $165,000 in
prosecuting the lawsuit. 4RR108. She further testified that in similar litigation in
Dallas involving the Bureau, the defense lawyers had billed $190,000 defending
the lawsuit. 4RR54, 111. However, she did not explain the similarities or
difference in the two lawsuits. In closing argument, Ms. Hood stated that the range
of fees the jury was to consider was “zero to $375,000,” 4RR154, 166, but
encouraged the jury to award no more than approximately $95,000 in answering
the questions in the court’s charge. 4RR168-69.
Despite John Moore’s personal attacks and unsupported conclusions, the
jury awarded the Bureau $250,001.44 in attorneys’ fees. CR108-115. This
amount is precisely within the range of the evidence—approximately $100,000 less
than the Bureau requested and above the amount John Moore argued the Bureau
was entitled to receive. The attorneys’ fee award should be affirmed.
B. The Bureau’s Documentary Evidence Supports The Jury’s Verdict. John Moore vigorously contends that the redaction of confidential
information from the Bureau’s invoices, and “block billing” somehow preclude
any recovery of attorneys’ fees. App. Br. 6-20. Not only can John Moore not
point to a single case to support its claims, but its arguments are also contrary to
Texas Supreme Court precedent. These arguments should be summarily rejected.
18 1. The Redaction of Privileged Information From Client Invoices To Protect Confidentiality Is Entirely Appropriate. The invoices the Bureau offered at trial were redacted to protect privileged
and confidential information. 3RR134; 4RR28; DX3. The monthly invoices the
Bureau received, however, had no redacted information. 3RR134. Therefore, the
Bureau was able to review the complete invoices and to verify that the work
performed on its behalf was appropriate. 3RR134. The Bureau’s lawyer and
expert, Jeff Elkin, also reviewed and prepared the invoices, and was able to testify
to their contents without divulging confidential data. John Moore’s complaints as
to any redactions are unfounded, and were also not preserved.
a. John Moore’s Failure To Object To Any Redaction of Information Waived That Claim. Although John Moore stridently complains of the Bureau’s “heavy
redactions” of the invoices supporting the Bureau’s fee claim, it neglects to mention
that it never once objected to them. At no time did John Moore raise any complaint
about the removal of the confidential information during trial when the evidence
was offered. DX3; 3RR5 (admission of trial exhibits). Instead, it waited to raise
the issue post-verdict in a motion to disregard jury findings which it did not set for
hearing or submission. See FirstSupp.CR490-684; TEX. R. CIV. P. 301; Hines v.
Parks, 128 Tex. 289, 96 S.W.2d 970, 973 (1936) (the trial court cannot grant a
19 motion to disregard jury findings absent notice). As a result, the trial court properly
declined to consider it. FirstSupp.CR 490-684; 5RR10, 22.
The admission or exclusion of evidence is within the sound discretion of the
trial court. It is not error for the court to have admitted the redacted invoices when
John Moore did not object to their admission at the time the evidence was offered.
See Clark v. Trailways, Inc., 774 S.W.2d 644, 647 (Tex. 1989). John Moore’s
urging of the issue post-judgment in its motion for new trial was far too late, and
the complaint was waived. CR120-229; see TEX. R. EVID. 103(a)(1); TEX. R. APP.
P. 33.1; also see Jarvis v. Rocanville Corp., 298 S.W.3d 305, 320 (Tex. App.—
Dallas 2009, pet. denied) (plaintiff’s argument that redacted fee statements
prevented effective cross-examination waived when not presented in the trial court).
b. Texas Law Recognizes That Redacted Fee Statements Can Support A Fee Award. Even if John Moore had objected, the admission of the redacted invoices
would remain proper. Texas courts have recognized that redacted billing
statements are sufficient to support an attorneys’ fee award as long as enough
information remains to demonstrate performance of the work. See Woodhaven
Partners, Ltd. v. Shamoun & Norman, LLP, 422 S.W.3d 821, 842-43 (Tex. App.—
Dallas 2014, no pet.) (“although heavily redacted, [the invoices] contained line-by-
line itemizations of the various charges together with brief descriptions of each
charge....significant information was provided regarding the activities conducted
20 by appellee during the underlying litigation”). Sufficient detail was provided in the
invoices admitted in evidence here, and only strategical matters, issues researched,
and related confidential information was omitted. See DX3.
John Moore offers no authority to support its view that the admission of these
fee statements was in error, nor does it attempt to explain why the redactions were
improper. See Jarvis, 298 S.W.3d at 320. It fails to cite any case where an
appellate court determined that the evidence of attorney’s fees was insufficient
because the contemporaneously prepared billing records were redacted.
The Bureau’s lawyers provided detailed invoices to the Bureau on a monthly
basis describing the lawyers’ and paralegals’ services. 3RR134; DX3; also see
Dx6, Dx7, Dx9 (summaries). The invoices provide the date of the work, the name
of the person performing the work, the specific work performed, and the time spent
on the work. 3RR134. Different lawyers within the firm worked on the case, and
their rates varied depending on years in practice and specialization. 3RR138. Mr.
Elkin reviewed each invoice before it was forwarded to the Bureau for payment to
verify that the Bureau was properly billed, that the work was necessary, and that
the time spent on a particular task was reasonable. 3RR135. Occasionally, Mr.
Elkin would adjust the invoice to lower the billing for tasks on which he felt too
much time was spent. 3RR136.
