Port Arthur Independent School District v. Dwight Wagner

Opinion

ACCEPTED 15-25-00087-CV FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 5/28/2025 5:31 PM CASE NO. 15-25-00087-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE CLERK FILED IN 15th COURT OF APPEALS IN THE COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR THE FIFTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS 5/28/2025 5:31:25 PM CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk

PORT ARTHUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT,

Appellant,

vs.

DWIGHT WAGNER,

Appellee.

On Appeal from the 58th Judicial District Court of Jefferson County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 24DCCV2154

APPELLANT’S NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL CLERK’S RECORD REQUEST

TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT:

Appellant, Port Arthur Independent School District, hereby notifies the Court

that a relevant document was inadvertently omitted from the Clerk’s Record filed in

this appeal. Specifically, Defendant Port Arthur Independent School District’s

Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction, filed on March 17, 2025, was not included in the

original Clerk’s Record. Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 34.5(c), Appellant has

submitted a written request to the Jefferson County District Clerk to prepare and file

a Supplemental Clerk’s Record that includes this omitted pleading. A copy of that

written request is attached hereto as Exhibit A for the Court’s reference.

Appellant’s brief will be filed on time and will include the omitted Amended

Plea to the Jurisdiction as an appendix for the Court’s convenience, pending the

filing of the supplemental record.

Respectfully submitted,

CARRIER LAW GROUP, P.C. 505 Orleans, Suite 505 Beaumont, Texas 77701 Tel: (409) 833-1119 Fax: (409) 271-3690

/s/ Marivious Allen Marivious Allen State Bar No. 24126295 mallen@caflawgroup.com Melody Carrier Texas Bar No. 00785096 mcarrier@caflawgroup.com Attorneys for Appellant, Port Arthur I.S.D. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on May 28, 2025, a true and correct copy of the foregoing

notice was served electronically via the court’s electronic filing system to all parties

/s/ Marivious Allen Marivious Allen Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system. The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Marivious Allen on behalf of Marivious Allen Bar No. 24126295 mallen@caflawgroup.com Envelope ID: 101355548 Filing Code Description: Other Document Filing Description: APPELLANTS NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL CLERKS RECORD REQUEST Status as of 5/29/2025 7:21 AM CST

Associated Case Party: Port Arthur Independent School District

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Marivious Allen mallen@caflawgroup.com 5/28/2025 5:31:25 PM SENT

Tracie Bullock tracie@caflawgroup.com 5/28/2025 5:31:25 PM SENT

Melody Carrier mcarrier@caflawgroup.com 5/28/2025 5:31:25 PM SENT

Associated Case Party: Dwight Wagner

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Brandon Monk 24048668 brandon@themonklawfirm.com 5/28/2025 5:31:25 PM SENT

Associated Case Party: Commissioner Mike Morath

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Sherlyn Harper 24093176 sherlyn.harper@oag.texas.gov 5/28/2025 5:31:25 PM SENT 505 Orleans, Suite 505, Beaumont, Tx 77701 P: (409) 833-1119 | F: (409) 271-3690 Melody Carrier Marivious Allen mcarrier@caflawgroup.com mallen@caflawgroup.com BOARD CERTIFIED LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION

May 28, 2025

VIA E-FILING SERVICE Jamie Smith, District Clerk Sherrye Kohler, Deputy District Clerk Jefferson County Courthouse 1085 Pearl Street, Room 203 Beaumont, Texas 77701

Re: Request for Supplemental Clerk’s Record Trial Court Cause No. 24DCCV2154 Dwight Wagner v. Port Arthur Independent School District

Appellate Court Cause No. 15-25-00087-CV, Fifteenth Court of Appeals

Dear Mr. Smith and Ms. Kohler:

The attached Defendant’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction, dated March 17, 2025, was requested to be part of the Clerk’s Record on April 8, 2025 (see attached), however, it was not included.

At your earliest convenience, please supplement the record with Defendant’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction. See Tex. R. App. P. 34.5(c).

If any additional costs, designations, or documentation are required, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Thank you for your assistance with this matter.

