ACCEPTED 03-15-00631-CV 8017292 THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 11/30/2015 3:36:06 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE CLERK ______________
03-15-00631-CV FILED IN 3rd COURT OF APPEALS ______________ AUSTIN, TEXAS 11/30/2015 3:36:06 PM IN THE JEFFREY D. KYLE COURT OF APPEALS Clerk FOR THE THIRD SUPREME JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
MELISSA GATES, Appellant
vs.
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND COMISSIONER JOHN SPECIA, Appellees
BRIEF FOR APPELLANT MELISSA GATES
Thomas C. Sanders Robert G. Gibson, Jr. S.B.N. 17609900 S.B.N. 07873700 P. O. Box 1860 P. O. Box 387 Sugar Land, Texas 77487 Rosenberg, Texas 77471 281/242-9700 Telephone 713/953-0500 Telephone 281/242-8340 Facsimile 713/953-0750 Facsimile tcsanders76@yahoo.com rgglaw@juno.com
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
ORAL ARGUMENT IS REQUESTED IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
The following is a complete list of all parties to the trial court’s
final judgment, as well as the names and addresses of all trial and
appellate counsel.
PARTIES COUNSEL
Plaintiff/Appellant
Melissa Gates Thomas C. Sanders Attorney at Law P. O. Box 1860 Sugar Land, Texas 77487 281/242-9700 Telephone 281/242-8340 Facsimile tcsanders76@yahoo.com
Robert G. Gibson, Jr. Attorney at Law P. O. Box 387 Rosenberg, Texas 77471 713/953-0500 Telephone 713/953-0750 Facsimile rgglaw@juno.com
Appellees
Texas Department of Family and Ken Paxton Protective Services f/k/a Texas Attorney General of Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and John Charles E. Roy Specia, Commissioner of First Assistant Attorney General Texas Department of Family and Protective Services James E. Davis Deputy Attorney General for Defense Litigation
Angela V. Colmenero Chief, General Litigation Division
- ii - Marc Rietvelt Attorney-in-Charge Assistant Attorney General Office of the Attorney General General Litigation Division - 019 P.O. Box 12548, Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711-2548 512/463-2120 Telephone 512/320-0667 Facsimile Marc.Rietvelt@texasattorneygeneral.gov
- iii - TABLE OF CONTENTS IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ………...……….……………ii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ……………………………………….............vi
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ……….………………………………........ix
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION .…………………….............................x
ISSUES PRESENTED …………………………………..…………………xi
STATEMENT OF FACTS ………………………………………………….2 Substantive Facts ……………………………………………………..2
Procedural Facts ……………………………………………...............5
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ……………………………………….6
ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES …………………………....................7
APPELLATE STANDARD …………………………………………7
Plea to Jurisdiction …………………………..................7
APPLYING STANDARD OF REVIEW TO THE PLEADINGS ….8
DO THE PLEADINGS, TAKEN AS TRUE, CONFER SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION UPON THE TRIAL COURT? …9
Facts pled and which must be taken as true …………..10
Causes of action pled ………………………………….14
TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DISMISSING CASE AND DENYING MELISSA’S ATTORNEYS’ FEES FOR LACK OF MOOTNESS/ SUBJECT MATTER DUE TO LIVE CONTROVERSIES ………..15
Live Controversy as to Substantive Issues ………………….15
Live Controversy as to Attorneys’ Fees …………..................17
- iv - TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO DISTINGUISH THE DISTINCT FACTS OF THIS CASE FROM CASES APPELLEES MISTAKENLY RELIED UPON IN THEIR PLEA ……………......19
A. City of El Paso v. Abbott…………………………...19
B. Tex. State Bd. Vet. Med. Exams v. Giggleman ……..21
C. Abbott and Giggleman are not on point, and thus do not establish mootness/lack of subject matter ……...22
MOOTNESS STANDARD DOCTRINE EXCEPTIONS ………….24
Public interest exception ……………………………………..24
A. Appellees’ actions are of public importance …...24
B. Appellees’ actions are capable of repetition and evade appellate review …………………………25
Collateral consequences exception …………………………..26
Capable of repetition, yet evading review exception ………..28
A. Challenged action was too short to be litigated fully …………………………………………….28
B. A reasonable expectation exists that Melissa will be subjected to the same action again ……. 29
CONCLUSION ………………………………............................................30
PRAYER ………………………………………………..............................30
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ……………………………………...31
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE …………………………………………….31
APPENDIX
Final Judgment of July 9, 2015 …………...………………..Exhibit 1
-v- INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
CASES Page
Allstate Ins. Co. v. Hallman, 159 S.W.3d. 640, 642 (Tex.2005) …………………………..………15
Bland Independent School Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 554 (Tex.2000) ……………………………......…7, 8
Blum v. Lanier, 997 S.W.2d 259, 264 (Tex.1999) ……………………………..…….28
Bonham State Bank v. Beadle, 907 S.W.2d 465, 467 (Tex.1995) ……………………..…………….15
Camarena v. Texas Employment Commission, 754 S.W.2d 149, 151 (Tex.1988) ……………………………....17, 18
City of El Paso v. Abbott, 444 S.W.3d 315 (Tex.App.–Austin 2014, pet. denied) ………………………………………fn. 9, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
City of Elsa v. Gonzalez, 325 S.W.3d 622, 625 (Tex.2010) ……………………………......fn. 4
City of Garland v. Dallas Morning News, 22 S.W.3d 351, 356 (Tex.2000) ………………………………… fn. 5
City of Houston v. Houston Chronicle Pub. Co., 673 S.W.2d 316, 324 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1984, no writ) ……………………………………………………………fn. 5
County of Cameron v. Brown, 80 S.W.3d 549, 555 (Tex.2002) ..…………………………………….8
Gary W. Gates, Jr. v. Tex. Dep’t of Family and Protective Services and Anne Heiligentstein, Commissioner, Cause No. D-1-GN-11-002300, 53rd Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas no on appeal to the Third Court f Appeals, Cause No. 03-13-00369-CV………fn. 7
General Land Office v. OXY U.S.A., Inc., 789 S.W.2d 569, 571 (Tex.1990) ..…………………........................28