21 Further, not only were the redacted invoices sufficient to allow the jury to
assess the work performed, but the testimony of Mr. Elkin also supported the fee
award. See Estate of Johnson, No. 04-11-00467-CV, 2012 WL 1940656, at *2-3
(Tex. App.—San Antonio May 30, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for
publication) (“significant information was provided to the court in the redacted
billing statements, and when combined with the testimony of [the appellant’s]
attorneys, further information was not necessary….”); Gaughan v. Nat’l Cutting
Horse Ass’n, 351 S.W.3d 408, 422-24 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011, pet. denied)
(affirming award of attorneys’ fees that was supported by redacted fee statements,
a summary of rates and fees charged, and the testimony of the appellee’s attorney
as to the reasonableness of the award); Watler v. Watler, No. 01-01-01038-CV,
2003 WL 1091765, at *4 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Mar. 13, 2003, no pet.)
(mem. op., not designated for publication) (finding no abuse of discretion in
court’s award of attorneys’ fees despite heavy redactions of invoices where
attorney testified as to the reasonableness of the fees).
The jury was free to believe the testimony of Mr. Elkin that the fees
requested and reflected in the invoices were reasonable and necessary, despite any
redactions to the billing statements in evidence. See Sentinel Integrity Solutions,
Inc. v. Mistras Grp., Inc., 414 S.W.3d 911, 921-30 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2013, pet. denied) (affirming attorneys’ fee award supported by lawyers’
22 testimony and redacted billing records). John Moore’s complaint as to the
redaction of the invoices should be rejected.
2. The “Block Billing” In The Bureau’s Invoices Does Not Preclude Any Recovery of Attorneys’ Fees. John Moore’s vigorous complaints about the so-called “block” or “bulk”
billing in Porter Hedges’s invoices is also meritless. App. Br. 6-20. John Moore
does not dispute that the invoices contained a concise description of the daily
services provided per lawyer, the name of the lawyer performing the work, the
time spent daily by lawyer on the collective tasks, and the amount billed to the
Bureau. 3RR244. Instead, John Moore contends that El Apple I, Ltd. v. Olivas,
370 S.W.3d 757, 763-65 (Tex. 2012), and Long v. Griffin, 442 S.W.3d 253, 255
(Tex. 2014) (per curiam) somehow preclude “block-billing” in attorneys’ fees
invoices. However, neither of these cases stand for the proposition that “task-
based billing” is a prerequisite to the recovery of attorneys’ fees.
In El Apple, the Texas Supreme Court considered whether an award of
attorneys’ fees under the lodestar method could be affirmed when the only
evidence supporting those fees were attorney affidavits merely providing estimates
or generalities about the work performed and the time spent on the work. 370
S.W.3d at 763. The lawyers provided no documentary evidence or time records to
support their testimony, nor did they indicate the time spent on “a particular task or
category of tasks.” Id. (emphasis added). The Court concluded that “[w]ithout at
23 least some indication of the time spent on various parts of the case,” the court had
no basis to conduct a review of the fee award. Id.
The Court recognized that attorneys can testify as to the basic facts
underlying the lodestar, which are: (1) the nature of the work, (2) who performed
the services and their rate, (3) approximately when the services were performed,
and (4) the number of hours worked. Id. at 762–63 (internal citation omitted).
However, “contemporaneous billing records or other documentation recorded
reasonably close to the time when the work is performed” should be maintained to
support the testimony. Id. at 763. Nowhere does the Court mention itemizing each
task or hold that “block billing” is impermissible.
Also, in Long, the only evidence of attorneys’ fees before the Court was an
affidavit supporting a fee application that stated in general terms the categories of
tasks performed, hourly rate, and hours spent on the work for a total fee. Long,
442 S.W.3d at 253-55. The affidavit broadly described the work as including
“extensive discovery, several pretrial hearings, [and] multiple summary judgment
motions,” among other general references. Id. at 255. However, no billing records
were submitted in support of the affidavit, and “without any evidence of the time
spent on specific tasks, the trial court had insufficient information to meaningfully
review the fee request.” Id. at 255. Like the El Apple case, nowhere does the Long
Court hold that “block billing” is impermissible—in fact, there were no invoices or
24 “contemporaneous records” supporting the affidavit for the Court to even consider.
Id. at 255.
The Texas Supreme Court has made it clear that time records or billing
statements are not the only means to satisfy the lodestar method of proving
attorneys’ fees. In City of Laredo v. Montano, 414 S.W.3d 731, 735–37 (Tex.
2013), the Court again stated that a lodestar fee can also be established through a
lawyer’s testimony as long as there are records available for the attorney to refer to
in providing his testimony. See also El Apple, 370 S.W.3d at 763 (noting attorneys
can testify as to their recollection of billing records). In Montano, 414 S.W.3d at
735-37, the court reversed a fee award to a lawyer who admitted at trial that he did
not keep time records or prepare invoices for his clients, and with that information
unavailable, could only provide estimates of the hours he spent on the case.
However, the Court affirmed a fee award to another lawyer who testified that she
kept track of her time, and that she had billed and been paid $25,000 for her work
through trial, despite the fact that she did not offer those records in evidence to
support her testimony. Id. at 737.
The quality of the evidence proffered here goes well beyond that in El
Apple, Long, and Montano. Here, the Bureau offered over 90 pages of
contemporaneously prepared billing records that specifically list the daily tasks and
amount of time performed by each attorney. DX3. John Moore’s criticism of the
25 summaries the Bureau also offered in evidence ignores that the record includes the
actual invoices as well. App. Br. 11-12; Dx6, Dx7, Dx8. In addition, the jury
heard extensive testimony from the Bureau’s expert, Mr. Elkin, further explaining
the reasonableness and necessity of the fees incurred. These contemporaneous
billing records—along with extensive testimony from the Bureau’s lead counsel—
provide an abundance of support for the jury’s $250,001.44 fee award.