Sincerely,

/s/ Marivious Allen CARRIER LAW GROUP, P.C. Marivious Allen Melody Carrier Attorneys for Defendant Port Arthur ISD (Appellant)

Cc: Melody Carrier (mallen@caflawgroup.com) Brandon Monk (brandon@themonklawfirm.com) FILED DISTRICT CLERK OF JEFFERSON CO TEXAS 3/17/2025 4:26 PM JAMIE SMITH NO. 24DCCV2154 DISTRICT CLERK 24DCCV2154

DWIGHT WAGNER, § IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF Plaintiff § § v. § JEFFERSON COUNTY § PORT ARTHUR INDEPENDENT § SCHOOL DISTRICT, § Defendant § 58TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

DEFENDANT PORT ARTHUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT’S AMENDED PLEA TO THE JURISDICTION TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT: COMES NOW Port Arthur Independent School District (“Defendant” or “District”), and

files this Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction, respectfully showing the Court as follows:

I. INTRODUCTION

This lawsuit is a judicial appeal of the Texas Commissioner of Education’s October 1,

2024, decision, issued pursuant to Texas Education Code § 21.304, which affirmed the

Independent Hearing Examiner’s Recommendation that Port Arthur ISD properly nonrenewed

Plaintiff’s employment contract. However, Plaintiff failed to comply with statutory requirements

necessary to perfect this appeal by failing to timely join the Commissioner of Education within the

30-day statutory deadline.

Plaintiff’s attempt to cure this jurisdictional defect through an amended petition is futile

because he failed to make the Commissioner a party to this suit by December 16, 2024 (the

statutory deadline). Therefore, the Court lacks jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s judicial appeal.

Additionally, this Court lacks jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s request for declaratory relief, as

it constitutes an improper attempt to expand the scope of review beyond what is permitted under

Texas Education Code § 21.307. Plaintiff cannot use the Declaratory Judgments Act as a means to challenge the Commissioner’s decision outside of the substantial evidence standard by statute.

When a statutory framework provides the exclusive means for judicial review, declaratory relief

is not available as an alternative remedy. Since the Texas Education Code provides the exclusive

remedy for judicial review of contract nonrenewals, Plaintiff’s request for declaratory relief is

barred as a matter of law.

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s judicial appeal was never properly perfected and his request for

declaratory relief is jurisdictionally defective. Therefore, this case must be dismissed for lack of

jurisdiction.

II. STANDARD

A plea to the jurisdiction challenges the trial court's authority to determine the subject

matter of a cause of action. Cornyn v. County of Hill, 10 S.W.3d 424, 427 (Tex.App.-Waco 2000,

no pet.). Dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is appropriate when it is impossible for

the plaintiff’s petition to confer jurisdiction on the trial court. Harris County v. Cypress Forest

Pub. Util. Dist., 50 S.W.3d 551, 553 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, no pet.).

III. ARGUMENT

Plaintiff was required to make both Port Arthur ISD and the Commissioner of Education,

Mike Morath, a party to this suit by December 16, 2024, in accordance with Texas Education Code

§ 21.307(b)-(c). Plaintiff’s failure to join the Commissioner before the deadline creates an

uncurable jurisdictional defect, depriving the Court of authority to hear this appeal. Plaintiff’s

request for declaratory relief is also jurisdictionally defective because it is redundant of the

remedies available through judicial review under the Texas Education Code. Accordingly, the

Court should dismiss this case for lack of jurisdiction.

Defendant Port Arthur ISD’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction Page 2 of 10 Wagner v. Port Arthur ISD, No. 24DCCV2154 A. Plaintiff Failed to Perfect His Appeal by Failing to Timely Join the Commissioner of Education. Texas Education Code § 21.307(b) provides that a petition for judicial review must be filed

within 30 days of the Commissioner’s decision or the denial of a request for rehearing.

Additionally, Texas Education Code § 21.307(c) mandates that the Commissioner of Education

must be a party to the appeal. Tex. Educ. Code § 21.307(c) (“The commissioner and each party to

the appeal must be made a party to an appeal.”).

The statutory language is mandatory, not discretionary. The failure to include the

Commissioner as a party before the deadline means that this appeal was not perfected and cannot

be retroactively cured.

1. Texas Education Code §21.307(b)-(c) Must Be Read Together to Establish a Properly Perfected Appeal. Despite Plaintiff’s assertion that subsections (b) and (c) should be read separately, the plain

language of the statute requires that they be construed together to determine whether an appeal has

been properly perfected. The two subsections are not distinct or independent but instead operate

in conjunction to establish both the deadline and the procedural requirements necessary for

invoking the court’s jurisdiction.