- vi - Grand Prairie Hosp. Authority v. Tarrant Appraisal Dist., 707 S.W.2d 281, 283 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1986, writ ref’d n.r.e.)…………………………………………………………..........8,9
Harris County v. Proler, 29 S.W.3d 646, 647 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist] 2000, no pet.) ……………………………………………………………7, 9
Jackson v. State Office of Administrative Hearings, 351 S.W.3d 290, 293 (Tex.2011) …………….……...........fn. 8, fn. 10
James v. Hubbard, 21 S.W.3d 558, 560-561 (Tex.App.–San Antonio 2010, no pet.) …27
Labrado v. County of El Paso, 132 S.W.3d 581, 589-90 (Tex.App.–El Paso 2004, no pet.) ………17
Ngo v. Ngo, 133 S.W.3d 688, 691 (Tex.App.–Corpus Christi-Edinburg 2003, no pet.)……………………………………………………fn. 11
Securtec, Inc. v. County of Gregg, 106 S.W.3d 803, 810-811 (Tex.App.–Texarkana 2003, pet. denied) …….……………………………………fn. 11, 24, 25, 26
Spring Branch I.S.D. v. Reynolds, 764 S.W.2d 16, 19 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1988, no writ) ...27
State v. Lodge, 608 S.W.2d 910, 912 (Tex.1980) .……………………………….…27
Tarrant County v. McQuary, 310 S.W.3d 170, 173 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth (2010)……………........2
Tex. Ass’n of Bus. v. Tex. Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d 440, 446 (Tex.1993) ……………………………………8
Tex. Dep’t of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda¸ 133 S.W.3d 217, 226 (Tex.2004)……………………………………..2
Texas Department of Transp. v. Jones, 8 S.W.3d 636, 638 (Tex.1999) ……………………………………….7
- vii - Tex. Natural Res. Conservation Comm’n v. IT-Davey, 74 S.W.3d 849, 855 (Tex.2002) ……………….……………………..7
Tex. State Bd. Vet. Med. Examiners v. Giggleman, 408 S.W.3d 696 (Tex.App.–Austin 2013) ………………………..……..fn. 9, fn. 10, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26
University Interscholastic League v. Buchanan, 848 S.W.2d 298, 304 (Tex.App.–Austin 1993, no writ) ………..fn. 11
University of Tex. Med. Branch v. Hohman, 6 S.W.3d 767, 771 (Tex.App.– Houston [1st. Dist.] 1999, pet. dism’d w.o.j.) (op. on reh’g) ..…………..………………………8
Williams v. Lara, 52 S.W.3d 171, 184 (Tex.2001) …….………………………..…….28
STATUTES Page
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE Chapter 37 (West Supp. 2014) ……… 6
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 37.002(b) (West Supp. 2014) .…….18
TEX. GOV’T. CODE ANN. § 22.220(a) (West Supp. 2014) ………….…..x
TEX. GOV’T. CODE ANN. § 22.221(a) (West Supp. 2014) ……….……..x
TEX. GOV’T. CODE ANN. § 552.001(a) (West Supp. 2014) .xi, 3, fn. 8, 29
TEX. GOV’T. CODE ANN. § 552.221(a) (West Supp. 2014) ……..fn. 6, 20
TEX. GOV’T. CODE ANN. § 552.324(b) (West Supp. 2014) .11, 12, 19, 20
- viii - STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Nature of the Case: Melissa Gates (“Melissa”), Appellant, contends that the Department of Family and Protective Services and John Specia, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellees, (collectively “Appellees”) withheld timely production of documents responsive to a request made under the Texas Public Information Act, TEX. GOV’T. CODE ANN. § 552.001, et. seq. (West Supp. 2014), in order to gain a tactical advantage and/or a perceived tactical advantage in a pending registry case. CR 5-7, 9, 168-74.
Judgment signed by: Honorable Lora J. Livingston. CR 446; APP.
Trial Court: 98th District Court, Travis County, Texas.
Disposition at Trial: Appellees filed a Plea to Jurisdiction and Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction (“Plea”). CR 49-167, 267. On July 9, 2015, the trial court signed its final Order granting the Plea. CR 446, APP. Melissa filed her Motion for New Trial on August 3, 2015, which was denied by the trial court on September 23, 2015. CR 447-57, 515.
- ix - STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION
This is an appeal of a final Order signed on July 9, 2015, granting
Appellees’ Amended Plea to Jurisdiction. This Honorable Court has
jurisdiction over this appeal by virtue of TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. §§
22.220(a) and 22.221 (West Supp. 2014).
-x- ISSUES PRESENTED
A. Can a member of the public be denied standing to redress/remedy
when governmental actors intentionally delay in complying with the
Texas Public Information Act, TEX. GOV’T. CODE ANN. §
552.001, et. seq. (West Supp. 2014), in order to gain a tactical
advantage and/or a perceived tactical advantage in separate and
concurring litigation?
B. Did the trial court err in concluding that it does not have subject-
matter jurisdiction due to the mootness doctrine?
- xi - ______________
03-15-00631-CV ______________
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD SUPREME JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND COMMISSIONER, JOHN SPECIA, Appellees
TO THE HONORABLE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS:
Melissa Gates (“Melissa”), Appellant, files this brief in support of her
appeal of the trial court’s final Order granting the Department of Family and
Protective Services’ and Commissioner John Specia’s Amended Plea to
Jurisdiction and by way of this brief shows:
-1- STATEMENT OF FACTS
Substantive Facts
The trial court was required to take the substantive facts pled by Melissa
in her First Amended Petition for Declaratory Relief and in Plaintiff’s
Supplement to Plaintiff’s First Amended Petition for Declaratory Relief,
Injunctive Relief and Writ of Mandamus, (collectively “Petitions”) as true. “We
construe the pleadings liberally in favor of the plaintiff, look to the pleader’s
intent, and accept the pleadings’ factual allegations as true. Tex. Dep’t of Parks
& Wildlife v. Miranda¸133 S.W.3d 217, 226 (Tex.2004).” Tarrant County v.
McQuary, 310 S.W.3d 170, 173 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth (2010).
Substantive facts plead by Melissa include:
(1) in 2011, several of Melissa’s children, including her special needs
daughter (“A.G.”) were at the center of a DFPS investigation
(“2011 Investigation”); CR 4, 172;
(2) On October 13, 2011 (CR 223 – 226, 316-319) and October 14,
2011 (CR 208-213, 301-306) Melissa’s husband wrote letters
including a Public Information Request regarding the 2011
Investigation to DFPS personnel.
