M&M Orthodontics, PA v. Christine Ellis Texas Health and Human Services Commission Dr. Kyle Janek, in His Official Capacity Rick Gilpin, in His Official Capacity And the Office of the Inspector General

Court of Appeals of Texas

M&M Orthodontics, PA v. Christine Ellis Texas Health and Human Services Commission Dr. Kyle Janek, in His Official Capacity Rick Gilpin, in His Official Capacity And the Office of the Inspector General

DecidedJanuary 23, 2015

Docket03-13-00767-CV

StatusPublished

This text of M&M Orthodontics, PA v. Christine Ellis Texas Health and Human Services Commission Dr. Kyle Janek, in His Official Capacity Rick Gilpin, in His Official Capacity And the Office of the Inspector General (M&M Orthodontics, PA v. Christine Ellis Texas Health and Human Services Commission Dr. Kyle Janek, in His Official Capacity Rick Gilpin, in His Official Capacity And the Office of the Inspector General) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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M&M Orthodontics, PA v. Christine Ellis Texas Health and Human Services Commission Dr. Kyle Janek, in His Official Capacity Rick Gilpin, in His Official Capacity And the Office of the Inspector General, (Tex. Ct. App. 2015).

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Opinion

ACCEPTED 03-13-00767-cv 3881570 THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 1/23/2015 2:39:45 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE CLERK No. 03-13-00767-CV IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN FOR THE THIRD DISTRICT 3rd COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS AUSTIN, TEXAS 1/23/2015 2:39:45 PM M&M Orthodontics, PA, JEFFREY D. KYLE Clerk Appellant, v. Christine Ellis; Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Dr. Kyle Janek, in his Official Capacity; Rick Gilpin, in his Official Capacity; and the Office of the Inspector General, Appellees.

On appeal from the 53rd District Court, Travis County, Texas Cause No. D-1-GN-13-003259 ______________________________

UNOPPOSED MOTION TO DISMISS ______________________________

TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS:

Now come Appellees, Christine Ellis; Texas Health and Human Services

Commission (“HHSC”); Dr. Kyle Janek, in his Official Capacity; and the Office of

the Inspector General, (collectively, “Appellees”) and file this Unopposed Motion

to Dismiss and would request that this Court issue an Order dismissing this appeal.

I. BACKGROUND

Recent developments in the underlying administrative proceeding from which

this appeal arises directly impact the current status of this appeal. HHSC Office of

Inspector General filed a Notice of Nonsuit of the underlying administrative action

that was pending against Appellant M&M in the HHSC Appeals Division. Attached hereto as Exhibit “A” is a true and complete copy of the Notice of Nonsuit filed

Dec. 23, 2014 with the HHSC Appeals Division. On January 8, 2015, the

Administrative Law Judge presiding over the administrative action entered an Order

of Dismissal. See Ex. A for copy of Order of Dismissal.

The filing of this Notice of Nonsuit by the HHSC Office of Inspector General

in the underlying administrative proceeding, and the subsequent Order of Dismissal,

renders the issues raised by Appellant in this appeal moot. See Allstate Ins. Co. v.

Hallman, 159 S.W.3d 640, 642 (Tex. 2005). As a result, any opinion the Court could

issue would resolve no live controversy between the parties and would, therefore, be

advisory in nature. See Texas Ass’n of Bus. v. Texas Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d

440, 444 (Tex. 1993).

Appellant does not oppose this Motion.

II. CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the Appellees respectfully

request that the Court dismiss this appeal and that the Court grant the Appellees such

other and further relief to which they have shown themselves to be entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

KEN PAXTON Attorney General of Texas

CHARLES E. ROY First Assistant Attorney General

Page 2 of 5 JAMES E. DAVIS Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation

/s/ Raymond C. Winter RAYMOND C. WINTER State Bar No. 21791950 Chief, Civil Medicaid Fraud Division Assistant Attorney General Raymond.Winter@texasattorneygeneral.gov OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS P.O. Box 12548 Austin, Texas 78711-2548 Telephone: (512) 936-1709 Facsimile: (512) 499-0712-0167

Attorneys for Appellees Texas Health & Human Services Commission and Dr. Kyle Janek