The requirement under subsection (c) that the Commissioner must be made a party to the

appeal is not an optional or discretionary matter but rather a jurisdictional prerequisite that must

be met before the end of the 30-day statutory deadline. Plaintiff’s interpretation of the statute is

flawed and contrary to law because it suggests that an appeal may be perfected without including

all necessary parties, effectively allowing a plaintiff to unilaterally delay joinder and add the

Commissioner at an indefinite later date. Such an interpretation is legally untenable because it

creates a substantial procedural uncertainty, delays the resolution of the appeal, and prejudices

both the District and the Commissioner. Defendant Port Arthur ISD’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction Page 3 of 10 Wagner v. Port Arthur ISD, No. 24DCCV2154 If Plaintiff’s reading of the statute were correct, a litigant could file a petition within the

deadline but wait until trial or any other arbitrary time to add necessary parties, a result that would

undermine the judicial review process and contradict the Legislature’s intent in requiring

expeditious and structured appeals of agency decisions. Texas law does not support Plaintiff’s

flawed interpretation.

2. The Legislature Did Not Provide for Delayed Joinder – Jurisdiction Must Be Established Before the End of the Statutory Deadline. Texas Education Code § 21.307 contains no provision permitting delayed joinder of the

Commissioner, nor does it suggest that an appeal is properly perfected when only one

indispensable party has been made a party to the suit. If the Legislature had intended to allow a

party to first file an appeal and then later join each necessary party to the suit after deadline, it

would expressly stated so in the statute. Instead, Section 21.307(c) mandates that the

Commissioner and each party must be a party to the appeal, meaning that an appeal that fails to

include either party before the deadline is defective and not perfected.

Texas courts have strictly applied statutory joinder requirements in administrative appeals

and have consistently held that litigants cannot retroactively cure jurisdictional defects through

amendments filed after the statutory deadline. See Wren v. Tex. Emp't Comm'n, 915 S.W.2d 506,

509 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1995, no writ) (holding that failure to join necessary parties

within the statutory deadline was a jurisdictional defect that could not be cured by amendment);

Lambeth v. Tex. Unemp't Comp. Comm'n, 362 S.W.2d 205, 207 (Tex.Civ.App.-Waco 1962, writ

ref d) (holding that amending a petition after the statutory deadline to add necessary parties does

not cure jurisdictional defects).

Similarly, in Richards v. Tex. Workforce Comm'n, No. 01-13-00403-CV, 2014 WL

2538621, at *3 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] June 5, 2014, pet. denied), the Court of Appeals

Defendant Port Arthur ISD’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction Page 4 of 10 Wagner v. Port Arthur ISD, No. 24DCCV2154 explicitly rejected the plaintiff’s argument that an amended petition naming the required parties

after the statutory deadline could satisfy jurisdictional requirements. The Court of Appeals held

that “if an employer who was a party to the proceedings before the [TWC] was not made a

defendant within the statutory time limit, the petition may not be amended thereafter to cure the

jurisdictional defect.” Id. (quoting Wren, 915 S.W.2d at 509). See also Kelley v. Tex. Workforce

Comm'n, No. 01-05-01110-CV, 2006 WL 3804451, at *2 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Dec.

28, 2006, pet. denied) (upholding plea to jurisdiction because plaintiff's amended petition naming

additional defendants came “too late”).

3. Plaintiff’s Appeal Was Never Perfected.

The Commissioner issued his decision on October 1, 2024. Plaintiff filed a request for

rehearing on October 18, 2024, which was denied by operation of law on November 15, 2024 (45

days after the Commissioner’s Decision was issued). See Tex. Educ. Code § 21.3041(c). Thus,

Plaintiff was required to perfect this appeal by December 16, 2024 (30 days after the denial of

the Request for Rehearing). See Tex. Educ. Code 21.307(b). However, Plaintiff failed to join the

Commissioner as a party by this statutory deadline, creating a jurisdictional defect that cannot be

remedied through a post-deadline amendment.

When a statutory deadline for judicial review is not met, the court lacks jurisdiction. See

Moses v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist., 12 S.W.3d 168, 171-72 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2000, no pet.)

(holding that a teacher’s failure to perfect a judicial appeal precluded the district court from

exercising jurisdiction over the case). In Gilmer Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Dorfman, 156 S.W.3d 586,

588-89 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2003, no pet.), the Court of Appeals held that the trial court erred in

denying a plea to the jurisdiction where the plaintiff had failed to join the Commissioner of

Education, an indispensable party, by the statutory deadline. Gilmer Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Dorfman,

Defendant Port Arthur ISD’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction Page 5 of 10 Wagner v. Port Arthur ISD, No. 24DCCV2154 156 S.W.3d 586 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2003, no pet.). Just as in Dorfman, Wagner’s failure to join

the Commissioner before the deadline deprives this Court of jurisdiction.