(3) On October, 25, 2011, attaching Melissa’s husband’s October
13, 2011 and October 14, 2011 to an email, DFPS attorneys and
-2- others scheduled a “high level review” relative to the 2011
Investigation “not so much…about specifics of these recent
investigations. . .but rather how this matter ties into the overall
general litigation.” CR 174, 207, 259, 264, 3001
(4) or about November 7, 2012, Melissa requested specific documents
and information from DFPS pursuant to the Texas Public
Information Act, TEX. GOV’T. CODE ANN. § 552.001, et. seq.
(West Supp. 2014), (“TPIA”) in regard to the 2011 Investigation
(“Melissa’s Request”); CR 171, 178-79;
(5) on or about November 20, 2012, DFPS requested an Open Records
Decision of the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) regarding
Melissa’s Request (“DFPS’ Request”); CR 172, 182-86;
(6) on or about January 17, 2013, the OAG responded to DFPS’
Request with its Open Records Decision (“Decision”) directing
DFPS to turn over the requested documents and information
(“Information”) to Melissa; CR 172-73, 374-76;
1 CR 207 and CR 300 both are the October 25, 2011 e-mail showing the attached letters. CR207-258 is Exhibit J for Plaintiff’s Supplement to First Amended Petition including both letters and documents sent by Plaintiff’s husband with each of those letter. Ex J is referenced in the document (CR 174) but not clearly labeled as an exhibit. It follows Ex. I, but does not have its own label as Ex. J. The same documents comprise Ex. J for Plaintiff’s Response to Defendants’ Amended Motion for Summary Judgment. This Exhibit J is not only referenced in the document (CR 264), but clearly marked as Exhibit J (CR 300-351) among the other exhibits.
-3- (7) on or about January 22, 2013, Melissa inquired with DFPS as to
when she could expect to receive the responsive Information
required by the OAG’s Decision. CR 5, 378;
(8) on or about March 5, 2013, Melissa’s husband, Gary, wrote to
DFPS inquiring whether or not DFPS would provide the
Information, and if not, then to provide the statute, rule, and/or
policy under which DFPS was electing to withhold the Information
in defiance to the OAG’s Decision; CR 5, 31;
(9) on or about March 12, 2013, Jonathan Miles, Open Government
Attorney for DFPS, responded by advising that a mistake had been
made in submitting DFPS’ Request to the OAG and that DFPS
would not be producing the Information; CR 5-6, 33;
(10) on or about July 10, 2013, Melissa filed her Petition for Declaratory
Relief and Writ of Mandamus; CR 55-61, 173;
(11) on or about August 8, 2014, over twenty months after the initial
submission of Melissa’s Request, Appellees finally responded with
document production; CR 6, 41;
(12) on September 2, 2014 Melissa wrote to DFPS explaining that not
all pages/attachments had been produced and requesting a further
check by DFPS regarding those documents; CR 6-7, 42; and,
-4- (13) on November 25, 2014, Appellees supplemented their response by
providing additional documents. CR 7, 46-8.
Procedural Facts
The following procedural facts are established by virtue of the Clerk’s
Record:
(1) Appellees filed a Plea to Jurisdiction and Amended Plea to
Jurisdiction (collectively “Plea”) on April 28, 2015 and April 29,
2015, respectively; CR 49-167, 112-16, 267;
(2) Melissa filed her Plaintiff’s First Amended Petition for Declaratory
Relief and her Plaintiff’s Supplement to First Amended Petition for
Declaratory, Injunctive Relief and Writ of Mandamus on April 28,
2015 and May 18, 2015, respectively; CR 3-10, 168-77 2;
(3) on May 26, 2015, Melissa filed her Plaintiff’s Response to
Defendants’ Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction; CR 259-70 3;
(4) on June 9, 2015, Melissa filed her Plaintiff’s Supplement to
Plaintiff’s Response to Defendants’ Amended Plea to the
Jurisdiction; CR 432-39;
(5) on June 11, 2015, Appellees filed their Defendants’ Reply in 2 Plaintiff’s Supplement to First Amended Petition includes Exhibit J, (CR 207-258), the very significant October 25, 2011internal DFPS e-mail to this case referenced above. 3 Plaintiff’s Response to Defendants’ Amended Plea to Jurisdiction includes Exhibit J, (CR 300-351), the very significant October 25, 2011internal DFPS e-mail to this case referenced above.
-5- Support of Amended Plea to Jurisdiction; CR 440-45;
(6) on July 9, 2015, the trial court granted the Appellees’ Plea and
signed its final Order; CR 446, APP.;
(7) on August 3, 2015, Melissa filed her Motion for New Trial; CR
447-57; and,
(8) on September 23, 2015, the trial judge denied Melissa’s Motion for
a New Trial. CR 515.
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
This honorable Court is required to make a de novo review of Melissa’s
live pleadings to determine whether the trial court erred in granting the Plea. In
its review, this honorable Court should find the trial court erred in granting the
Plea due the presence of live controversies regarding (1) whether or not Melissa
should be denied standing to seek redress/remedy when Appellees intentionally
delayed in complying with the TPIA in order to gain a tactical advantage and/or
a perceived tactical advantage in separate and concurring litigation; and, (2)
whether or not Melissa can recover attorneys’ fees under the Uniform
Declaratory Judgments Act, TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE Chapter 37
(West Supp. 2014) (“UDJA”). Furthermore, this honorable Court should find
the trial court erred in granting the Plea by failing to distinguish the troubling
facts of this case from those cases that Appellees’ mistakenly relied upon in
-6- their Plea. Alternatively, this honorable Court should find the trial court erred
in granting the Plea for lack of subject matter due to the presence of facts that
sufficiently meet mootness doctrine exceptions.
ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES
APPELLATE STANDARD
Plea to Jurisdiction
“A plea to the jurisdiction is a dilatory plea, the purpose of which is to
defeat a cause of action without regard to whether the claims asserted have
merit.” Bland Independent School Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 554
(Tex.2000). A trial court’s subject matter jurisdiction can be contested by a
plea to jurisdiction. See Texas Department of Transp. v. Jones, 8 S.W.3d
636, 638 (Tex.1999) (per curium). The existence of subject matter
jurisdiction is a question of law and is reviewed de novo. See Tex. Natural
Res. Conservation Comm’n v. IT-Davey, 74 S.W.3d 849, 855 (Tex.2002). A
plaintiff has the burden to allege facts that affirmatively demonstrate that the
trial court has subject matter jurisdiction and the trial court, in deciding the
issue of subject matter jurisdiction, must look solely to the allegations in the
petition and must accept them as true. See Harris County v. Proler, 29
S.W.3d 646, 647 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist] 2000, no pet.). In
reviewing a trial court’s order granting a plea to the jurisdiction, it is not the
-7- appellate court’s task to determine whether the plaintiff ultimately wins or
loses upon judicial review, but to examine the petition and to take as true the
facts pled. University of Tex. Med. Branch v. Hohman, 6 S.W.3d 767, 771
(Tex.App.– Houston [1st. Dist.] 1999, pet. dism’d w.o.j.) (op. on reh’g).
The appellate courts are required to construe the pleadings in favor of the
plaintiff and look to the pleader’s intent when reviewing a case dismissed for
lack of subject matter. Tex. Ass’n of Bus.v. Tex. Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d
440, 446. In deciding the issue of jurisdiction, the reviewing court is not
permitted to either examine or weigh the merits of the case, but may look at
the evidence only when necessary to resolve the jurisdictional issue;
however, such a review must be confined solely to the issue of jurisdiction.
County of Cameron v. Brown, 80 S.W.3d 549, 555 (Tex.2002); Blue, 34
S.W.3d at 555.
APPLYING STANDARD OF REVIEW TO THE PLEADINGS
To properly apply the de novo standard of review, this honorable Court is
required to examine the facts pled in Melissa’s live pleadings and to take those
facts as true. Hohman, 6 S.W.3d at 771. To facilitate this obligation, Melissa
would show that her Petitions are the operative pleadings for this Court’s de
novo review. The filings of the Petitions were timely even though they were
filed subsequent to the filing of the Plea. Grand Prairie Hosp. Authority
-8- v. Tarrant Appraisal Dist., 707 S.W.2d 281, 283 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1986,
writ ref’d n.r.e.).
Based upon the foregoing, this honorable Court should look to the
Petitions in making its de novo review to determine whether the trial court has
subject matter jurisdiction.
DO THE PLEADINGS, TAKEN AS TRUE, CONFER SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION UPON THE TRIAL COURT?
In reviewing the Petitions, this honorable Court must simply answer the
question—do the facts, as pled and taken as true, support subject matter
jurisdiction in the trial court? Proler, 29 S.W.3d 647. If, in answering this
question, this Court finds that the facts pled do indeed support subject matter
jurisdiction, then the trial court’s final Order granting the Plea must be set aside
and this cause must be remanded.4
Facts pled and which must be taken as true
The Petitions allege the following facts, which must be considered by
this Court as true:
4 Although this Brief does not specifically address every fact and claim pled by Melissa in her Petitions, Melissa does not intend to waive any omitted facts or claims pled in her Petitions. This Court, in its de novo review, is required to look at the entirety of Melissa’s Petitions regardless of whether each fact and claim is specifically addressed in this Brief. In considering Melissa’s Petitions, this Court must construe them liberally in Melissa’s favor, look to Melissa’s intent, and determine if Melissa has alleged facts affirmatively demonstrating the court’s jurisdiction. See City of Elsa v. Gonzalez, 325 S.W.3d 622, 625 (Tex.2010).
-9- 1. Melissa’s special needs daughter and other children were the
subjects of a DFPS investigation in 2011; CR 172;
2. Melissa’s husband wrote letters on October 13, 2011 (CR 223 –
226, 316-319) and October 14, 2011 (CR 208-213, 301-306)
Investigation to DFPS personnel; no responsive documents were
received.
3. On October, 25, 2011, in an internal e-mail responsive to the
letters of October 13, 2011 and October 14, 2011, DFPS attorneys
and other executives scheduled a “high level review” relative to
the 2011 investigation to determine how this matter (the 2011
Investigation) fits into overall general litigation with the Gates
family. CR 207, 300;
4. on or about November 7, 2012, Melissa requested Information
from DFPS pursuant to the TPIA under Chapter 552 of the Texas
Government Code; CR 5, 12-13;
5. the requested Information was material and could have been used
to help establish the violation of Melissa’s substantive right to
direct the education and moral training of her daughter, A.G. and
protect her other children; CR 172;
- 10 - 6. the requested Information was material to help try and protect
Melissa’s familial integrity; CR 172;
7. the requested Information was material to try to protect Melissa’s
special needs adult daughter; CR 172;
8. concurrent to Melissa’s Request, Melissa and/or her husband were
involved in pending litigation with Appellees regarding the
improper placement and/or retention of their names in DFPS’
central registry (“Registry Case”); CR 171;
9. on or about November 20, 2012, Appellees requested an Open
Records Decision from the OAG regarding Melissa’s Request; CR
172, 182-84;
10. on or about January 17, 2013, the OAG Decision directed
Appellees to release the Information to Melissa; CR 172-73, 193-
95;
11. Appellees failed to file a suit for judicial review of the OAG’s
Decision within the legal timeframe prescribed by TEX. GOV’T
CODE ANN. § 552.324(b) (West Supp. 2014); CR 8;
12. Appellees’ failure to timely file a suit for judicial review resulted
in the automatic waiver of its objections to the OAG’s Decision.
- 11 - TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 552.324(b) (West Supp. 2014); CR
8;
13. Appellees’ failure to timely file a suit for judicial review resulted
in mandating Appellees’ full compliance with OAG’s Decision.
TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 552.324(b) (West Supp. 2014); CR
14. on or about March 12, 2013, Appellees advised Melissa’s husband
that Appellees had made a mistake in requesting an opinion from
the OAG regarding Melissa’s Request; CR 5-6, 89;
15. on or about March 12, 2013, Appellees advised Melissa’s husband
that Appellees would not be producing the Information; CR 5-6,
89;
16. instead of complying with the TPIA by filing a suit for judicial
review, Appellees intentionally acted extra-statutorily by asserting
a different argument to Melissa’s Request 5; CR 8, 96-97;
17. Appellees refused to comply with the OAG’s Decision for 21
months 6; CR 169, 171;
5 After the ten-day period prescribed for making its request to the OAG, Appellees were proscribed from invoking a different reason than that which it made to the OAG within the ten-day period. If a specific prospective right to withhold information is not presented to the OAG within ten days after the agency receives the request, “the information is presumed public.” City of Garland v. Dallas Morning News, 22 S.W.3d 351, 356 citing City of Houston v. Houston Chronicle Pub. Co., 673 S.W.2d 316, 324 (Tex.App.– Houston [1st Dist.] 1984, no writ).