Mr. Elkin also testified that the firm’s billing methods were standard for law
firms billing on an hourly basis and an accepted practice. 3RR177. He defined
“block billing” as defining the cumulative tasks each day for each individual
lawyer and the “total amount of time” for all those tasks, rather than providing the
time spent on each individual task separately. 3RR177, 196. He explained that
there is nothing inherently improper about block billing, and that most of his
clients are billed in that format. 3RR177-78. Consistent with Montano, 414
S.W.3d at 737, Mr. Elkin testified that the jury could also rely on his testimony as
evidence that the attorneys’ fees were reasonable. 3RR198 (“Because I can testify,
Ms. Hood, as I did, that at the time this was prepared, I reviewed it and made sure
that the time for that amount, those entries were reasonable….”).
Moreover, despite John Moore’s complaints as to these invoices, many of
them provide the “task-based” descriptions that John Moore complains are lacking.
DX3 (see July 2013 through April 2014 invoices). Porter Hedges’s billing
26 software changed in May 2013, so that approximately half of the firm’s invoices
sent to the Bureau for almost a year provided specific information concerning time
spent on individualized tasks after that date. 3RR243; 4RR154. Because the
information that John Moore complains is absent in fact exists in a significant
number of these invoices, its arguments are baseless. DX3.
C. The Bureau’s Expert’s Testimony Is Legally Sufficient Evidence to Support the Fee Award. In an effort to excuse its failure to challenge the Bureau’s expert testimony,
John Moore asserts the meritless claim that Mr. Elkin’s testimony was supported
only by his ipse dixit and, therefore, is legally insufficient evidence. App. Br. 16-
20. This case is, however, nothing like the cases John Moore cites as support. In
those cases, the expert’s testimony was either based on assumptions that were
wholly unsupported by the facts or on assumptions that were actually incorrect.
See, e.g., Schaefer v. Tex. Employers’ Ins. Ass’n, 612 S.W.2d 199, 203-05 (Tex.
1980) (holding expert’s opinion based on assumptions was no evidence that
tuberculosis was caused by employment when expert did not know what type of
tuberculosis plaintiff had and whether that type was present in the soil where he
worked because the necessary testing had not been performed); Burroughs
Wellcome Co. v. Crye, 907 S.W.2d 497, 499 (Tex. 1995) (holding that expert
testimony that product caused plaintiff to suffered frostbite was no evidence of
causation when opinion was based on assumptions that were directly contradicted
27 by the record). Additionally, John Moore’s cited cases do not involve redacted
documentary evidence; they involve a lack of supporting evidence or contradictory
evidence. See id. Moreover, none of John Moore’s cases involves expert
testimony on attorneys’ fees, much less expert testimony by lead counsel in the
case. See Montano, 414 S.W.3d at 735, 737 (rejecting claim that one attorney’s
testimony on fees was deficient when she did not list all the tasks she performed
and did not produce billing records, but did testify about her areas of responsibility
and did maintain billing records); cf. Garcia v. Gomez, 319 S.W.3d 638, 641 (Tex.
2010) (holding, in case where trial court awarded no fees, attorney’s testimony that
lacked specifics was some evidence of what a reasonable attorney’s fee might be
and noting that “[a]n attorney’s testimony about the reasonableness of his or her
own fees is not like other expert witness testimony. Although rooted in the
attorney’s experience and expertise, it also consists of the attorney’s personal
knowledge about the underlying work and its particular value to the client . . .”).
In any event, Mr. Elkin’s testimony was not conclusory. It was not based on
critical but absent data. Nor was it based merely on his credentials. As discussed
above, Mr. Elkin’s testimony included a detailed explanation of the bases for his
conclusions and was well supported by documentation, such as the invoices, and
by his personal knowledge of the events in the case as lead counsel for the Bureau.
Contrary to John Moore’s claim, Mr. Elkin did not merely assume that the invoices
28 supported his conclusions like the expert in Schaefer who assumed the existence of
facts although the relevant tests had not been performed. Mr. Elkin knew the
invoices supported his conclusions. He had reviewed those very invoices—more
than once. Additionally, those invoices, in redacted form, were in evidence. Even
if the invoices or other support were inadmissible or simply not admitted into
evidence, they could provide foundation for the expert testimony. See TEX. R.
EVID. 703 (facts or data relied upon by expert “need not be admissible in
evidence”); see also TEX. R. EVID. 705. Moreover, Mr. Elkin’s testimony was not
based on any inaccurate facts. Indeed, John Moore has not even claimed that a
single basis for Mr. Elkin’s testimony was incorrect. To the contrary, John
Moore’s expert, Ms. Hood, attempted to undermine Mr. Elkin’s testimony merely
by offering her own suppositions and personal attacks untethered to any facts in the
record.
D. Alternatively, The Case Should Be Remanded To Allow The Court To Determine The Appropriate Fee Award. The evidence is legally sufficient to support the jury’s attorneys’ fee award.
Nonetheless, should this Court disagree, the case should be remanded to allow the
trial court to decide the amount of attorneys’ fees to be awarded to the Bureau.
The TCPA was enacted in order to provide a mechanism for prompt dismissal of
cases falling within its purview and to allow a prevailing party to recover its
attorneys’ fees. 2RR12 (The court: “[I]sn’t the point of [chapter 27] to avoid trials
29 unless there has been found sufficient prima facie evidence of a claim?”). The
statute does not contemplate that the plaintiff would be entitled to a jury trial on
attorneys’ fees rather than an expeditious dismissal. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.
CODE ANN. §27.009(a)(1) (“If the court orders dismissal of a legal action under
this chapter, the court shall award to the moving party court costs, reasonable
attorney’s fees, and other expenses….”). The Bureau’s motion for fees supported
by its expert affidavit was presented to the trial court, but over the Bureau’s
objections, the court denied the motion and set the attorneys’ fee issue for trial.