Lastly, Plaintiff’s reliance on Miranda v. Texas Dep’t of Parks & Wildlife, 133 S.W.3d 217

(Tex. 2004) is misguided. Miranda allowed an amendment to cure a factual pleading defect, not a

jurisdictional defect as it relates to a timely mandatory joinder. Id. The failure to meet a statutory

deadline for perfecting an appeal is not a procedural pleading issue; it is a jurisdictional defect that

bars the claim entirely.

Since Plaintiff failed to join the Commissioner by the statutory deadline, his appeal was

never perfected, and this Court lacks jurisdiction to proceed. Plaintiff’s attempt to cure his defect

by amending his petition after the deadline does not retroactively confer jurisdiction that was never

properly invoked. The failure to include a jurisdictionally required party within the deadline is a

fundamental defect that precludes judicial review, and as such, this case must be dismissed.

B. The Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over Plaintiff’s Request for Declaratory Relief.

Plaintiff’s First Amended Petition improperly includes a request for declaratory relief,

seeking relief beyond what is available under Texas Education Code § 21.307. However, when a

statutory framework provides the exclusive means for judicial review, declaratory relief cannot be

used as an alternative method to challenge an agency decision. See Poole v. Karnack Indep. Sch.

Dist., 344 S.W.3d 440, 445 (Tex. App.—Austin 2011, no pet.) (“When a statute provides an avenue

for attacking an agency order, a declaratory-judgment action will not lie to provide redundant

remedies).

In Poole, the plaintiff sought judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision that upheld

the school district’s decision to dismiss Poole’s request for assault leave. Id. at 441. In addition to

judicial review, the plaintiff also sought a declaratory judgment that she was entitled to assault

Defendant Port Arthur ISD’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction Page 6 of 10 Wagner v. Port Arthur ISD, No. 24DCCV2154 leave. Id. The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s dismissal of the declaratory judgment

claim, holding that it was an impermissible redundant remedy because the Education Code already

provided a specific avenue for judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision. Id. at 445. The

appellate court, citing the Texas Supreme Court, reiterated the long-standing rule that declaratory

relief is unavailable when another legal avenue exists to resolve the dispute, stating: “[a]s a general

rule, an action for declaratory judgment will not be entertained if there is pending, at the time it is

filed, another action or proceeding between the same parties and in which may be adjudicated the

issues involved in the declaratory action.” Id. (quoting Texas Liquor Control Bd. v. Canyon Creek

Land Corp., 456 S.W.2d 891, 895 (Tex. 1970)).

Applying this principle, the court held that because the request for declaratory relief was

redundant to the relief available under the Education Code, dismissal of the declaratory action was

proper. Id. Additionally, Poole’s request for attorney’s fees was also dismissed, as it was

contingent on the declaratory relief claim. Id.

Similarly, here, Plaintiff seeks judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision and requests

a “declaration that the District’s failure to follow its reduction in force policies violated Wagner’s

due process rights” and “[r]easonable attorney’s fees and costs of court.” See First Amended

Petition for Judicial Appeal and Request for Declaratory Relief, pages 4-5. Plaintiff’s request for

declaratory relief is redundant of the relief already available to him through judicial review under

Texas Education Code 21.307, and is therefore improper.

Since the Texas Education Code provides the exclusive statutory remedy for reviewing the

Commissioner’s decision, this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider Plaintiff’s request for declarator

relief. Plaintiff cannot use a declaratory judgment action to expand the scope of review or obtain

Defendant Port Arthur ISD’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction Page 7 of 10 Wagner v. Port Arthur ISD, No. 24DCCV2154 remedies beyond those permitted by statute. Thus, this Court must dismiss Plaintiff’s declaratory

judgment claim for lack of jurisdiction.

IV. CONCLUSION

Plaintiff’s judicial appeal was never properly perfected because he failed to comply with

the statutory requirements set forth in Texas Education Code § 21.307. Specifically, Plaintiff failed

to join the Commissioner of Education before the expiration of the 30-day statutory deadline,

creating a jurisdictional defect that cannot be cured through an amendment.