- 12 - 18. Appellees refused to provide the Information responsive to
Melissa’s Request for 21 months; CR 169, 171;
19. Appellees violated the OAG’s Decision; CR 8;
20. Appellees violated the TPIA; CR 8;
21. Appellees withheld public information, which could have been
used to establish a violation of constitutional liberty interest in the
Registry Case; CR 7;
22. Appellees’ ignored their duty to produce public information
because of their concern that the release of the Information would
strengthen the Registry Case; CR 171; and,
23. Appellees withheld timely production of the Information in order
to gain a tactical advantage and/or perceived tactical advantage in
the Registry Case 7. CR 5-7, 9, 168-74, 207, 259, 261-64, 300,
432-34.
6 Under the TPIA, public information must be promptly produced. “‘[P]romptly’ means as soon as possible under the circumstances, that is, within a reasonable time, without delay.” TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 552.221(a) (West Supp. 2014). 7 The referenced case deals with Texas Constitutional issues regarding the DFPS central registry. Evidence of substantive rights violated by DFPS would be important on the process owed by DFPS in maintaining questioned registry findings. In the case at hand, Plaintiff alleges that DPFS ignored its duty to produce public information because of DFPS' concerns that the release of the documents would strengthen the right to registry process claims. See Gary W. Gates, Jr. v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and Anne Heiligenstein, Commissioner, Cause No. D-1-GN-11-002300, 53rd Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas currently on appeal to the Third Court of Appeals, Cause No.03-13-00369-CV. Oral arguments have been heard, but as of the date of this filing no decision has been rendered.
- 13 - Causes of action pled
By way of her Petitions, Melissa seeks redress for DFPS’ failure to
comply with the OAG’s Decision and the TPIA in order to gain a tactical
advantage and/or perceived tactical advantage in the pending Registry Case. 8
CR 5-7, 9, 168-74, 207, 259, 261-64, 300, 432-34. Melissa seeks declarations
regarding the past violations of Appellees and a writ of mandamus and/or
injunctive relief requiring Appellees to comply with the TPIA in the future.9
CR 9-10; 174-76. Melissa additionally seeks to recover her reasonable costs of
litigation and attorneys’ fees incurred by her in prosecution of this action. CR
9-10.
8 “[The TPIA] is aimed at preserving the fundamental tenet of representative democracy: ‘that the government is the servant and not the master of the people.’” Jackson v. State Office of Administrative Hearings, 351 S.W.3d 290, 293 (Tex.2011) quoting TEX. GOV’T CODE § 552.001(a). “It is the policy of this state that each person is entitled, unless otherwise expressly provided by law, at all times to complete information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees.” TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 552.001(a) (West Supp. 2014) (emphasis added). 9 In effect, failure to hold Appellees accountable in this manner enables Appellees and numerous other government entities to violate with impunity a cardinal principle of the Public Information Act: timely production of documents. While case law cited by Appellees (Tex. State Bd. Vet. Med. Examiners v. Giggleman, 408 S.W.3d 696 (Tex.App.–Austin 2013) or City of El Paso v. Abbott, 444 S.W.3d 315 (Tex.App.–Austin 2014, pet. denied)) may legitimately offer freedom to produce documents at a later time and avoid liability in narrow circumstances, opening the door widely under facts such as the case at hand effectively enables Appellees and other government entities “to function in two inconsistent legal roles - those of advocate and judge.” See ORD 673, p. 5. CR 201-202, 294-295. First, they act as advocate in presenting their case to the Office of the Attorney General, but then following the Attorney General’s decision effectively act as judge deciding whether or not to comply in a timely manner. In the case at hand, Appellees violated the Attorney General’s decision (unlike government entities in Giggleman or Abbott as explained below) for over twenty one (21) months then presented their “get out of jail free” card before a final judgment could be rendered.
- 14 - TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DISMISSING CASE AND DENYING MELISSA’S ATTORNEYS’ FEES FOR MOOTNESS/LACK OF SUBJECT MATTER DUE TO LIVE CONTROVERSIES
Live Controversy as to Substantive Issues
A case is moot if a controversy no longer exists or the parties lack
a legally cognizable interest in the outcome. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Hallman,
159 S.W.3d. 640, 642 (Tex.2005). A justiciable controversy exists if a real
and substantial controversy involving a genuine conflict of tangible interests
is present. Bonham State Bank v. Beadle, 907 S.W.2d 465, 467 (Tex.1995).
A live controversy continues to exist as to whether or not Appellees
can withhold prompt production of public information for tactical litigation
purposes, and later claim the courthouse is closed to Melissa due to
mootness. CR 5-7, 9, 168-74, 207, 259, 261-64, 300, 432-34. More
specifically Melissa has requested declarations as to whether:
1. Appellees can violate the TPIA for tactical litigation purposes;
CR 5-7, 9, 168-74, 207, 259, 261-64, 300, 432-34;
2. Melissa can be denied standing to seek redress/remedy for
Appellees’ violation of the TPIA for tactical litigation purposes;
3. a claim of sovereign immunity can bar Melissa from access to
the courthouse when the facts pled by Melissa state that the
- 15 - government actors defied/ignored the TPIA and OAG’s
Decision for tactical and/or perceived tactical litigation
purposes; CR 5-7, 9, 168-74, 207, 259, 261-64, 300, 432-34;
4. Melissa’s husband can be denied standing to seek
redress/remedy for Appellees’ violation of her due process/due
course of law right to being heard in a meaningful way in the
pending Registry Case; CR 4-5, 7-10, 169, 171, 174-75, 432-
434, 447-48, 453;
5. Melissa can be denied standing to pursue redress/remedy for
Appellees’ violation of Melissa’s due process/due course of law
right to fundamental fairness; 4-5, 7-10, 169, 174-75, 432-435;
6. Melissa can be denied standing to pursue redress/remedy for
Appellees’ failure to promptly produce Information that was
material to try and protect Melissa’s substantive right to direct
the education and moral training of her daughter; CR 4, 172,
175, 263, 433;
7. Melissa can be denied standing to pursue redress/remedy for
evidence useful to help try and protect Melissa’s familial
integrity; CR 4-5, 172, 175, 263, 433-34; and,
- 16 - 8. Melissa can be denied standing to pursue redress/remedy for
Appellees’ failure to promptly produce Information that could
have contributed towards determining her constitutional claims
regarding the retention or removal of her name in the central
registry. CR 5, 7, 171-75, 262-63, 437, 447, 456.