/s/ Dan Hargrove DAN HARGROVE State Bar No. 00790822 WATERS & KRAUS, LLP 3219 McKinney Avenue Dallas, Texas 75204 (214) 357-6244 phone (214) 357-7252 facsimile dhargrove@waterskraus.com and /s/ Jim Moriarty JAMES MORIARTY State Bar No. 14459000 LAW OFFICES OF JAMES R.MORIARTY 4119 Montrose Blvd, Suite 250 Houston, Texas 77006 (713) 528-0700 phone jim@moriarity.com

Attorneys for Appellee Dr. Christine Ellis

Page 3 of 5 CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE

The undersigned certifies he contacted counsel for Appellants, Jason Ray, January 23rd, 2015, by telephone, on behalf of the Appellees. Mr. Ray represented that Appellant M&M is not opposed to the granting of the relief requested in this Motion.

/s/Raymond C. Winter RAYMOND C. WINTER Assistant Attorney General

Page 4 of 5 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document has been served on this the 23rd day of January, 2015 on the following:

J.A. Canales VIA: File & ServeXpress and E-mail State Bar No. 03737000 CANALES & SIMONSON, P.C. 2601 Morgan Ave. P.O. Box 5624 Corpus Christi, Texas 78465-5624 Telephone: (361) 883-0601 Facsimile: (361) 884-7023 tonycanales@canalessimonson.com

Jason Ray VIA: File & ServeXpress and E-mail State Bar NO. 24000511 RIGGS, ALESHIRE & RAY, P.C. 700 Lavaca, Suite 920 Austin, Texas 7870 Telephone: (512) 457-9806 Facsimile: (512) 457-9866 jray@r-alaw.com

Attorneys for Appellants M&M Orthodontics,

/s/ Raymond C. Winter RAYMOND C. WINTER Assistant Attorney General

Page 5 of 5 EXHIBIT

A HHSC-APPEALS DOCKETNO; 12. . 0096-K HHSC;.QIG CASE NO. P200803163

M & M ORTHODONTICS, P.A, §. &EFORE-Ttm tmALTll.AND- DR.' -SCO'IT - ,_ :-- - MALONE -- _,- -,·-e-' and §' DR.. DIANA MALONE. § Petitioners.,_ § § ·~-- --.....~- - - - ----- - -------~- v. §- § TEXASJ:ffiALTH&HUMAWSERViCES § COMMISSION~ OFfiCE-OF 'IN'SPECTOR §' GBNERAi,,.and-CHiuSTThrE ELLIS, DDS, §. Respondents. §

-NmtCE OFNONSlJI'rAND'REQUESTFOR DISMISSAL WITHOur·PRE.Jl)DICE

The Texas.:'Hea:lth and -Human Services Comm1ss'i()tt, Office- ofJnspectot GenetDl, :and Christine :Ellis• .ons-, -respectfully file this,_ Notice of Nonsuit. Pursuant to TaX. ADMIN~ coos

§357.49S ~ 'I'Bx• R. CiY.:P. lti2, HHS(:l~IG and Quis~ Ellis, DDS, hcrel>y-give noei~ ~t

they are taking a ll~Uit of their ~n&e ¢8Se' and regue!it that this C:aSe immediately be di$tnis$Cd-

without ~judice. ·1'Jrl$ nonsuit is without prej~ce to refiJing. and is effective immediately on

the ftlU:lg oftlii~ r;toti~ on this dilte.

Respectfully s_ubmitted.

GREG ABBOTl' Attorney General of Texas DANIEL T. HODGE First Assistant Attorney General

JOHN B. SCOTT Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation NoJice ofNonsuit Page 1 of4 RAYMONI> C. WINTBR. f, Civil Medicaid Fraud o· "sion

ltAYM _ , G.. WINTER Chief, Civil Medicaid Fraud Division State Bar No. 21791950 : 93~1709DirectDial . - - - - - - --=(5:.: :12>

RBYNOLDS'BRISSBNDBN State!BarNo~ -240.56969 (51-2),936-21!58 Direct Dlhl

Assistant AttOrneys~ Office .of~~e Attorney G~ Civil Me'Ucaid Fraud Division P. 0. Boxl2S48 Austin, .Texas 78711-2548 Fax (512) 4~9·0712