See FirstSupp.CR149-352, 415-29, 450; 2RR4-25; cf. Breitling Oil & Gas Corp. v.
Petroleum Newspapers of Ak., LLC, No. 05-14-00299-CV, 2015 WL 1519667, at
*5 n.2 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 1, 2015, no. pet. h.) (mem. op., not designated for
publication) (expressing no opinion on claim that the reasonableness of mandatory
attorneys’ fees under chapter 27 is a question for a jury because it was not
preserved).
The award of attorneys’ fees under the TCPA is a matter for the trial court,
not a jury. See, e.g., Rehak Creative Servs., Inc. v. Witt, 404 S.W.3d 716, 723
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet. denied) (noting that trial court
awarded attorneys’ fees to defendant following hearing on motion to dismiss);
Ramsey v. Lynch, No. 10-12-00198-CV, 2013 WL 1846886, at *3 (Tex. App.—
Waco May 2, 2013, no pet. h.) (affirming trial court’s award of attorneys’ fees
30 which was based upon evidence presented at hearing on motion to dismiss). The
trial court’s decision to put the attorneys’ fee issue to a jury was improper, and if
this Court decides the judgment for attorneys’ fees is in error, the issue should be
remanded to allow the trial judge to make a fee determination.
II. The Trial Court Properly Denied John Moore’s Untimely Attempts To Amend Its Pleadings and To Consolidate This Case With Its Second Lawsuit. John Moore’s claims that the trial court somehow abused its discretion in
precluding further pleading amendments to allow it to raise new claims and to join
additional parties, and by declining to consolidate this case with its new lawsuit,
are meritless. App. Br. 20-25. John Moore had a year after filing this suit to
amend its pleadings, but never attempted to do so until two months after this
Court’s decision that the case should be dismissed, and well after the expiration of
the pleading amendment and joinder deadlines in the docket control order.
Additionally, John Moore failed to properly preserve the consolidation issue by
setting its consolidation request for hearing. Even so, the claim is unfounded based
on John Moore’s delay in filing the requisite motion until post-trial. The trial court
properly rejected John Moore’s belated attempts for a second bite at the apple.
A. The Trial Court Properly Denied John Moore’s Untimely Request For A Pleading Amendment. The trial court’s decision to deny further pleading amendments was within
its sound discretion. John Moore had ample opportunity to amend its pleadings in
31 the first case to timely plead the claims and name the parties it subsequently
included in the second lawsuit.
This case was on file for over a year before John Moore attempted to amend
its pleadings at any time. CR4-40. Even though the Bureau had filed the
interlocutory appeal of the denial of its motion to dismiss, the trial proceedings
were not initially stayed. See id. at §51.014(b). The case continued in the trial
court while the appeal was pending, and John Moore opposed the Bureau’s request
for any stay of the case in the trial court. 3RR229. The parties engaged in
considerable written discovery during the appeal. 3RR151; 4RR105.
The court’s original docket control order set a party joinder deadline of five
months after suit was filed, and a pleading amendment deadline nine months after
suit was filed. FirstSupp.CR33. John Moore did not meet either deadline.
However, the Bureau agreed to John Moore’s request to extend certain of the
docket control order deadlines nine months after John Moore filed suit.
SecondSupp.CR104-07. The trial court granted the parties’ agreed motion, and the
pleading amendment deadline was extended. FirstSupp.CR35-36. Even so, John
Moore did not amend its pleadings by the extended July 26, 2013 pleadings
deadline. Id. Further, John Moore never sought to have the party joinder deadline
extended as part of the agreed motion.
32 The Texas Legislature did not amend the TCPA to automatically stay
proceedings in the trial court while an interlocutory appeal proceeded until a year
after this suit was filed. See id. at §51.014(b); FirstSupp.CR5-23. The new statute
was not enacted until just one month before this Court decided the appeal. See
John Moore Servs., 441 S.W.3d at 345. Therefore, John Moore had a full year to
attempt to amend its petition or to seek leave to join new parties while the appeal
proceeded. Cf. James v. Calkins, 446 S.W.3d 135, 145 n.4 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 2014, pet. filed) (noting that the appellees amended their petition several
times during the pendency of the interlocutory appeal pursuant to the TCPA). It
did not do so, nor did it seek relief from the automatic stay to file its amended
petition.
Counsel for John Moore even testified at trial as to John Moore’s
recognition that it was obligated to continue prosecuting its case and comply with
court-ordered deadlines despite the interlocutory appeal:
A: (By Ms. Hood): We had an order in place from the Court. It’s called a “Docket Control Order.” It’s a one-page order, and it sets out the dates that we’re supposed to have all these things done by.
And so while it’s on appeal, it’s over here. It’s going off on this branch. We still have this branch to deal with because the Court had ordered us to get certain things done at a certain time, and that includes written discovery, expert designations, pleadings, and all those things.
33 So we couldn’t ignore the “Docket Control Order,” otherwise, we would have–there’s a potential we would have missed out on doing any discovery in the case, and then Mr. Valentine would have been very upset at me and probably would have fired me.
4RR104. Despite its recognition that these deadlines required compliance, John
Moore elected to disregard them. It made no attempt to amend its pleadings until
two months after the pleading deadline in the docket control order, more than two
months after this Court’s opinion was issued, and ten months after the joinder
deadline. CR4-40. John Moore then waited even longer to seek leave of court to
extend those deadlines once more. FirstSupp.CR44-49; SecondSupp.CR116-20.