Since Melissa has pled that she has legally cognizable rights, the trial
court erred in dismissing the case as moot. Melissa’s live pleadings establish
subject matter jurisdiction; and therefore, the trial court’s final judgment should
be reversed and must be remanded for consideration and determination.
Live Controversy as to Attorneys’ Fees
Additionally, a live controversy exists as to whether or not Melissa
has a legally cognizable interest in recovering her attorneys’ fees. CR 7-10;
169-71; 433; 438; 453. See Camarena v. Texas Employment Commission,
754 S.W.2d 149, 151 (Tex.1988) (held that case was not moot due to the
existence of the live issue of attorney’s fees); see also: Labrado v. County of
El Paso, 132 S.W.3d 581, 589-90 (Tex.App.–El Paso 2004, no pet.).
Melissa has pled for recovery of her attorneys’ fees under the UDJA.
CR 7-10, 174, 438. The purpose of the UDJA “is to settle and to afford relief
from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to rights, status, and other legal
relations; and it is to be liberally construed and administered.” TEX. CIV.
- 17 - PRAC. & REM. CODE § 37.002(b) (West Supp. 2014). Melissa’s Petitions
affirmatively allege that Appellees interfered with Melissa’s legal rights
and/or privileges by refusing to release public information that could have
been used in the Registry case to establish violations of substantive due
process right and constitutional liberty interests; CR 4-5, 7, 171-175, 262-63,
433, 447-48; therefore, Melissa is entitled to seek declaratory relief,
including the recovery of her attorney fees’, under the UDJA.10
Appellees’ interference with Melissa’s legal rights and privileges,
including her right to recover attorneys’ fees as a result of Appellees’
calculated violation of the TPIA for 21 months are integral parts of
Melissa’s claims; and therefore, prevent this case from being moot. See
Camarena 754 S.W.2d at 151.
10 In their argument for denying Melissa’s attorneys’ fees, Appellees’ point to the rulings in Tex. State Bd. Vet. Med. Examiners v. Giggleman, 408 S.W.3d 696 (Tex.App.–Austin 2013) and Jackson v. State Office of Admin. Hearings, 351 S.W.3d 290 (Tex.2011)(holding that Plaintiff seeking relief falling squarely under TPIA cannot seek attorneys’ fees award under UDJA). CR 114. In both Giggleman and Jackson, however, the governmental entities operated within the legal parameters of the TPIA by relying on OAG decisions. Giggleman, 408 S.W.3d at 699; Jackson, 351 S.W.3d at 292. The undisputed fact that Appellees’ violated the TPIA by spurning the OAG Decision and refusing to promptly produce the Information, delaying the production for 21 months solely for tactical litigation purposes distinguishes this case from Giggleman and Jackson. CR 170-74. Appellees’ violation of the TPIA interfered with and violated Melissa’s legal rights to due process/due course of law. CR 4, 171-75. Therefore, it is proper for Melissa to seek recovery of her attorneys’ fees under the UDJA.
- 18 - TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO DISTINGUISH THE DISTINCT FACTS OF THIS CASE FROM CASES APPELLEES MISTAKENLY RELIED UPON IN THEIR PLEA
Appellees rationalized their actions and established their mootness
argument by relying on two TPIA cases: City of El Paso v. Abbott, 444
S.W.3d 315 (Tex.App.–Austin 2014, pet. denied) and Giggleman, 408
S.W.3d 696. CR 52, 114-15, 169-171, 441-43. Appellees’ calculated
withholding of public information in this case is radically distinct from the
cooperative government conduct evident in both Abbott and Giggleman.
Melissa’s live pleadings reveal a bright line distinction between this case and
the rationale of Abbott and Giggleman. CR 169-71.
A. City of El Paso v. Abbott
In Abbott, the City sought an opinion from the OAG to determine if it
must release specific information. Abbott, 444 S.W.3d at 318. The OAG
determined the information should be released to the requestor; the City then
timely filed a suit seeking judicial review of the OAG’s opinion pursuant to
TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 552.324(b). Id. During the pendency of the
judicial review, the City withdrew its challenge and voluntarily produced the
information per the OAG’s ruling. Id. at 319. The Abbott Court held that the
City was not “refusing” to supply information that the OAG had determined
was public information, and therefore, under the principles of sovereign
- 19 - immunity, the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction. Id. at 322,
324, 327.
The Abbott Court held that a governmental entity waives its sovereign
immunity for mandamus under the TPIA when it “refuses” to supply public
information. Id. at 324. “‘Refuse’ in this context means to ‘show or express
a positive unwillingness to do or comply with.’” Id. (quoting Webster's
Third New Int'l Dictionary 1910 (2002)). After obtaining an unfavorable
opinion from the OAG, Appellees, unlike the City in Abbott, “refused” to
operate within the structure of the legal process (1) by wholly failing to file a
suit for judicial review or (2) by promptly producing the requested
information. TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. §§ 552.324(b) and 552.221(a)
(West Supp. 2014); CR 8, 169-71. Melissa’s Petitions further establish that
Appellees showed a “positive unwillingness” to comply by (1) spurning the
OAG’s Decision; CR 8, 89; (2) violating the TPIA; CR 8, 89; and, (3)
withholding the requested documents for 21 months in order to gain a
tactical advantage and/or a perceived tactical advantage in the Registry Case.
See Abbott at 324. CR 5-7, 9, 168-74, 207, 259, 261-64, 300, 432-34.
Melissa’s Pleadings effectively demonstrate that Appellees’ waived their
sovereign immunity for mandamus by “refusing” and showing a “positive
unwillingness” to comply with TPIA.
- 20 - B. Tex. State Bd. Vet. Med. Exams v. Giggleman
Appellees’ Plea requested the trial court to extend the Giggleman
rationale to this case; however, like Abbott, the Giggleman facts are
markedly distinct from the facts in this case. CR 52-53, 169-71, 259, 261,
435, 441-43, 448, 451-53.
In Giggleman, the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical
Examiners (“Board”) sought an opinion from the OAG regarding whether
certain exhibits, as confidential documents, were exempt from disclosure.
