Michael J. DeLitta v. Nancy Schaefer

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided June 16, 2015·No. 03-15-00280-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED

03-15-00280-CV

5703544

THIRD COURT OF APPEALS

CAUSE NO. 03-15-00280-CV AUSTIN, TEXAS 6/16/2015 8:03:12 PM

JEFFREY D. KYLE

CLERK

In the Third Court of Appeals Austin, Texas FILED IN 3rd COURT OF APPEALS

AUSTIN, TEXAS

6/16/2015 8:03:12 PM

MICHAEL J. DELITTA JEFFREY D. KYLE Appellant Clerk

v.

NANCY SCHAEFER

Appellee

Appeal from the 201st Judicial District Court Travis County, Texas; Cause No. D-1-GN-13-003516

APPELLANT’S BRIEF

DRUCKER | HOPKINS LLP

Douglas R. Drucker

Texas Bar No. 06136100

Kirby D. Hopkins

Texas Bar No. 24034488

21 Waterway Avenue, Suite 300 The Woodlands, Texas 77380 281.362.2863 (phone)

855.558.1745 (fax)

drucker@druckerhopkins.com (email)

hopkins@druckerhopkins.com (email)

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT

MICHAEL J. DELITTA

Identity of Parties and Counsel Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 38.1, Appellant submits the following designation of parties and counsel, and trial court:

APPELLANT: Michael J. DeLitta (Defendant in Underlying Suit)

APPELLANT’S Douglas R. Drucker COUNSEL: Kirby D. Hopkins Drucker | Hopkins LLP

21 Waterway Avenue, Suite 300 The Woodlands, Texas 77380

APPELLEE: Nancy Schaefer (Plaintiff in Underlying Suit)

APPELLEE’S COUNSEL: Lisa Bowlin Hobbs Kurt Kuhn

Kuhn Hobbs PLLC

3307 Northland Drive, Suite 310 Austin, Texas 78731

Howard F. (Sam) Carter

The Carter Law Firm

14185 Dallas Parkway

Suite 1275

Dallas, Texas 75254

Donald Taylor

Taylor Dunham and Rodriguez, LLP 301 Congress Avenue

Suite 1050

Austin, Texas 78701

ADDITIONAL PARTIES: Jeff Compton (Provisional Member and Limited-

Receiver of Certain Defendants)

Axiom Medical Consulting, LLC, Axiom Professionals, LLC, and Axiom Properties, LLC

ADDITIONAL PARTIES’ For Provisional Member Jeff Compton COUNSEL: and Axiom entities:

Eric J. Taube

Hohmann, Taube & Summers, LLP 100 Congress Avenue

18th Floor

Austin, Texas 78701

TRIAL COURT: Honorable Orlinda Naranjo 201st Judicial District Court Travis County, Texas

Table of Contents

Identity of Parties and Counsel ............................................................... 2 Table of Contents .................................................................................... 4 Table of Authorities ................................................................................. 6 Codes and Regulations ............................................................................8 Statement of the Case .............................................................................. 9 Statement regarding Oral Argument..................................................... 10 Issues Presented ..................................................................................... 11 Issue: Did the trial court abuse its discretion in granting the Temporary Injunction on April 22, 2015?.............................................................. 11 Statement of Facts ................................................................................. 12 Summary of Argument .......................................................................... 14 Argument ……………….……………………………………………………..……..…….15

The trial court abused its discretion in granting the Temporary Injunction on April 22, 2015. ................................ 15 1. Appellee Schaefer lacks standing and failed to assert a viable cause of action. ................................................................................ 16 2. Appellee Schaefer failed to demonstrate a probable right of recovery........................................................................................... 18 3. There is no probable, imminent threat of irreparable harm.