By the time John Moore sought its pleading amendments, the statutory stay
had been enacted, so the district court could not allow further pleading
amendments until this Court’s mandate issued on April 4, 2014.7
FirstSupp.CR508-09. Even when the mandate issued, however, John Moore again
did not hasten to amend its pleadings or join new parties. Instead, it did nothing to
7 John Moore’s claim that the stay provision “applied by its own terms only to appeals filed after its effective date” has no merit. App. Br. 23. Unless the Legislature provides otherwise, amendments to procedural rules such as Section 51.014 are applied to both pending and future cases. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 51.014; Kinney v. BCG Attorney Search, Inc., No. 03-12-00579-CV, 2014 WL 1432012, at *3-4 (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 11, 2014, pet. denied) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (concluding 2013 amendment to Section 51.014 does not affect vested rights and is thus applicable to pending appeal of denial of motion to dismiss under Section 27.003); see also City of Austin v. Whittington, 384 S.W.3d 766, 790 (Tex. 2012) (“[P]rocedural and remedial laws that do not affect vested rights should be enforced as they exist at the time judgment is rendered.”); Subaru of Am., Inc. v. David McDavid Nissan, Inc., 84 S.W.3d 212, 222-23 (Tex. 2002).
34 raise the issue during the period when the court again had the authority to consider
it. The judgment was entered four months later without John Moore urging its
motion for leave to amend at all. CR115-19.
The trial court acted within its sound discretion in denying any further
pleading amendments given the automatic stay and John Moore’s lack of diligence.
John Moore had ample opportunity to add new claims and join new parties, both
before and after this Court’s opinion. John Moore’s delay in raising the issue
justified the trial court’s decision. See e.g. Perez v. Embree Constr. Group, Inc.,
228 S.W.3d 875, 883 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007, pet. denied) (trial court did not
abuse its discretion in striking amended pleading filed well after pleading
amendment deadline); Cherry v. McCall, 138 S.W.3d 35, 42-43 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 2004, pet. denied) (the trial court did not abuse its discretion in striking
amended pleading filed post-trial).
Even if John Moore had requested a pleading amendment after the mandate
issued, the trial court still would have been justified in denying the request. In
other cases involving similar interlocutory appeals under the TCPA, appellate
courts have recognized that the reversal of a denial of a motion to dismiss ends the
litigation, aside from the collateral issues of fees, costs, and sanctions. See e.g.
James, 446 S.W.3d at 150 (reversing denial of motion to dismiss and remanding
for further proceedings related to attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses, and sanctions
35 and to order dismissal of lawsuit); Shipp v. Malouf, 439 S.W.3d 432, 442 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2014, pet. denied) (reversing and rendering judgment of dismissal,
and remanding for award of fees and sanctions); Schimmel v. McGregor, 438
S.W.3d 847, 863 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, pet. denied) (reversing
denial of motion to dismiss and remanding for further proceedings related to
attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses and to order dismissal of lawsuit). Allowing
John Moore to circumvent this Court’s resolution of this dispute by re-pleading
after the appeal is contrary to the appellate courts’ recognition in other cases that
these decisions are to be accorded finality.
B. The Trial Court Acted Within Its Sound Discretion In Declining To Consolidate This Case With The New Lawsuit. John Moore cannot demonstrate that the trial court abused its discretion in
declining to consolidate this case with its second lawsuit. Not only did John
Moore fail to properly preserve that complaint, but it also has no merit. The trial
court correctly declined to allow John Moore to effectively circumvent its prior
ruling declining its request to add new claims and join new parties.
1. John Moore Waived Its Challenge To The Alleged Failure To Consolidate This Case With Its Second Lawsuit. John Moore failed to preserve its challenge to the trial court’s alleged failure
to consolidate this case with its second lawsuit. John Moore filed its second
lawsuit in December 2013, approximately 1½ years after filing this action, and
36 after this Court decided that the trial court should have dismissed John Moore’s
claims. FirstSupp.CR552. When the mandate issued from this Court on April 4,
2014, John Moore did not quickly file its motion to consolidate its duplicative
lawsuits. Instead, it cursorily raised the issue in a response to the Bureau’s request
for attorneys’ fees, FirstSupp.CR374, yet conceded at the hearing on the Bureau’s
motion that the consolidation issue was not set for hearing. 2RR29-30. Instead,
John Moore waited four months—after the trial on attorneys’ fees and the filing of
the Bureau’s motion for the entry of a final judgment—to file its formal motion to
consolidate. FirstSupp.CR458-88, 490-684.
And, even when John Moore finally filed its motion to consolidate, it again
neglected to ensure that it was properly before the court. John Moore’s motion to
consolidate was filed the day before the hearing on the Bureau’s motion for entry
of final judgment. FirstSupp.CR490-684. John Moore filed an accompanying
notice of oral hearing on the motion indicating it would be heard the following day.
FirstSupp.CR686. However, the Bureau’s counsel objected to the court’s
entertaining the motion to consolidate during the hearing on the motion for entry of
judgment because it was never set on the court’s docket and John Moore failed to
provide the requisite notice. 5RR21; TEX. R. CIV. P. 21. John Moore’s counsel
even conceded at the hearing that it “[could] wait another day to talk about the
37 consolidation issue.” 5RR8-9. The trial court sustained the Bureau’s objections to
the lack of notice on John Moore’s motions. 5RR22.
The trial court then proceeded to enter final judgment. FirstSupp.CR688-92.
Contrary to John Moore’s assertions, the trial court did not “expressly consider and
reject[] [John Moore’s] consolidation arguments.” App. Br. 21. The record is
clear that the court declined to consider the consolidation motion because it was
not properly set for hearing. Although the court indicated that John Moore was
free to set its outstanding motions for hearing, it admonished John Moore that its
motion to consolidate would be “[met] with some skepticism from the Court.”
5RR27. Thereafter, John Moore did nothing to attempt to re-urge its motions or
set them for hearing.
