Opinion Release Dates: April 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 27 NOTEWORTHY APRIL 2007 OPINIONS IN CIVIL CASES FROM THE FOURTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS 7979 Airport Garage, LLC v. Dollar Rent a Car Systems (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 27, 2007) (Guzman)(commercial lease) Buhman v. McGaughy (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 26, 2007)(Guzman)(jury charge error) Barrick v. Washington Mutual (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 26, 2007)(Hudson)(bad briefing) McCall v. Williams (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 26, 2007)(per curiam) Chicago Title Co. v. Home Loan Corp. (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 24, 2007)(Edelman)(real estate loan transaction, fiduciary duty of title company escrow agent) Gana v. Gana (Tex.App. - Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 24, 2007)(Fowler)(divorce property division) Perkins v. Ulrich (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 24, 2007)(Yates)(employment at will) Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Altimore (Tex.App. - Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(Anderson) Justice Seymore wrote a concurring opinion in Exxon v. Altimore Smith v. City of Galveston (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(Hudson)(wrongful death, survival action) Fletcher v. Harris (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(Yates)(probate) The Cadle Company v. Salazar (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 17, 2007)(Yates)(debt, note, limitations) Choice v. Gibbs (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 12, 2007)(Frost)(substituted opinion on rehearing) (homeowner PI liability, premises) Ace American Ins. Co. v. Marez (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 13, 2007)(Hudson) (workers compensation, attorneys fees) In the Interest of JR and BR (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 10, 2007)(Edelman)(CPS case) In the Interest of P.R.G (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 5, 2007)(per curiam dismissal, failure to pay for appeal)(termination of parental rights) Iwuji v. Airline Center, Inc (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 5, 2007)(per curiam dismissal)(DWOJ, notice of appeal late) In Re: Clifford Allen Smith (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 5, 2007)(per curiam dismissal)(mandamus against JP, DWOJ) Soto v. International Medical Group, Inc (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 3, 2007)(Anderson)(medical insurance coverage denial, rescission of policy) Montgomery v. Jacob Varon, M.D (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 3, 2007)(Frost)(HCLC, malpractice) Young., M.D. and Baylor College of Medicine v. Silva Villegas (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 3, 2007, pet. filed)(Frost)(health care liability claim, ILA, immunity claim) Izen v. Sjostrom and Atlas Legal Defense Fund (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 3, 2007)(Former Justice Frank Price)(breach of contract, fiduciary duty, libel, attorney's fees arising from investor tax dispute with IRS) DETAILS FOR CIVIL CASES DECIDED BY THE FOURTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS IN APRIL 2007 - Also see ---> Criminal Cases April 27, 2007 Civil Causes Decided: 7979 Airport Garage, LLC v. Dollar Rent a Car Systems (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 27, 2007) (Guzman)(lease case, repairs, contractual attorneys fees, fee segregation, counterclaim) AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED & REMANDED IN PART: Opinion by Justice Guzman Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Brock Yates and Guzman 14-05-00484-CV 7979 Airport Garage, LLC v. Dollar Rent a Car Systems, Inc. Appeal from 80th District Court of Harris County (Judge Kent Sullivan) April 26, 2007 Civil Causes Decided: Buhman v. McGaughy (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 26, 2007)(Guzman) [jury charge and jury instruction error] REVERSED AND REMANDED: Opinion by Justice Guzman Before Justices Frost, Seymore and Guzman 14-05-01215-CV Larry A. Buhman v. James Leigh McGaughy Appeal from 127th District Court of Harris County (Judge Sharolyn P. Wood) Barrick v. Washington Mutual (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 26, 2007)(Hudson) [defective appellate brief] AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Hudson Before Justices Brock Yates, Anderson and Hudson) 14-05-01220-CV E.W. "Bill" Barrick; d/b/a Barrick Enterprises; and d/b/a Barrick Insurance Agency v. Washington Mutual--Appeal from 281st District Court of Harris County (Judge David J. Bernal) DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Justices Anderson, Fowler and Frost) 14-06-00606-CV In the Matter of Gambling Proceeds and Devices Appeal from 176th District Court of Harris County DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Justices Brock Yates, Edelman and Seymore) 14-07-00005-CV U.S. Jin Chen Enterprise, Inc. And Genqun Lei a/k/a Lei Gen Qun v. Nation Plastics, Inc.