Texas Department of Public Safety v. Cody Littlepage

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided January 23, 2015·No. 03-14-00194-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED 03-14-00194-CV 3879773 THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 1/23/2015 1:51:49 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE CLERK

FILED IN No. 03-14-00194-CV 3rd COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 1/23/2015 1:51:49 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE Clerk In the Court of Appeals Third District of Texas — Austin

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, Appellant V.

CODY LITTLEPAGE, Appellee

Appealed from County Court at Law Number 2, Williamson County, Texas; Before the Honorable Timothy Wright

APPELLEE’S BRIEF

Amber D. Farrelly Texas Bar No. 24069671 BAIRD☆FARRELLY CRIMINAL DEFENSE, PLLC 2312 Western Trails Blvd Ste. 102-A Austin, TX 78745 Tel. 512-804-5911 adfelaw@gmail.com

Attorney for Appellee, Cody Littlepage

ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED

No. 03-14-00194-CV

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, Appellant

V.

CODY LITTLEPAGE, Appellee

REQUEST FOR ORAL ARGUMENT

Appellee, Cody Littlepage, believes that oral argument might benefit the Court

in this case and respectfully requests that it be granted.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

REQUEST FOR ORAL ARGUMENT……………………………………………....2 TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………..…3 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES…………………………………………………….……4 INDEX OF ABBREVIATIONS………………………………………………...……5 STATEMENT ON ORAL ARGUMENT………………………………….…………6 APPELLEE’S BRIEF………………………………………………………….……..7 STATEMENT OF FACTS………………………………………………..………….8 SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT…………………………………………..…….9 CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………...…23 PRAYER………………………………………………………………………….…23 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE……………………………………………..…24 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE…………………………………………………...…25 INDEX OF APPENDICES…………………………………………………….……26

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

CONSTITUTIONS

U.S. CONST. Amend. V, VI, XIV

Tex. Const. art. I, § 10 and 19

STATUTES

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §794

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §12101

TEX. TRANS. CODE § 724.015

TEX. TRANS. CODE § 724.032

TEX. TRANS. CODE § 724.042

CASES

Erdman v. State, 861 S.W.2d 890, 893 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993)……………………..16

Ex parte Ard, No. AP-75,704, slip op. at 2, (Tex.Crim.App. March 11, 2009)(opinion not designated for publication)….…....10

Ex parte Reed, 271 S.W.3d 698, 727 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008)………………..…….…9

Landin v. Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety, 475 S.W.2d 594 (Tex.Civ.App.—Dallas 1971, no writ)………………………………………….....19

Lane v. State, 951 S.W.2d 242, 244 (Tex.App.-Austin 1997, no pet.)……………...18

Nebes v. State, 743 S.W.2d 729 (Tex.App. 1988)…………………………………..16

Raesner v. Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety, 982 S.W.2d. 131, 132 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1998, pet. Denied)…………………………...…….9

State v. Amaya, 221 S.W.3d 797 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2007, pet. Ref’d)……………………………………….….19

TX DPS v. Jauregui, 176 S.W.3d 846, 848-849 (Tex.App. 2005)………13, 16, 18, 19

INDEX OF ABBREVIATIONS

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act ASL American Sign Language ALJ Administrative Law Judge ALR Administrative Law Review

STATEMENT ON ORAL ARGUMENT

The Court should grant oral argument for the following reasons:

a. The issues presented have not previously been authoritatively decided.

See Tex. R. App. P. 39.1(b).

b. Oral argument will give the Court a more complete understanding of

the facts presented in this appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 39.1(c).

c. Oral argument will allow the Court to better analyze the complicated

legal issues presented in this appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 39.1(c).

d. Oral argument will significantly aid the Court in deciding this case.

See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(e), 39.1(d).

No. 03-14-00197-CV _____________________________________ TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, APPELLANT V. CODY LITTLEPAGE, APPELLEE _____________________________________________________

APPELLEE’S BRIEF

Cody Littlepage, appellee, respectfully submits his brief in response to

appellant’s appeal.

For clarity and brevity, the appellee, Cody Littlepage, will maintain references

as established by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Citations to Appellant’s

brief will be AB at [page number].

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Deputy Reynaldo Ramirez arrested Cody Littlepage for driving while

intoxicated and was responsible for providing the DIC-24 and requesting a breath or

blood specimen. The evidence shows Littlepage is deaf1 and communicates via

American Sign Language (ASL).2 Littlepage requested an ASL interpreter by

referring to the “deaf law.”3 Nevertheless, Deputy Ramirez, who does not speak

ASL, did not request an interpreter.4

After an extensive and difficult struggle with communication via written

word,5 often times where it seemed Littlepage did not understand,6 Deputy Ramirez

arrested Littlepage. Deputy Ramirez placed Littlepage’s hands behind his back,

handcuffed him and placed him in the patrol vehicle.7 Deputy Ramirez testified that

he showed Littlepage the DIC-24 and orally requested a specimen.8 Deputy Ramirez

did not tell Littlepage what the DIC-24 was or its purpose.9 Littlepage glanced at the

DIC-2410 before Deputy Ramirez stated that Littlepage’s non-response would be

1 CR 54, 58-59, 76 2 CR 70 3 CR 55, 74 4 CR 63 5 CR 55 6 CR 64, 71, 79 7 CR 77 8 CR 77 9 CR 74 10 CR 77 8

considered a refusal.11 Due to his deafness, Littlepage was unable to hear anything

requested or stated by Deputy Ramirez. Further, Littlepage was physically unable to

respond via sign language due to being handcuffed with his hands behind his back.

Despite the Department’s position, the evidence shows that Littlepage did not

refuse to provide a breath or blood specimen,12 and given the unique circumstances

of this situation, does not authorize a license suspension.

ARGUMENT

I. THE PROCEEDINGS BELOW

The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) found that Littlepage was “properly

asked to submit a specimen of breath,”13 and that he refused.14 Littlepage appealed to

Williamson County Court Two, contending Littlepage was not properly asked to

submit a specimen, and there was no showing that Littlepage refused to provide a

specimen. Judge Tim Wright agreed and reversed the decision of the ALJ. Judge

Wright was not required to accept or defer to findings not supported by the record

and was authorized to make contrary findings. Ex parte Ard, No. AP-75,704, slip op.

at 2, (Tex.Crim.App. March 11, 2009)(opinion not designated for publication), citing

Ex parte Reed, 271 S.W.3d at 727.

11 CR 77-78 12 CR 78 13 ALJ Decision dated October 3, 2013 14 Id. 9

II. REFUSAL

The ultimate issue in this case is whether Littlepage knowingly and

intelligently refused to provide a breath sample.

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Related

Texas Department of Public Safety v. Jauregui
176 S.W.3d 846 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2005)
State v. Amaya
221 S.W.3d 797 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2007)
Landin v. Texas Department of Public Safety
475 S.W.2d 594 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1971)
Erdman v. State
861 S.W.2d 890 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1993)
Ex Parte Reed
271 S.W.3d 698 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2008)
Nebes v. State
743 S.W.2d 729 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1987)
Lane v. State
951 S.W.2d 242 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1997)
Raesner v. Texas Department of Public Safety
982 S.W.2d 131 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1998)