Because it failed to set its consolidation motions for hearing, John Moore did
not preserve the complaint for appellate review. The issue was never properly
presented to the trial court. See Lemons v. EMW Mfg. Co., 747 S.W.2d 372, 373
(Tex. 1988) (per curiam). John Moore’s complaint should be deemed waived.
2. John Moore’s Post-Verdict Consolidation Request Was Untimely and An Attempt to Avoid The Earlier Denial of Pleading Amendments. Even if the complaint over consolidation was preserved, however, it would
still be meritless. John Moore’s delay in moving for consolidation provides
another basis for affirmance of the judgment. John Moore buried its first request in
38 a reply brief and never set it on the court’s docket. FirstSupp.CR374. It then
waited until well after this Court’s ruling in the interlocutory appeal and the
subsequent attorneys’ fee trial to file a separate motion to consolidate.
FirstSupp.CR490-684. Even if the trial court had considered that motion, it would
have been justified in denying it because it was made post-trial. See Hunter v.
Andrews, 570 S.W.2d 590, 593 (Tex. Civ. App.—Waco 1978, no writ) (finding no
abuse of discretion in trial court’s decision declining consolidation of newly filed
case and action that was halfway through trial); see also South W. Prop. Trust, Inc.
v. Dallas Cty Flood Control Dist., 136 S.W.3d 1, 12 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2001, no
pet.) (trial court’s denial of motion to consolidate not an abuse of discretion in the
absence of showing of any harm).
The denial of the motion to consolidate did not prejudice John Moore
because the case had ended. Any consolidation after the first case was dismissed
and the remaining issue of attorneys’ fees was decided would only have been
prejudicial to the Bureau. See In re Ethyl Corp., 975 S.W.2d 606, 610 (Tex. 1998).
If there has been any claim splitting or unnecessary “increased burden on the
parties and the courts,” it is only because John Moore has caused it through the
filing of serial litigation. App. Br. 22, 24. John Moore concedes that the new
lawsuit was filed to circumvent the trial court’s denial of further pleading
amendments. See supra p. 1 n.1.
39 Further, the trial court entered an order dismissing John Moore’s second
lawsuit only days later.8 FirstSupp.CR693-94. Thus, consolidation would not
have allowed John Moore to continue to pursue any of its legal theories. As a
result, the lack of consolidation could not have harmed John Moore. Regardless,
this case had been resolved, so it would not have been appropriate to consolidate
the two cases. The trial court’s decision to enter final judgment without
consolidating this matter with the second case was correct. For all these reasons,
the trial court’s decision should be affirmed.
CONCLUSION AND PRAYER
For all these reasons, Appellee The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan
Houston, Inc. respectfully requests that the trial court’s judgment be affirmed.
Alternatively, the case should be remanded for the trial judge to determine
attorneys’ fees, and for such other and further relief to which it may show itself to
be justly entitled.
Dated: May 20, 2015.
8 Because the trial court did not sign the order granting the motion to dismiss within the requisite statutory time period, the motion was deemed overruled by operation of law, and the Bureau filed an interlocutory appeal in the second case as well.
40 Respectfully submitted,
PORTER HEDGES LLP
By: /s/ Lauren Beck Harris Lauren B. Harris Texas Bar No. 02009470 lharris@porterhedges.com Jeffrey R. Elkin Texas Bar No. 06522180 Susan K. Hellinger Texas Bar No. 00787855 M. Harris Stamey Texas Bar No. 24060650 1000 Main Street, 36th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 226-6624 Facsimile: (713) 226-6224
Attorneys for Appellee The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan, Houston, Inc.
41 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Pursuant to Rules 6.3 and 9.5(b), (d), and (e) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, this is to certify that on this 20th day of May 2015, a true and correct copy of the foregoing was served on the following counsel of record by U.S. first class mail and by electronic delivery as follows:
Douglas Pritchett, Jr. Johnson Trent West & Taylor LLP 919 Milam Street, Suite 1700 Houston, Texas 77002
Lori Hood Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. 1301 McKinney St., Suite 3700 Houston, Texas 77010
Attorneys for Appellants John Moore Services, Inc. and John Moore Renovation, LLC
/s/ Lauren B. Harris
42 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
This brief complies with the type-volume limitation of Texas Rule of
Appellate Procedure 9.4(i)(2)(B) because this brief contains 9,084 words,
excluding the parts of the brief exempted by Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure
9.4(i)(1).
This brief complies with the typeface requirements of Texas Rule of
Appellate Procedure 9.4(e) and the type style requirements of Texas Rule of
Appellate Procedure 9.4(e) because this brief has been prepared in a proportionally
spaced typeface using Microsoft Word in 14-point Times New Roman font or
larger.