DOUGLAs C. WILsON Inspe.CtorQCnet~

JOY SPARKS Deputy lns~or General Cbief Counsel

KAREN PETTIGREW Direclrir of S~ctions

STEVE DAlLAS JOfU"JSON Associate Counsel State Bar No. 00784349

11101 Metric Blvd~. Building I Austin, Texas 78758 (512) 491-4076 Phone (512) 833-6484 Fax

ATTORNEYS FOR TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMTSSION, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Notice of Nonsuit .Page2of4 Dan Hilrgrove l:>ANID\ROROVB Sf:ate B~ No. 00790822 WATERS/k.~US,LLP

- · - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - ·(2 4 , 3219 McKinney Avenue Dall~ •.Tt;xas·:7s204._ __ 7~- p one __________ _ .,.....

(~ 14).357--72.,2 Facsimile.

-and- 1/ni'Mdriarlfl

JAMBS.MORIARl"f S~te .S:ar Np; 14459000 MORrARTY l.BYENOECKER, PO 4203 Montr.os~ mv

ATTORNEYS FOR RELATOR, DR:. E!HRISTINE ELLIS, D;D.S.

~ ....... --- ._._.:.., ..:..........

Nor ice of Nonsuit CERTifiCATE·Qt: SERVICE .J_ l certify that.I have on this ~day of December, 2014, served copies of tliis:Notice of N:on-5uit upon tbe HliSC Appeals QivisiQp .and upon Petitioners. asiollows.

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ACCEPTED 03-13-00767-cv 3881570 THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 1/23/2015 2:39:45 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE CLERK No. 03-13-00767-CV IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN FOR THE THIRD DISTRICT 3rd COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS AUSTIN, TEXAS 1/23/2015 2:39:45 PM M&M Orthodontics, PA, JEFFREY D. KYLE Clerk Appellant, v. Christine Ellis; Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Dr. Kyle Janek, in his Official Capacity; Rick Gilpin, in his Official Capacity; and the Office of the Inspector General, Appellees.

On appeal from the 53rd District Court, Travis County, Texas Cause No. D-1-GN-13-003259 ______________________________

UNOPPOSED MOTION TO DISMISS ______________________________

TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS:

Now come Appellees, Christine Ellis; Texas Health and Human Services

Commission (“HHSC”); Dr. Kyle Janek, in his Official Capacity; and the Office of

the Inspector General, (collectively, “Appellees”) and file this Unopposed Motion

to Dismiss and would request that this Court issue an Order dismissing this appeal.

I. BACKGROUND

Recent developments in the underlying administrative proceeding from which

this appeal arises directly impact the current status of this appeal. HHSC Office of

Inspector General filed a Notice of Nonsuit of the underlying administrative action

that was pending against Appellant M&M in the HHSC Appeals Division. Attached hereto as Exhibit “A” is a true and complete copy of the Notice of Nonsuit filed

Dec. 23, 2014 with the HHSC Appeals Division. On January 8, 2015, the

Administrative Law Judge presiding over the administrative action entered an Order

of Dismissal. See Ex. A for copy of Order of Dismissal.

The filing of this Notice of Nonsuit by the HHSC Office of Inspector General

in the underlying administrative proceeding, and the subsequent Order of Dismissal,

renders the issues raised by Appellant in this appeal moot. See Allstate Ins. Co. v.

Hallman, 159 S.W.3d 640, 642 (Tex. 2005). As a result, any opinion the Court could

issue would resolve no live controversy between the parties and would, therefore, be

advisory in nature. See Texas Ass’n of Bus. v. Texas Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d

440, 444 (Tex. 1993).

Appellant does not oppose this Motion.

II. CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the Appellees respectfully

request that the Court dismiss this appeal and that the Court grant the Appellees such

other and further relief to which they have shown themselves to be entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

KEN PAXTON Attorney General of Texas

CHARLES E. ROY First Assistant Attorney General

Page 2 of 5 JAMES E. DAVIS Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation

/s/ Raymond C. Winter RAYMOND C. WINTER State Bar No. 21791950 Chief, Civil Medicaid Fraud Division Assistant Attorney General Raymond.Winter@texasattorneygeneral.gov OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS P.O. Box 12548 Austin, Texas 78711-2548 Telephone: (512) 936-1709 Facsimile: (512) 499-0712-0167

