Pfizer Inc. and Tris Pharma, Inc. v. the State of Texas and Tarik Ahmed
Opinion
ACCEPTED 15-25-00021-CV FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 4/11/2025 3:48 PM No. 15-25-00021-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE CLERK In the Fifteenth Court of Appeals FILED IN 15th COURT OF APPEALS Austin, Texas AUSTIN, TEXAS
4/11/2025 3:48:53 PM
PFIZER INC. and TRIS PHARMA, INC., CHRISTOPHER Clerk A. PRINE
Petitioners/Defendants, v.
The STATE OF TEXAS and TARIK AHMED, Respondents/Plaintiffs.
Permissive Appeal from the 71st Judicial District Court, Harrison County, Texas
WILLIAM E. LAWLER’S UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION
William E. Lawler III BLANK ROME LLP 1825 Eye St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006-5403 william.lawler@blankrome.com Tel: 202.420.2249 Fax: 202.330.5460 ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER/DEFENDANT, TRIS PHARMA, INC.
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:
I, William E. Lawler, move the Court for permission to appear before
the Court pro hac vice, under the authority of the Rules Governing Admission to
the Bar of Texas, Rule XIX, as attorney for Petitioner/Defendant,TRIS
PHARMA, INC., and would show the Court the following:
I. FACTS
1. My contact information is as follows:
BLANK ROME LLP 1825 Eye St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006-5403 Tel: 202.420.2249 Fax: 202.330.5460 william.lawler@blankrome.com
2. I am associated with resident attorney Harry “Gil” Gillam, Jr. who
will personally participate in the appeal of this case on behalf of
Petitioner/Defendant, TRIS PHARMA, INC. He is a practicing attorney and a
member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas. His state bar number and
contact information is as follows:
Harry “Gil” Gillam, Jr. State No. 07921800 GILLAM & SMITH LLP 303 S. Washington Ave. Tel: 903- 934-8450 Fax: 903-934-9257 gil@gillamsmithlaw.com
Mr. Harry “Gil” Gillam, Jr is concurrently filing an unopposed motion
recommending that I be granted permission to participate in the proceeding
before the Court. Exhibit A.
3. I am an active member in good standing in District of Columbia
[398951] adm 05/12/1986; Maryland [8512010354]; USDC-ED New York;
USDC-SD Texas; USDC Virgins Islands; US COA Dist of Columbia; US COA
Fifth Circuit; US COA Second Circuit. I have not been the subject of disciplinary
action by the Bar or courts of any jurisdiction in which I have been licensed. A
certificate of good standing from the District of Columbia is attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
4. I have not been denied admission to the courts of any state or to any
federal court during the last five (5) years.
5. I am familiar with the State Bar Act, the State Bar Rules, and the
Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct governing the conduct of
members of the State Bar of Texas. I will at all times abide by and comply with
those rules as long as this cause of action is pending and I have not withdrawn
as counsel from the proceeding.
6. In the last two (2) years, I have Not appeared in cases in Texas courts.
7. Proof of payment from the Board of Law Examiners is attached as
Exhibit B.
II. PRAYER
For these reasons, I ask this Court to grant my Unopposed Motion for Pro
Hac Vice Admission and allow me to appear before this Court in this proceeding
until the conclusion of this case.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ William E. Lawler III William E. Lawler III BLANK ROME LLP 1825 Eye St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006-5403 william.lawler@blankrome.com Tel: 202.420.2249 Fax: 202.330.5460 ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER/DEFENDANT, TRIS PHARMA, INC.
DECLARATION
My name is William E. Lawler III, my date of birth is May 21, 1960, and my business address is 1825 Eye St. N.W, Washington, D.C. 20006-5403, United States of America. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed in District of Columbia on the 11th day of April 2025.