/s/ Lauren B. Harris Lauren B. Harris
43 APPENDIX TAB A: TEX. CIV. PRAC & REM. CODE ANN. §51.014 § 51.014. Appeal from Interlocutory Order (a) A person may appeal from an interlocutory order of a district court, county court at law, statutory probate court, or county court thaC: (1) appoints a receiver or trustee; (2) overrules a motion to vacate an order that appoints a receiver or trustee; (3) certifies or refuses to certify a class in a suit brought under Rule 42 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure; (4) giants or refuses a temporary injunction or grants or overrules ~t motion to dissolve a temporary injunction as provided by Chapter 63: (5) denies a motion for summary judgment that is based on an assertion of immunity by an individual who is an officer or employ$ of the state or a political subdivision of the state; (6) denies a motion for summary judgment that is based in whole or: in part upon a claim against or defense by a member of the e1ectrOLil&~ or print media, acting in such capacity, or a person whose commut~k cation appears in or is published by the electronic or print mcclitij: arising under the free speech or free press clause of the First AmeiuIi~ ment to the United States Constitution, or Article I, Section 8, of tIiØ Texas Constitution, or Chapter 73; (7) grants or denies the special appearance of a defendant unck~~ Rule 120a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, except in a suit brougft~ under the Family Code; 446 APPEALS § 51.014 Cli. 51 (8) grants or denies a plea to the jurisdiction by a governmental unit as that term is defined in Section 101.001; (9) denies all or part of tile relief sought by a motion under Section 74. 351(b), except that an appeal may not be taken from an order granting an extension under Section 74.35 1; (10) grants relief sought by a motion under Section 74.351(l); (11) &nies amotion to dismiss filed under Section 90.007; or Text of subsec. i’affl2), as added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., cli. 44 (FIB. 200), § I (12) denies a motion for summary judgment filed by an electric utility regarding liability in a suit subject to Section 75.0022. Text of subsec. ~a,~(12), as added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg,, oh. 1042 (H.B. 2935), § 4 (12) denies a motion to dismiss filed under Section 27.003. Text of subsec. (b), as amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., oh. 916 (I-LB. 1366), § I ~b) An interlocutory appeal under Subsection (a), other than an ap peal under Subsection (a)(4) or in a suit brought under the Family Code, stays tile commencement of a trial in the trial court pending resolution of the appeal. An interlocutory appeal under Subsection (a)(3), (5), or (8) also stays all other proceedings in tile trial court pending resolution of that appeal. 1 Text of subsec. (h,), as amended by Acts 2013, - 83rd Leg., oh. 1042 (H.B. 2935), § 4 (b) Ap interlocutory appeal under Subsection (a), other than an ap peal under Subsection (a)(4), stays the commencement of a trial in the trial court pending resolution of the appeal. An interlocutory appeal under Subsection (a)(3), (5), (8), or (12) also stays all other proceedings in the trial court pending resolution of that appeal. (c) A denial of a motion for summary judgment, special appearance, or plea to the jurisdiction described by Subsection (a)(5), (7), or (8) is not subject to the automatic stay under Subsection (b) unless the motion, special appearance, or plea to the jurisdiction is filed and requested for submission or hearing before the trial court not later than (he later of: (1) a date set by the trial court in a scheduling order entered under the ‘Texas Rules of Civil Procedure; or (2) the 180th day after the date thp defendant files: ~A) the original answer; 447 § 5 1.014 TRiAL, JUDGMENT & APPEAL TIUe 2 (B) the first other responsive pleading to the plaintiff’s petition; or (C) if the plaintiff files an amended pleading that alleges a new cause of action against the defendant and the defendant is able to raise a defense to the new cause of action under Subsection (a)(5), (7), or (8), the responsive pleading that raises that defense. (d) On a party’s motion or on its own initiative, a trial court in a civil action may, by written order, permit an appeal from an order that is not otherwise appealable if: (1) the order to be appealed involves a controlling question of law as to which there is a substantial ground for difference of opinion; and (2) an immediate appeal from the order may materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation. (cl—i) Subsection (d) does not apply to an action brought under the Family Code. (e) An appeal under Subsection Cd) does not stay proceedings in the trial court unless: (1) the parties agree to a stay; or (2) the trial or appellate court orders a stay of the proceedings pending appeal. (0 An appellate court may accept an appeal permitted by Subsection (d) if the appealing party, not later than the 15th day after the date the trial court signs the order to be appealed, files in the court of appeals having appellate jurisdiction over the action an application for interloc utory appeal explaining why an appeal is warranted under Subsection (d). If the court of appeals accepts the appeal, the appeal is governed by the procedures in the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure for pursu ing an accelerated appeal. The date the court of appeals enters the order accepting the appeal starts the time applicable to filing the notice of appeal. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 959, § 1, elF. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 167, § 3.10, elf. Sept 1, 1987; Acts 1989. 71st Leg., ch. 915, § 1, eff. June 14, 1989; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 855, § 1, elf. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1296, § 1, eff. June 20, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., cli. 1389, § 1, elf. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, § 1.03, elf. Sept. I, 2003; Acts 2005, 79th Leg.. ch. 97, § 5, elI. Sept. 1, 2005; Acts 2005, 79th Leg,, ch. 1051, §~ 1, 2, elf. June 18, 2005; Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., ch. 203 (N.E. 274), § 3.01, eff. Sept. 1,2011; Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., ch. 44 (H3. 200), § 1, elf. May 16, 2013; Acts 2013, 83rd Leg.. cli. 604 (S.B. 1083), § 1, elf. Sept. 1, 2013; Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., ch. 916 (H.B. 1366), § 1, elf. Sept. 1, 2013; Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., ch. 961 (HE. 1874), § 1, elf. Sept 1, 2013; Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., cli. 1042 (H.B. 2935), § 4, eff. June 14,2013. 448 APPENDIX TAB B: Act of May 24, 2013, 83d Leg., R.S., H.B. 2935, § 6. 83rd LEGJSLATUR~nEouLAR SESSION Cli. 1042, §- 4