Attorneys for Appellees Texas Health & Human Services Commission and Dr. Kyle Janek

/s/ Dan Hargrove DAN HARGROVE State Bar No. 00790822 WATERS & KRAUS, LLP 3219 McKinney Avenue Dallas, Texas 75204 (214) 357-6244 phone (214) 357-7252 facsimile dhargrove@waterskraus.com and /s/ Jim Moriarty JAMES MORIARTY State Bar No. 14459000 LAW OFFICES OF JAMES R.MORIARTY 4119 Montrose Blvd, Suite 250 Houston, Texas 77006 (713) 528-0700 phone jim@moriarity.com

Attorneys for Appellee Dr. Christine Ellis

Page 3 of 5 CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE

The undersigned certifies he contacted counsel for Appellants, Jason Ray, January 23rd, 2015, by telephone, on behalf of the Appellees. Mr. Ray represented that Appellant M&M is not opposed to the granting of the relief requested in this Motion.

/s/Raymond C. Winter RAYMOND C. WINTER Assistant Attorney General

Page 4 of 5 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document has been served on this the 23rd day of January, 2015 on the following:

J.A. Canales VIA: File & ServeXpress and E-mail State Bar No. 03737000 CANALES & SIMONSON, P.C. 2601 Morgan Ave. P.O. Box 5624 Corpus Christi, Texas 78465-5624 Telephone: (361) 883-0601 Facsimile: (361) 884-7023 tonycanales@canalessimonson.com

Jason Ray VIA: File & ServeXpress and E-mail State Bar NO. 24000511 RIGGS, ALESHIRE & RAY, P.C. 700 Lavaca, Suite 920 Austin, Texas 7870 Telephone: (512) 457-9806 Facsimile: (512) 457-9866 jray@r-alaw.com

Attorneys for Appellants M&M Orthodontics,

/s/ Raymond C. Winter RAYMOND C. WINTER Assistant Attorney General

Page 5 of 5 EXHIBIT

A HHSC-APPEALS DOCKETNO; 12. . 0096-K HHSC;.QIG CASE NO. P200803163

M & M ORTHODONTICS, P.A, §. &EFORE-Ttm tmALTll.AND- DR.' -SCO'IT - ,_ :-- - MALONE -- _,- -,·-e-' and §' DR.. DIANA MALONE. § Petitioners.,_ § § ·~-- --.....~- - - - ----- - -------~- v. §- § TEXASJ:ffiALTH&HUMAWSERViCES § COMMISSION~ OFfiCE-OF 'IN'SPECTOR §' GBNERAi,,.and-CHiuSTThrE ELLIS, DDS, §. Respondents. §

-NmtCE OFNONSlJI'rAND'REQUESTFOR DISMISSAL WITHOur·PRE.Jl)DICE

The Texas.:'Hea:lth and -Human Services Comm1ss'i()tt, Office- ofJnspectot GenetDl, :and Christine :Ellis• .ons-, -respectfully file this,_ Notice of Nonsuit. Pursuant to TaX. ADMIN~ coos

§357.49S ~ 'I'Bx• R. CiY.:P. lti2, HHS(:l~IG and Quis~ Ellis, DDS, hcrel>y-give noei~ ~t

they are taking a ll~Uit of their ~n&e ¢8Se' and regue!it that this C:aSe immediately be di$tnis$Cd-

without ~judice. ·1'Jrl$ nonsuit is without prej~ce to refiJing. and is effective immediately on

the ftlU:lg oftlii~ r;toti~ on this dilte.

Respectfully s_ubmitted.

GREG ABBOTl' Attorney General of Texas DANIEL T. HODGE First Assistant Attorney General

JOHN B. SCOTT Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation NoJice ofNonsuit Page 1 of4 RAYMONI> C. WINTBR. f, Civil Medicaid Fraud o· "sion

ltAYM _ , G.. WINTER Chief, Civil Medicaid Fraud Division State Bar No. 21791950 : 93~1709DirectDial . - - - - - - --=(5:.: :12>

RBYNOLDS'BRISSBNDBN State!BarNo~ -240.56969 (51-2),936-21!58 Direct Dlhl

Assistant AttOrneys~ Office .of~~e Attorney G~ Civil Me'Ucaid Fraud Division P. 0. Boxl2S48 Austin, .Texas 78711-2548 Fax (512) 4~9·0712