/s/ William E. Lawler III William E. Lawler III
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing instrument was forwarded to all counsel of record by electronic filing in accordance with the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure on April 11, 2025. COUNSEL FOR PETITIONER/DEFENDANT PFIZER, INC.:
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP Edward D. (“Ed”) Burbach Texas State Bar No. 03355250 Stacy R. Obenhaus Texas State Bar No. 15161570 600 Congress Avenue, Suite 2900 Austin, Texas 78701 eburbach@foley.com sobenhaus@foley.com (512) 542-7070
THE VAL JONES LAW FIRM George Valton (“Val”) Jones Texas State Bar No. 10888050 109 West Austin St. Marshall, TX 75670-3340 val@valjoneslaw.com (903) 927-2220
ROPES & GRAY LLP Samantha Barrett Badlam (application for pro hoc admission pending) Stefan P. Schropp (application for pro hoc admission pending) 2099 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20006-6807 samantha.badlam@ropesgray.com stefan.schropp@ropesgray.com (202) 508-4734
COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT/PLAINTIFF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
Jonathan Bonilla Texas State Bar No. 24073939 Jordan Underhill Texas State Bar No. 24102586 Vivian Egbu Texas State Bar No. 24079078 Brittany Peters Texas State Bar No. 24124762 Office of the Attorney General, Civil Medicaid Fraud Division P.O. Box 12548, Capitol Station Austin, TX 78711-2548 jonathan.bonilla@oag.texas.gov jordan.underhill@oag.texas.gov vivian.egbu@oag.texas.gov brittany.Peters@oag.texas.gov (512) 475-4169
COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT/PLAINTIFF TARIK AHMED:
BROWN, LLC Jason T. Brown jtb@jtblawgroup.com Patrick S. Almonrode patalmonrode@jtblawgroup.com 111 Town Square Place, Suite 400 Jersey City, NJ 07310 (877) 561-0000
POTTER MINTON, P.C. Michael E. Jones mikejhones@potterminton.com E. Glenn Thames, Jr. glennthames@potterminton.com 102 North College, Suite 900 Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 597-8311
/s/ Harry “Gil” Gillam, Jr.
Harry “Gil” Gillam, Jr.
No. 15-25-00021-CV
In the Fifteenth Court of Appeals Austin, Texas
PFIZER INC. and TRIS PHARMA, INC., Petitioners/Defendants, v.
The STATE OF TEXAS and TARIK AHMED, Respondents/Plaintiffs.
Permissive Appeal from the 71st Judicial District Court, Harrison County, Texas
MOTION OF HARRY GILLAM, JR. IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO ADMIT WILLIAMS E. LAWLER PRO HAC VICE
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:
I, Harry “Gil” Gillam, Jr., hereby declare under penalty of perjury
under the laws of the United States of America:.
a. My office address is 303 South Washington Avenue, Marshall, Texas
75670. My office telephone number is (903) 934-8450. My office
facsimile number is (903) 934-9257. My email address is
gil@gillamsmithlaw.com.
b. I am familiar with William E. Lawler, and I find him to be a reputable
attorney and recommend that he be granted permission to participate in
the particular proceeding before the court.
I declare under penalty of perjury of the laws of the United States of America
that the foregoing is true and correct
Dated: April ,2025 Respectfully submitted,
By:/s/ Harry “Gil” Gillam, Jr.
Harry “Gil” Gillam, Jr. Texas State Bar. No. 07921800 gil@gillamsmithlaw.com 303 S. Washington Ave. Marshall, Texas 75670 (903) 934-8450 (telephone) (903) 934-9257 (facsimile)
Exhibit A
On behalf of JULIO A. CASTILLO, Clerk of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the District of Columbia Bar does hereby certify that
William E Lawler III was duly qualified and admitted on May 12, 1986 as an attorney and counselor entitled to practice before this Court; and is, on the date indicated below, an Active member in good standing of this Bar.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of this Court at the City of Washington, D.C., on March 18, 2025.
JULIO A. CASTILLO Clerk of the Court
Issued By:
David Chu - Director, Membership District of Columbia Bar Membership
For questions or concerns, please contact the D.C. Bar Membership Office at 202-626-3475 or email memberservices@dcbar.org.
Exhibit B
Board of Law Examiners Appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas
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