Giggleman, 408 S.W.3d at 699. The OAG, unlike in the present case,
decided the exhibits were protected and did not have to be disclosed to
Giggleman. Id. Giggleman then filed suit seeking a writ of mandamus to
compel the agency to release the exhibits and to recover attorney fees under
the UDJA. Id. at 699-700. Both parties submitted summary judgments
regarding Giggleman’s mandamus claim. Id. at 700. The district court
granted Giggleman’s summary judgment and denied the Board’s. Id. Prior
to a final hearing, the Board, consistent with the court’s decision, produced
all the exhibits Giggleman had originally sought. Id. at 702. The appellate
Court later held that the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to
grant Giggleman’s claims for attorney fees. Id. at 709.
- 21 - Relying on the Giggleman rationale and by way of their Plea,
Appellees assert that Melissa should be denied attorneys’ fees and her case
should be dismissed for mootness because all the Information has been
‘voluntarily’ released. CR 114-15. The trial court, however, failed to
delineate, unlike Giggleman, in which the government entity “reasonably
relied on Attorney General decisions in withholding” the requested
information (Id. at 699, 701), that Appellees knowingly violated the OAG
Decision and TPIA by refusing to release the Information for 21 months in
order to gain a tactical advantage and/or a perceived tactical advantage in the
Registry Case. CR 5-7, 9, 168-74, 207, 259, 261-64, 300, 432-34. Melissa’s
Petitions establish that Appellees’ actions adversely affected Melissa and
violated her constitutional rights to fundamental fairness and being heard in
a meaningful way in the pending Registry Case. CR 3-5, 7-10, 170-72, 174-
75.
C. Abbott and Giggleman are not on point, and thus do not establish mootness/lack of subject matter jurisdiction
Appellees’ Plea wrongly relies on Abbott and Giggleman to support
the mootness claim. In both Abbott and Giggleman, the government entities
operated within the legal parameters of the TPIA; however, Melissa’s
Petitions specifically demonstrate in the present case that Appellees:
- 22 - (1) expressed a “positive unwillingness” to promptly release the
Information; CR 169-171;
(2) failed to seek judicial review of the OAG’s decision; CR 8;
(3) failed to promptly release the Information; CR 169, 171;
(4) waived its objections to the OAG’s decision; CR 8;
(5) acted extra-statutorily by asserting a different argument to
Melissa’s Request; CR 8, 96-97;
(6) violated the OAG’s decision; CR 8;
(7) violated the TPIA; CR 8;
(8) delayed the release of Information to gain a perceived tactical
advantage in the Registry Case; CR 5-7, 9, 168-74, 204-205,
207, 259, 261-64, 300, 432-34; and,
(9) adversely affected Melissa. CR 3-5, 7-10, 170-72, 174-75.
Melissa’s Petitions reveal the stark factual difference between the case
at bar and Abbott and Giggleman, the cases relied upon by Appellees in their
Plea. The trial court failed to recognize the critical difference between the
facts of this case and the facts of Abbott and Giggleman, differences over
which the trial court has subject matter jurisdiction. Accordingly, the trial
court’s judgment should be reversed and must be remanded for further
consideration and determination.
- 23 - MOOTNESS STANDARD DOCTRINE EXCEPTIONS
Alternatively, Melissa asserts the existence of the following
recognized exceptions to the mootness standard doctrine: (1) the public
interest exception; (2) the collateral consequences exception; and/or (3) the
capable of repetition yet evading review exception. CR 434-38, 448, 454-55.
These applicable exceptions, singularly or collectively, confer subject matter
jurisdiction upon the trial court.
Public Interest Exception
The public interest exception “allows appellate review of a question of
considerable public importance if that question is capable of repetition
between either the same parties or other members of the public, but for some
reason evades appellate review.” 11 Securtec, Inc. v. County of Greg, 106
S.W.3d 803, 810-811 (Tex.App.–Texarkana 2003, pet. denied).
A. Appellees’ actions are a matter of public importance
The trial court failed to recognize that Appellees’ actions are a matter
of public importance since the public is afforded the rights to public
documents under the TPIA. The avenue available to the public for obtaining
11 Though the Texas Supreme Court has yet to rule on the viability of the public interest exception, multiple Texas appellate courts already recognize the public interest exception. See University Interscholastic League v. Buchanan, 848 S.W.2d 298, 304 (Tex.App.–Austin 1993, no writ); Ngo v. Ngo 133 S.W.3d 688, 691 (Tex.App.–Corpus Christi-Edinburg 2003, no pet.); and, Securtec, Inc. v. County of Gregg, 106 S.W.3d 803, 810-811 (Tex.App.–Texarkana 2003, pet. denied).
- 24 - public documents is governed by the TPIA. The fact that Appellees, as a
governmental body, are duty-bound to follow the TPIA is a matter of public
interest. The Securtec court in recognizing the public interest exception held
the exception applicable “because Gregg County is a governmental body
that is required to follow the Texas Local Government Code when accepting
bids for construction contracts.” Id. at 811. Like Securtec, this case is a
matter of public importance because Appellees, like Gregg County,
comprise a governmental body that is mandated to follow the TPIA in
releasing information to members of the public.
B. Appellees’ actions are capable of repetition and evade appellate review
Appellees’ actions are capable of repetition between Melissa and/or
other members of the public who seek to address public interest questions or
obtain information by way of the TPIA. CR 260-61, 436. Members of the
public could easily find themselves in the same position as Melissa should
Appellees refuse to release public information until a convenient time and
then play the “mootness doctrine” card, thus rendering all declaratory
actions and attorney fee claims against them as moot, and ultimately,
evading appellate review. Procedurally the impact of Giggleman as argued
by Appellees would yield the same result: the government body may
initially submit a request to the Attorney General, but if it does not like the
- 25 - response, simply choose to hold onto the documents indefinitely, causing
prolonged litigation and then at a time that it determines to be opportune, i.e.
just before a dispositive hearing, turn over the documents. In effect it acts as
both advocate and judge.
The trial court’s granting of Appellees’ Plea has the ultimate effect of
evading appellate review of the Appellees’ unlawful actions. This same
issue was recognized and address by the Securtec court.