DOUGLAs C. WILsON Inspe.CtorQCnet~

JOY SPARKS Deputy lns~or General Cbief Counsel

KAREN PETTIGREW Direclrir of S~ctions

STEVE DAlLAS JOfU"JSON Associate Counsel State Bar No. 00784349

11101 Metric Blvd~. Building I Austin, Texas 78758 (512) 491-4076 Phone (512) 833-6484 Fax

ATTORNEYS FOR TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMTSSION, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Notice of Nonsuit .Page2of4 Dan Hilrgrove l:>ANID\ROROVB Sf:ate B~ No. 00790822 WATERS/k.~US,LLP

- · - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - ·(2 4 , 3219 McKinney Avenue Dall~ •.Tt;xas·:7s204._ __ 7~- p one __________ _ .,.....

(~ 14).357--72.,2 Facsimile.

-and- 1/ni'Mdriarlfl

JAMBS.MORIARl"f S~te .S:ar Np; 14459000 MORrARTY l.BYENOECKER, PO 4203 Montr.os~ mv

ATTORNEYS FOR RELATOR, DR:. E!HRISTINE ELLIS, D;D.S.

~ ....... --- ._._.:.., ..:..........

Nor ice of Nonsuit CERTifiCATE·Qt: SERVICE .J_ l certify that.I have on this ~day of December, 2014, served copies of tliis:Notice of N:on-5uit upon tbe HliSC Appeals QivisiQp .and upon Petitioners. asiollows.

---·-·-- .Y.~-1.!!-csim"ls5J1.:1Jk.5.'ll1. _ _.,_ ··-·· __ _ -------------~-------1------- HHSC-Appeal$-DivisioD. :s407 Wall Sl, Room s-329 Austin, TX :~ls'is~t

Vui Facdinifl361 ,;f/84;.7023 Via FacsimileS12·457-9066 ~onjcanales®ciliUiks1]monson.com jray®r-tillzw.~m - I.A.. Canales, Esq. JasonD: Ray. .'9aD:aJ~ & SrlnpDBODj P.C•. Riggs, Aleshire, Ray,.P.C. '2601 Morgan:·Avenue 700 Lavaca, Suite 920 P..G•.Box.5624 Austin. T~ 7~01 CQI{'us.Cmiati, TX.78465

COuNSEL F0RPE.TlTibNERS

Y'ra Facaimile·21#-35'7-6244 VlaiEmgirto .fim~morlarty.com .dii. .ove@water!krtlUs.com James Moriarty D~~grove ho1oria.J1Y l,.eyend_ecker, PG Waters &. Krauss,_LLP 4203-Montro.se Blv~ Suite 150 Dallas,~Texas . 75204 Houstori~ TX 77006

€0UNSEL FOR RELATOR~ CHRISTINE COUNSEL FOR RELATOR, CHRISTINB EILJS, nos· ELLIS, DDS

~~ Raymo d C~ Winter

Norice of Nonsuit Page4 of4 APPEALS DIVISION TEXAS HEAVfQ AND IlPMAN SERVICES COMMISSION AUSTIN,.TEXAS

1\f &tM ORTIJOPONIICS, · p~ SCOTT MALONE-AND DIANA MALONE PetiJumers

v •.

TEBS ii.EALTH AND,I:IUMAN'SERVICES ~O~~IOJ'f, {)FFid~·-QFlNSP;E

·oRDER OF DISMISSAL

liLr~ponse to Re~pondent~·· Notfce of·Noosu'(t antl Request fol' Dismissal without PrejJ;ldice- in t,he ab9)'e-trefer:enced' matte-:, li'ed with the contt ,t)n .December·23, 2014~ jt I& hereby: ORDEREllthat cause no.. '&-0096-K Ls D1SMISSED~ WITHOUT PREJUDICE to refilm g.

Rick Gilpin V Administta.Uve Law Judge

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M&M Orthodontics, PA v. Christine Ellis Texas Health and Human Services Commission Dr. Kyle Janek, in His Official Capacity Rick Gilpin, in His Official Capacity And the Office of the Inspector General, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mm-orthodontics-pa-v-christine-ellis-texas-health-and-human-services-texapp-2015.

Opinion

I. BACKGROUND

II. CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

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