CHAPTER 1042 H.B. No. 2935 AN ACT relating to a legal action Involving the exercise of certain constitutional rights. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas: SECTION 1. Section 27.004, Givil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 27.004. HEARING. (a) A hearing on a motion under Section 27.003 must be set not later than the aUth (30th] day after the date of service of the motion unless the docket conditions of the court require a later hearing, upon a showing of good cause, or by agreement of the j’wiies, but z~ no eve-zt shall the hearing occici’ mo;e than 00 days after service of the motion wirier Section 27.003, except as provided by Subsection tc~. (b) In the event that the court cannot hold a. hearing in the time requtrecl by Subsection (a), the court may take judicial notice that the crnrrt~s docket conditions -required a hearing at a- late,’ date, but in -no event shall the hearing occur more than 00 days after service of the motion under Section, 2 7.003, except as provided by Subsection (ca. (c) If the co-wri aliows’ctjscoue,’y wzde, Section 27.006(b), the coupt may extend the hearing ciate to allow discovery uder that subsection, but in -no event s/ia/i tli.e hearing occwr more than 120 clays after the service of the motion under Section 27.003. - SECTION 2. Section 27.005, Clvii Practice and Remedies Code, is amended byiidding Subsection Cd) to read as follows: (ci,) Notwit/ista-na-imig the provisions of Subsection (c), the court shall dismiss a legal action against the moving party if the moving party establishes by a preponderance of the evidence each essential element of a valid defense to the non-nw vant~s claim, SECTION 3. Section 27.010, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection Cd) to read as follows: (5) This chapter does not apply to a legal action brought against a person primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing goods or services, if the statement or conduct arises out of the sale or lease of goods, services, or an insurance product inswrance services, or a commercial transaction in which the intended audience is an actual or potential buyer or customer. ed.) This chapte;’ does not apply to a legal action brought under the Inswunce code or arMing out of an inswra-nce contract. SECTION 4. Sections SI.014(a) and (5), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, are amended to read as follows: Ca) A person may appeal from an interlocutory order of a district court, county court at law, or county court that: (1) appoints a receiver or trustee; (2) overrules a motion to vacate an order that appoints a receiver or trustee; (3) certifies or refuses to certify a class in a suit brought under Rule 42 of the Texas~ Rules of Civil Procedure; (4) grants or refuses a temporary injunction or grants or overrules a motion to dissolve a temporary injunction as provided by Chapter 65; (5) denies a motion for summary judgment that is based on an assertion of immunity by an individual who is an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state; (6) denies a motion for summary judgment that is based in whole or in part upon a claim against or defense by a member of the electronic or print media, acting in such capacity, or a person whose communication appears in or is published by the electronic or print media, arising under the free speech 01’ free press clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or Article I, Section 8, of the Texas Constitution, or Chapter 78; 2501 Cli. 1042, § 4 S3rcl LEGISLATURE—REGULAR SESSION
(7) grants or denies the special appearance of a defendant uncle” Rule 120a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, except in a suit brought under the Family Code; (8) grants or denies a plea to the jurisdiction by a governmental unit as that term is defined in Section 101.001; (9) denies all or part of the relief sought by a motion nuder Section 74.351(h), except that an appeal may not be taken from an order granting an extension under Section 74.351; (10) grants relief sought by a motion under Section 74.351(1); [or] (11) denies a motion to dismiss filed under Section 90.007; or (12) denies a motion to disn,iss filed under Section 97.00..?. (b) An interlocutory appeal under Subsection (a), other than an appeal under Subsection (a)(4). stays the commencement of a trial in the trial court pending resolution of the appeal, An interlocutory appeal under Subsection (a)ç3), (5), [or] (8), or (12) also stays all other proceedings in the trial court pending resolution of that appeal. SECTION 5. Section 27.008(c), Civil Practice und Remedies Code, is repealed. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 89, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 201:3. Passed by the House on May 2, 20-13: Yeas 145, Nays 2, 2 present, not voting: the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2935 on May 24, 2013: Yeas 135, Nays 3,2 present, not voting: passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 22, 2013: Yeas 31, Nays 0. Approved Juno 14,2013. Effective June 14, 2013.
CHAPTER 1043
1-1.13. No. 2972 AN ACT relating to exempting premiums for certain insurance covering stored or in-transit baled cotton from surplus lines Insurance premium taxes. Be it enacted by the Legislatwrc of the State of Texas: SECTION 1. Section 225.004, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) Prenflu,ns oti risks or eZpOSlfltS ze.uclc~’ ocean ntcn’hie insurance coverage qf stored or in-transit baled cottom for export are not subject to the tax imposed. by this ch.drpt(fl~ SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not affect tax liability accruing before the effective date of this Act. That liability continues in effect as if this Act had not been enacted, and the former law is continued in effect for the collection of taxes due anti fot: civil and criminal enforcement of the liability for those taxes. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2014. Passed by the House on May 10, 2013: Yeas 139, Nays 0,2 present. not young; passed by the Senate on May 22, 2013: Yeas 30, Nays 1. Approved June 14, 2013. Effective January 1,2014. 2502 APPENDIX TAB C: Timeline of Procedural Events TIMELINE OF PROCEDURAL EVENTS
2012 June 6-18-12: John Moore files its first case. July
August JM does not join new parties before September the joinder 10-3-12: TCPA motion to deadline. dismiss is denied. October 10-22-12: Interlocutory appeal filed. November 11-16-12: Deadline to join new parties December
2013 January JM does not amend its petition before the original pleading deadline. February
March
April 4-26-13: Original pleading deadline May passes.
4938932v1 2013 JM does not seek relief from the June 6-14-13: TCPA amended to stay and leave to include an automatic stay amend its during an interlocutory appeal. pleadings before July 7-16-13: The First Court of the extended Appeals issues its opinion. pleading deadline. August 7-26-13: Extended pleading amendment deadline passes. September 9-27-13: Amended October petition filed. 11-1-13: The trial court grants the November motion for reconsideration, strikes John Moore’s amended petition, and vacates its prior orders. December 12-19-13: John Moore files a second lawsuit. 2014
January
February
March
April 4-4-14: The mandate issues.
JM does not May move to consolidate after the stay June is lifted, but waits until the 8-4-14: The Bureau moves for July final judgment. day before judgment. 8-7-14: John Moore files August motion to consolidate.
8-8-14: Final judgment in the first case
4938932v1
John Moore Services, Inc. and John Moore Renovation, LLC v. the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston Inc. (John Moore Services, Inc. and John Moore Renovation, LLC v. the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston Inc.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.