--Appeal from 189th District Court of Harris County MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Per Curiam (Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Fowler and Edelman) 14-07-00079-CV In Re: Andres Lopez--Appeal from 257th District Court of Harris County DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Justices Anderson, Fowler and Frost) 14-07-00198-CV Janet Gayle Aduddle v. Truman Body, Et Al Appeal from 240th District Court of Fort Bend County DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Justices Brock Yates, Edelman and Seymore) 14-07-00216-CV Donald Ray McCray v. Harris County and Becky Tibbs, Et Al Appeal from 334th District Court of Harris County MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Per Curiam (Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Guzman) 14-07-00309-CV In Re: Bernard Washington Appeal from 230th District Court of Harris County DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Justices Brock Yates, Edelman and Seymore) 14-07-00310-CV In Re: Tommy Edward Sanders Appeal from 313th District Court of Harris County McCall v. Williams (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 26, 2007)(per curiam) REVERSED AND REMANDED: Per Curiam Before Justices Brock Yates, Edelman and Seymore 14-07-00349-CV Mary Linda McCall v. Ryan Williams Appeal from Probate Court No 1 of Harris County April 24, 2007 Civil Causes Decided: Chicago Title Co. v. Home Loan Corp. (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 24, 2007)(Edelman) [real estate closing dispute, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, BoFD, error preservation] AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED: Opinion by Justice Edelman Before Justices Fowler, Edelman and Guzman 14-04-01059-CV Chicago Title Insurance Company v. Home Loan Corporation d/b/a Expanded Mortgage Credit--Appeal from 215th District Court of Harris County (Judge Levi James Benton) Gana v. Gana (Tex.App. - Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 24, 2007)(Fowler) (family law, divorce, property division reversed) REVERSED AND REMANDED: Opinion by Justice Fowler Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Fowler and Edelman 14-05-00601-CV Bradley Jay Gana v. Susan Ruth Gana Appeal from 310th District Court of Harris County (Judge Lisa A. Millard) Perkins v. Ulrich (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 24, 2007)(Yates) (employment at will, employee accepted change in compensation policy by continuing to work) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Brock Yates Before Justices Brock Yates, Anderson and Hudson 14-05-00992-CV Anthony Perkins v. William Ulrich d/b/a Morrison Homes and George Wimpey of Texas Corp.--Appeal from 215th District Court of Harris County (name of judge not shown on docket) April 19, 2007 Civil Causes Decided: Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Altimore (Tex.App. - Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(Anderson) REVERSED AND RENDERED: Opinion by Justice Anderson Before Justices Anderson, Edelman and Seymore 14-04-01133-CV Exxon Mobil Corporation v. Louise Altimore Appeal from 405TH District Court of Galveston County (Judge Wayne J. Mallia) Justice Seymore wrote a concurring opinion in Exxon v. Altimore Smith v. City of Galveston (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(Hudson) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Hudson Before Justices Anderson, Hudson and Guzman 14-05-00926-CV Daryl Dwayne Smith, Stacy Schnell and Rose Mary Smith, Individually and for the Estate of Robert W. Smith, Deceased v. City of Galveston Appeal from 127th District Court of Harris County (Judge Sharolyn P. Wood) Fletcher v. Harris (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(Yates)(probate case law) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Brock Yates Before Justices Brock Yates, Anderson and Hudson 14-05-00998-CV Marvin V. Fletcher v. Willie T. Harris Appeal from Probate Court No 4 of Harris County (HON. WM CAMERON MCCULLOCH) Amigo Truck Ltd. v Carder (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(per curiam dismissal) DISMISSED: Per Curiam Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Frost