Moreover, this Court lacks jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s request for declaratory relief

because it is redundant to the judicial review under Texas Education Code § 21.307. Thus, this

case must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

PRAYER

For these reasons, Defendant Port Arthur Independent School District respectfully requests

that this Court:

1. Grant Defendant’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction and dismiss this case with prejudice

for Plaintiff’s failure to join the Commissioner of Education before the statutory deadline

under Texas Education Code § 21.307.

2. Hold that Plaintiff’s request for declaratory relief is improper and outside the Court’s

jurisdiction.

3. Grant Defendant such other and further relief, at law or in equity, to which it may be justly

entitled.

Defendant Port Arthur ISD’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction Page 8 of 10 Wagner v. Port Arthur ISD, No. 24DCCV2154 Respectfully submitted,

CARRIER LAW GROUP, P.C. 505 Orleans, Suite 505 Beaumont, Texas 77701 Tel: (409) 833-1119 Fax: (409) 271-3690

By: /s/ Marivious Allen Marivious Allen Texas Bar No. 24126295 mallen@caflawgroup.com Melody Carrier Texas Bar No. 00785096 mcarrier@caflawgroup.com Attorneys for Defendant, Port Arthur ISD

Defendant Port Arthur ISD’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction Page 9 of 10 Wagner v. Port Arthur ISD, No. 24DCCV2154 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on March 17, 2025, a true and correct copy of the above foregoing document was served on Petitioner via email as follows:

THE MONK LAW FIRM Brandon P. Monk brandon@themonklawfirm.com State Bar No. 24048668 4875 Parker Drive Beaumont, Texas 77705 409-724-6665 409-729-6665-Facsimile Attorney for Plaintiff /s/ Marivious Allen Marivious Allen

Defendant Port Arthur ISD’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction Page 10 of 10 Wagner v. Port Arthur ISD, No. 24DCCV2154 Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system. The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Tracie Bullock on behalf of Marivious Allen Bar No. 24126295 tracie@caflawgroup.com Envelope ID: 98548819 Filing Code Description: No Fee Documents Filing Description: DEFENDANT PORT ARTHUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AMENDED PLEA TO THE JURISDICTION Status as of 3/18/2025 7:08 AM CST

Associated Case Party: Dwight Wagner

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Brandon P.Monk brandon@themonklawfirm.com 3/17/2025 4:26:12 PM SENT

Associated Case Party: Port Arthur Independent School District

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Melody Carrier mcarrier@caflawgroup.com 3/17/2025 4:26:12 PM SENT

Marivious Allen mallen@caflawgroup.com 3/17/2025 4:26:12 PM SENT

Tracie Bullock tracie@caflawgroup.com 3/17/2025 4:26:12 PM SENT 505 Orleans, Suite 505, Beaumont, Tx 77701 P: (409) 833-1119 | F: (409) 271-3690 Melody Carrier Marivious Allen mcarrier@caflawgroup.com mallen@caflawgroup.com BOARD CERTIFIED LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION

April 8, 2025

VIA E-FILING SERVICE Jamie Smith, District Clerk Sherrye Kohler, Deputy District Clerk Jefferson County Courthouse 1085 Pearl Street, Room 203 Beaumont, Texas 77701

Re: Request for Clerk’s Record Trial Court Cause No. 24DCCV2154 Dwight Wagner v. Port Arthur Independent School District

Dear Ms. Smith and Ms. Kohler:

Please accept this correspondence as a formal request for the preparation of the Clerk’s Record in the above-referenced case. On April 8, 2025, Defendant Port Arthur Independent School District filed a Notice of Interlocutory Appeal of the trial court’s March 20, 2025, Order denying Defendant’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction.

Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 34.5, please include in the Clerk’s Record the following documents:

• Plaintiff’s Original Petition • Plaintiff’s First Amended Petition • Defendant’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction • Plaintiff’s Response to Defendant’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction • Defendant’s Reply to Plaintiff’s Response to Defendant’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction • Trial Court’s Order Denying Defendant’s Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction • The Notice of Interlocutory Appeal • The docket sheet and any other documents necessary to complete the appellate record

If any additional costs, designations, or documentation are required, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Thank you for your assistance with this matter. Sincerely,

/s/ Marivious Allen CARRIER LAW GROUP, P.C. Marivious Allen Melody Carrier Attorneys for Defendant Port Arthur ISD (Appellant)

Cc: Melody Carrier (mallen@caflawgroup.com) Brandon Monk (brandon@themonklawfirm.com)

CARRIER LAW GROUP, P.C. 2|Page