Weiss v. Hirsch

560 F. Supp. 2d 537, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54248, 2007 WL 2156633

• Court: District Court, E.D. Texas
• Decided: July 26, 2007
• Docket: 2:07-cv-00016
• Status: Published

Opinion

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S EXPEDITED APPLICATION FOR POST-JUDGMENT TURNOVER RELIEF AND BRIEF IN SUPPORT

RICHARD A. SCHELL, District Judge.

This matter is before the court on Plaintiff Jeffrey J. Weiss’s “Expedited Application for Post-Judgment Turnover Relief and Brief in Support” (Dkt.#2), filed on July 26, 2007. The Plaintiff filed this motion pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 69(a) and Chapter 31 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. The Plaintiff, in part, asks the court to enjoin the Defendant from:

1. transferring or assigning any claims or rights he has related to the claims asserted in the AAFCAP v. Champlain lawsuit, or any rights or claims Hirsch has in the AAFCAP, LLC entity; and

2. transferring or assigning any claims or rights he has in the AAF-Springfield, Inc. entity.

The Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief pursuant to Tex. Civ. PRAC. & Rem.Code Ann. § 31.002 (the Texas Turnover Statute) 1 in order to enforce a judgment. Pursuant to Texas case law, “the typical requirements for an injunction are not applicable to an injunction granted pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 31.002.” Roosth v. Roosth, 889 S.W.2d 445, 460 (TexApp.-Houston [14th Dist] 1994, writ denied). However, Rule 69(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides, in part, as follows:

The procedure on execution, in proceedings supplementary to and in aid of a judgment, and in proceedings on and in aid of execution shall be in accordance with the practice and procedure of the state in which the district court is held, existing at the time the remedy is sought, except that any statute of the United States governs to the extent that it is applicable.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 69(a) (emphasis added); In re Davis, 170 F.3d 475, 492 (5th Cir.1999). “Thus, the emphasized exception makes any applicable federal statute controlling, as well as any relevant civil rule, because those rules have the force of a statute.” Id.; see also Schneider v. National Railroad Passenger Corp., 72 F.3d 17, 19 (2nd Cir.1995).

Here, Rule 69(a) is made subject to Rule 65(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Schneider, supra. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(b) provides that a temporary restraining order may be granted without notice to the adverse party or to the adverse party’s attorney only if

(2) the applicant’s attorney certifies to the court in writing the efforts, if any, which have been made to give the notice and the reasons supporting the claim that notice should not be required.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b) (emphasis added). Rule 65(b) trumps Texas state law to the extent that the typical requirements for injunctive relief must be met. See Schneider, supra. Here, however, no certification exists in the Plaintiffs ex parte application stating that any efforts have been made to give notice to Defendant David Hirsch. Nor does the Plaintiff state any reasons why notice to the Defendant should not be required. Because the Plaintiff has not met the procedural requirements for an ex parte application for a temporary restraining order under Rule 65(b), the Plaintiffs ex parte application for a temporary restraining order is procedurally deficient. 2 Accordingly, the Plaintiffs “Expedited Application for Post-Judgment Turnover Relief and Brief in Support” (Dkt.#2) is hereby DENIED. Once the Plaintiff has complied with the requirements of Rule 65(b)(2), the Plaintiff may re-urge his application.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

1 . The Texas Turnover Statute is a purely procedural mechanism. Bollore S.A. v. Import Warehouse, Inc., 448 F.3d 317, 322 (5th Cir.2006).

2 . See, e.g., Dent Zone Network, L.L.C. v. Heritage Admin. Co., Inc., Case No. 4:03-CV-195, 2003 WL 21183706, **1-2, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8738, at *3-*5 (E.D.Tex. May 22, 2003) (denying plaintiff's ex parte application for a temporary restraining order); May v. Kennard Indep. Sch. Dist., Case No. 9:96-CV-256, 1996 WL 768039, **5-6, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14596, at *15—*16 (E.D.Tex. Oct. 1, 1996) (same).