Appellee Schaefer unreasonable delayed in asserting this request. A temporary Injunction is not necessary to maintain the status quo here.………………………………………………………………………………………21

Conclusion ............................................................................................. 24 Prayer .................................................................................................... 24

Certificate of Compliance ...................................................................... 25 Certificate of Service.............................................................................. 26 Appendix ............................................................................................... 27

Table of Authorities

Cases

Page(s)

BUTNARU V. FORD MOTOR CO., 84 S.W.3d 198, 203, 205, 208 (Tex. 2002)………………………………….15, 16

STATE V. SOUTHWESTERN BELL TEL. CO., 526 S.W.2d 526, 528 (Tex. 1975) (orig. proceeding)...............................15

TOM JAMES OF DALLAS INC. V. COBB, 109 S.W.3d 877, 882 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2002, no pet.)...…….………15, 16

WALKER V. PACKER, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992) ……………………..…..……..………….….…15

VALENZUELA V. AQUINO, 853 S.W.2d 512, 513 (Tex. 1993)………………………..…………..……….………16

DAVIS V. HENDRICK AUTOGUARD, INC., 294 S.W.3d 835, 838 (Tex. App. Dallas—2009, no pet.)……….….……17, 18

SPURLOCK V. JOHNSON, 94 S.W.3d 655, 657 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 2002, no pet.)…….….........18

AGUILAR V. CHASTAIN, 923 S.W.2d 740, 745 (Tex. App.–Tyler 1996, writ denied)…………….......18

FOX V. TROPICAL WAREHOUSE, INC., 121 S.W.3d 853, 861 (Tex. App.–Ft. Worth 2003, no pet.)……………22, 23

JORDAN V. LANDRY’S SEAFOOD REST., INC. 89 S.W.3d 737, 742 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet. denied)……………………………23

JONES V. JEFFERSON CTY., 15 S.W.3d 206, 213 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2002, pet. denied) …………..23

MATRIX NETWORK, INC. V. GINN., 211 S.W.3d 944, 947-48 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, no pet.)..…..…….……23

EMSL ANALYTICAL INC. V. YOUNKER, 154 S.W.3d 693, 697 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, no pet.)………………………………23

Codes and Regulations

TEX. OCC. CODE Section 101.204 ………………………………………………………………….......16, 17

TEX. OCC. CODE Section 204.302 …………………….…………………………………………........16, 17

TEX. OCC. CODE Section 1304.202 …..………………………………………………………………........17

TEX. PENAL CODE Section 32.52 …………………..………………………………………………...17, 18, 19

Statement of the Case

Appellee Schaefer filed this lawsuit on October 9, 2013.1 The case is a dispute between 50-50 owners of Defendants Axiom Medical Consulting, LLC, Axiom Professionals, LLC, and Axiom Properties, LLC (the Axiom entities). This case is presently set for trial on the merits on October 26, 2015.

On December 12, 2014, Schaefer filed a Verified Application for Temporary Injunction seeking to prohibit DeLitta from representing himself as a Medical Doctor.2 The temporary injunction hearing was held on April 15, 2015 before the Honorable Judge Orlinda Naranjo.

Judge Naranjo entered a Temporary Injunction Order on April 22, 2015.3 In the order, it is written that May 22, 2015 is the date signed and entered, but the correct date is actually April 22, 2015. See CLERK’S FILE STAMP. 4 DeLitta gave Notice of Appeal from this Temporary Injunction Order on May 11, 2015.5

1 Plaintiff’s Original Petition and Application for Temporary Injunction. C.R. pages 3-114. 2 Plaintiff’s Verified Application for Temporary and Permanent Injunction pages.

C.R. pages 323-359. 3 Temporary Injunction Order. C.R. pages 624-631. 4 Temporary Injunction Order. C.R. pages 624-631. 5 Defendant’s Notice of Accelerated Appeal. C.R. pages 642-645.

Statement regarding Oral Argument Appellant is not requesting oral argument.

Issues Presented

Issue: Did the trial court abuse its discretion in granting the Temporary Injunction on April 22, 2015?

Statement of Facts

Schaefer-Appellee and DeLitta-Appellant are each 50% members of the Axiom entities. While Schaefer remains a 50% member, she was terminated as Vice-President by DeLitta on September 23, 2013. DeLitta was President then, and still is.

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