It is possible future parties could find themselves in the same position as Gregg County and Securtec because the performance of a similar construction contract may likely occur before adjudication of a similar suit. ... Therefore, despite the contract for the Gregg County jail having already been performed, we will address whether summary judgment was appropriate. Id.
Like Securtec, the facts of this case sufficiently meet the public
interest exception requirements of (1) public importance; (2) capable of
repetition; and, (3) evasion of appellate review. Id. at 810-811. Therefore,
the trial court erred in concluding that none of these exceptions apply.
Collateral Consequences Exception
The “collateral consequences” exception applies when “prejudicial
events have occurred whose effects continued to stigmatize helpless or hated
individuals long after the unconstitutional judgment had ceased to operate.
Such effects were not absolved by mere dismissal of the cause as moot.”
- 26 - Spring Branch I.S.D. v. Reynolds, 764 S.W.2d 16, 19 (Tex.App.–Houston
[1st Dist.] 1988, no writ).
Melissa has pled that Appellees’ refusal to comply with the OAG
Decision and “positive unwillingness” to promptly release the Information
effectively prevented Melissa from accessing documents responsive to the
Registry Case. CR 169-74, 199. Appellees’ refusal to release the
Information allowed Appellees to continue stigmatizing Melissa by
withholding documents that could have contributed towards determining her
constitutional claims regarding the retention or removal of her name in
DFPS’ child-abuse registry. See James v. Hubbard, 21 S.W.3d 558, 560-561
(Tex.App.–San Antonio 2010, no pet.) (Court held that case was not moot
because expired protective order based on family violence carries a
significant social stigma.) CR 7, 171-74, 199, 437, 456. It goes without
saying that having one’s name in the state child-abuse registry carries a
significant social stigma. Appellees’ refusal to comply with the OAG’s
decision and failure to promptly release the Information have adversely
affected Melissa’s collateral constitutional claims making this case anything
but moot. See State v. Lodge, 608 S.W.2d 910, 912 (Tex.1980). CR 174-75,
433-34.
- 27 - The facts pled in this case sufficiently meet the collateral
consequences exception of the mootness doctrine. Therefore, the trial court
erred in granting Appellees’ Plea in light of this exception.
Capable of Repetition yet Evading Review Exception
The ‘capable of repetition, yet evading review’ entails two elements:
“(1) the challenged action was too short in duration to be litigated fully
before the action ceased or expired; and (2) a reasonable expectation exists
that the same complaining party will be subjected to the same action again.”
Williams v. Lara, 52 S.W.3d 171, 184 (Tex.2001); see also General Land
Office v. OXY U.S.A., Inc., 789 S.W.2d 569, 571 (Tex.1990); Blum v. Lanier,
997 S.W.2d 259, 264 (Tex.1999). The capable of repetition yet evading
review exception is applicable to challenges of unconstitutional acts
undertaken by governmental entities. OXY U.S.A., Inc., 52 S.W.3d at 571.
A. Challenged action was too short in duration to be litigated fully
Appellees simply refused to timely comply with the OAG Decision
and expressed a “positive unwillingness” to promptly release the
Information in order to gain a tactical advantage in the Registry Case. CR 4-
7, 9, 168-76, 199, 204-05, 207, 259, 261-264, 300, 432-434. Melissa, with
no other available recourse, challenged Appellees’ violation of the TPIA.
CR 173. Twenty-one months after the OAG Decision, Appellees
- 28 - “voluntarily” released the requested Information, which resulted in the
granting of the Plea. CR 6, 41, 169-71. Between the time that Appellees’
“voluntary” released the Information and the granting of the Plea did not
give Melissa the time necessary to litigate her claims fully. Accordingly, the
trial court erred in allowing Melissa time to fully litigate her claim.
B. A reasonable expectation exists that Melissa will be subjected to the same action again
It can be reasonably expected that Melissa will be subjected to the
same action in the future. CR 260-61, 436, 455. Melissa has a legal right to
request information under the TPIA, and there is nothing to dissuade
Appellees from (1) ignoring OAG decisions; (2) refusing to abide by OAG
decisions; and, (3) avoiding any declaratory action and/or attorney fees by
eventually “voluntarily” releasing the requested information when they
deem necessary for their own benefit. Without allowing Melissa to fully
litigate Appellees’ unlawful actions, the trial court is giving Appellees a
“green light” to continue this untoward behavior on future requestors under
the TPIA, a “green light” that runs counter to the spirit of the law that “this
chapter shall be liberally construed in favor a granting a request for
information.” TEX.GOV’T CODE §552.001
- 29 - The facts pled in this case fulfill both elements of the ‘capable of repetition, yet
evading review’ exception to the mootness doctrine. Therefore, the trial court
erred in deeming Melissa’s claims as moot.
CONCLUSION
Upon the conclusion of its de novo review of Melissa’s Petitions, this
honorable Court should reach only one conclusion—that the trial court erred in
granting Appellees’ Plea.
PRAYER
For these reasons, Melissa requests that upon this honorable Court’s de
novo review of her Petitions, that the trial court’s final Order granting
Appellees’ Plea be reversed and that this cause, in its entirety, be remanded to
the trial court for further proceedings and for such other and further relief to
which Melissa may be justly entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
By:/s/ Thomas C. Sanders Thomas C. Sanders S.B.N. 17609900 P. O. Box 1860 Sugar Land, Texas 77487 281/242-9700 Telephone 281/242-8340 Facsimile tcsanders76@yahoo.com
- 30 - Robert G. Gibson, Jr. S.B.N. 07873700 P. O. Box 387 Rosenberg, Texas 77471 713/953-0500 Telephone 713/953-0750 Facsimile rgglaw@juno.com
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT, MELISSA GATES
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
This certifies, pursuant to TEX. R. APP. P 9.4(i)(3), that this Brief has been computer-generated and that the total word count calculated by the computer used to generate those sections of this Brief as required by TEX. R. APP. P 9.4(i)(1) is 6309 words.
/s/ Thomas C. Sanders Thomas C. Sanders
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
This certifies that the undersigned served this Brief of Appellant on the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and John Specia, Appellees, by e-serving lead counsel for Appellees, Marc Rietvelt, Office of the Attorney General, General Litigation Division (Marc.Rietvelt@texasattorneygeneral.gov), on November 30, 2015.
- 31 - EXHIBIT 1
- 32 - DC BK15197 PG1313
Melissa Gates v. TDFPS and John Specia EXHIBIT 1 Appellant's Brief