and Guzman 14-06-00414-CV Amigo Truck Ltd v. Rick Carder and Darrell Carder d/b/a Carder Sand and GravelAppeal from 239th District Court of Brazoria County Das Boot, Inc v. Medina (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(per curiam dismissal) DISMISSED: Per Curiam Before Justices Brock Yates, Edelman and Seymore 14-06-01151-CV Das Boot, Inc. and Robert Brink v. Jimmy Medina Appeal from Co Civil Ct at Law No 4 of Harris County In Interest of SRH (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(per curiam dismissal) DISMISSED: Per Curiam Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Guzman 14-07-00151-CV In the Interest of S.R.H Appeal from 314th District Court of Harris County In Re HEB Grocery Co. (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(per curiam denial) MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Per Curiam Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Fowler and Edelman 14-07-00188-CV In Re: H.E.B. Grocery Company, L.P and H.E. Butt Grocery Company Appeal from 80th District Court of Harris County In Re Key Collins (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(per curiam denial) MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Per Curiam Before Justices Frost, Seymore and Guzman 14-07-00261-CV In Re: Kay Collins Appeal from 247th District Court of Harris County Harvey-Armstrong v. Armstrong (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 19, 2007)(per curiam) DISMISSED: Per Curiam Before Justices Brock Yates, Edelman and Seymore 14-07-00284-CV Megan Colleen Harvey - Armstrong v. Tom Dennis Armstrong, Sr. Appeal from County Court at Law No 1 of Galveston County April 17, 2007 Civil Causes Decided: The Cadle Company v. Salazar (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 17, 2007)(Yates) [debt, promissory note, limitations, admission of evidence against party opponent, not hearsay] AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Brock Yates Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Fowler and Edelman 14-05-01052-CV The Cadle Company v. Luis Salazar Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Judge Susan Elizabeth Criss) April 12, 2007 Civil Causes Decided: Choice v. Gibbs (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 12, 2007)(Frost)(substituted opinion on rehearing) [summary judgment reversed, fact issue, PI, contractor, homeowner negligence, premises liabilty] REVERSED AND REMANDED: Opinion by Justice Frost Before Justices Fowler, Edelman and Frost 14-05-01068-CV Willie Choice v. Richard A. Gibbs and Mary C. Edwards Appeal from 127th District Court of Harris County (Judge Sharolyn P. Wood) Ace American Ins. Co. v. Marez (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 13, 2007)(Hudson) [workers comp case; attorneys fees] REVERSED AND RENDERED: Opinion by Justice Hudson (Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Edelman 14-06-00592-CV Ace American Insurance Company v. Erasmo Marez Appeal from 234th District Court of Harris County (Judge Reese Rondon) In Re Rapid Settlements (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 12, 2007)(per curiam) [mandamus, arbitration, temporary injunction enjoining arbitration] MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Per Curiam Before Justices Anderson, Hudson and Guzman 14-06-00758-CV In Re Rapid Settlements Ltd.- Appeal from 133rd District Court of Harris County (Judge Lamar McCorkle) Mecom v. Zimmerman (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 12, 2007)(per curiam) VACATED AND DISMISSED: Per Curiam (vacated pursuant to settlement agreement) Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Guzman 14-06-01078-CV John W. Mecom, Jr. v. Stephen N. Zimmerman, Zimmerman Enterprises, Inc., and LA Colombe D'OR Restaurant and Hotel, Inc. Appeal from 280th District Court of Harris County (Judge Tony Lindsay) DISMISSED: Per Curiam (DWOP, failure to pay fees) Before Justices Brock Yates, Edelman and Seymore 14-07-00104-CV Albert Ortiz, Et Al v. Harris County, Et Al Appeal from 152nd District Court of Harris County (Judge Ken Wise?) April 10, 2007 Civil Causes Decided: In the Interest of JR and BR (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 10, 2007)(Edelman) [family law, termination of parental rights, CPS, child abuse and neglect, effect of mandate in prior appeal on trial court proceedings in underlying case] AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Edelman Before Justices Anderson, Edelman and Frost 14-05-01216-CV In the Interest of J.R. and B.R., Children Appeal from 314th District Court of Harris County (Judge John Phillips) In Re: Dole Food Co., Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 10, 2007)(per curiam dismissal) DISMISSED: Per Curiam Before Justices Fowler, Edelman and Frost 14-06-00870-CV In Re: Dole Food Company, Inc., Dole Fresh Fruit Company, Standard Fruit Company, and Standard Fruit and Steamship Co. Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Judge Susan Elizabeth Criss) April 5, 2007 Civil Causes Decided: Chevalier v. Palm Harbor Homes (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 5, 2007)(per curiam dismissal)(on appellant's motion) DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Guzman) 14-06-00649-CV Michelle Chevalier v. Palm Harbor Homes Appeal from 190th District Court of Harris County (Hon. Jennifer Elrod) In the Interest of P.R.G (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 5, 2007)(per curiam dismissal, failure to pay for appeal)(termination of parental rights) DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Guzman) 14-06-01105-CV In the Interest of P.R.G a child Appeal from 308th District Court of Harris County Kunz v. Leon Ocampo (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 5, 2007)(per curiam dismissal)(case settled) DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Justices Frost, Seymore and Guzman) 14-07-00003-CV Max Kunz v. Leon Ocampo and Nicolaza Roman Ocampo Appeal from Co Civil Ct at Law No 1 of Harris County (Hon R. Jack Cagle) Iwuji v. Airline Center, Inc (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 5, 2007)(per curiam dismissal)(DWOJ, notice of appeal late) DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Justices Frost, Seymore and Guzman) 14-07-00018-CV Leo Iwuji, Christina Iwuji, and Juliana Iwuji v. Airline Center, Inc. Appeal from Co Civil Ct at Law No 4 of Harris County (Hon. Roberta Anne Lloyd ) Haynes v. Candle Light Hills Civic Ass’n (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 5, 2007)(per curiam dismissal)(nonpayment) DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Guzman) 14-07-00055-CV Theresa Haynes v. CandleLight Hills Civic Association Appeal from 151st District Court of Harris County (no judge identified on appellate docket) In Re: Clifford Allen Smith (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 5, 2007)(per curiam dismissal)(mandamus against JP, DWOJ) DISMISSED: Per Curiam (Before Justices Frost, Seymore and Guzman) 14-07-00262-CV In Re: Clifford Allen Smith Appeal from Justice of the Peace, Precinct 7 of Callahan County April 3, 2007 Civil Causes Decided: Soto v. International Medical Group, Inc (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 3, 2007)(Anderson) [medical insurance coverage denial, rescission of policy based on nondisclosure] AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Anderson Before Justices Brock Yates, Anderson and Hudson 14-05-00956-CV Iris Reyes-Soto v. International Medical Group, Inc. and Sirius International Insurance Corporation--Appeal from 152nd District Court of Harris County (Judge Kenneth Price Wise) Montgomery v. Jacob Varon, M.D (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 3, 2007)(Frost)(HCLC) [health care liability claim] AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Frost Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Frost and Seymore 14-05-01059-CV Yolanda Montgomery, Individually and as Next Friend and Natural Parent of L'Jaunet Shantelle Montgomery and Donovan Leon Montgomery v. Jacob Varon, M.D. Appeal from 55th District Court of Harris County (Judge Jeff Brown) Young., M.D. and Baylor College of Medicine v. Silva Villegas (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 3, 2007, pet. filed and briefing on merits requested)(Frost)(Health care liabiliy claim, immunity claim, interlocutory appeal) AFFIRMED IN PART DISMISSED IN PART: Opinion by Justice Frost Before Justices Fowler, Edelman and Frost 14-06-00072-CV Amy Young., M.D. and Baylor College of Medicine v. Silva Villegas and Armondo Villegas, Individually and as Parents and Next Friends of Mark Anthony Villegas Appeal from 333rd District Court of Harris County (Judge Joseph J. Halbach) Izen v. Sjostrom and Atlas Legal Defense Fund (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 3, 2007)(Former Justice Frank Price)(breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, BoFD, libel, attorney's fees arising from investor tax dispute with IRS) REVERSED AND REMANDED: Price [Former Justice] Before Price, Justices Fowler and Edelman 14-06-00142-CV Joe Alfred Izen v. Gefforey Sjostrom and The Don Belton Legal Defense Fund a/k/a Atlas Legal Defense Fund Appeal from 61st District Court of Harris County (Judge John J. Donovan) |
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