Judge Susan Criss | Recent Appeals from the 212th District Court | Hon. Criss is a Former Candidate in Democratic Primary for Seat on Texas Supreme Court

Judge Criss was a candidate for position 8 on the Texas Supreme Court, currently
held by Phil Johnson, Justice
See campaign web sites of incumbent and challengers:
Phil Johnson | Susan Criss | Linda Reyna Yanez
Criss narrowly lost to Linda R. Yanez, a sitting appellate court judge, in the Democratic Primary.
See 2008 Democratic Party Primary Election Results |
Texas Appellate Judicial Campaigns and Elections 2008
Republican Incumbent Johnson won in the General Election

Recent 2008 Appeals from the 212th District Court

Cruse v. O'Quinn (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 25, 2008)(Brown)
(attorney fee sharing agreement void as against public policy, illegal contract, attorney disbarred
forfeiture of corporate privileges)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Brown
(Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Guzman and Brown)
14-08-00103-CV        Leonard A. Cruse and Cruse and Associates, P.C. v. John M. O'Quinn and John M. O'Quinn &
Associates, L.L.P.--Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County
Trial Court Judge: Susan Elizabeth Criss

Singleton v. The City of League City, TX (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Sep. 25, 2008)(Yates)
(TTCA, employee's motion to dismiss based on suit against gov. entity, malicious prosecution claim)
REVERSED AND RENDERED: Opinion by Justice Brock Yates
Before Justices Brock Yates, Guzman and Brown
14-07-00932-CV Raymond A. Singleton, Walter A. Hammann IV, and The City of League City, Texas, Sued Directly and
Through the League City Police Department v. Kenneth L. Casteel
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County
Trial Court Judge: Susan Elizabeth Criss

CA Partners v. Marshall Spears (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 21, 2008)(Fowler)
(debt collection, deed of trust, DTPA, DJA, attorneys fees reversed and remanded)
AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED & REMANDED IN PART: Opinion by Justice Fowler
Before Justices Fowler, Seymore and Guzman
14-07-00057-CV CA Partners v. Marshall Spears and CitiFinancial, Inc.
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County
Trial Court Judge: Susan Elizabeth Criss

In re Sterling Chemicals, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 7, 2008)(Hedges)
(forum selection clause ambiguous, not enforced, mandamus denial)
MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Opinion by Chief Justice Hedges
Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Boyce
14-08-00280-CV In Re: Sterling Chemicals, Inc., Richard Crump, John Beaver, Resurgence Asset
Management, LLC, Byron Haney and Paul Rostek
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Susan Elizabeth Criss

Jackson v. City of Texas City (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] July 24, 2008)(Keyes)
(public employment, fire department, dismissal, civil service commission)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Keyes
Before Justices Taft, Keyes and Alcala
01-07-00026-CV
Anthony Jackson and James Nunez v. City of Texas City and Debbie Lesco, Texas City Civil Service Director
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Susan Elizabeth Criss
Dissenting Opinion by Justice Alcala

Public, Inc. v. County of Galveston (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] July 10, 2008)(Anderson) (taxing of non-profits)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Anderson
Before Justices Brock Yates, Anderson and Brown
14-07-00458-CV        Public, Inc. v. County of Galveston and City of Galveston
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County
Trial court judge: Judge Susan Criss

In Re Bison Building Materials (Tex.App.- Houston [1st dist.] June 26, 2008)(Radack)
(arbitration mandamus, employment, workplace injury, no waiver of right to arbitrate found)
GRANT PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: Opinion by Chief Justice Radack
Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Bland
01-07-00003-CV        In re Bison Building Materials, Ltd.
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Susan Elizabeth Criss

Scott v. King (Tex. App. - Houston [1st Dist.] Mar. 27, 2008)(Hanks)(defamation, IIED, Election Code violation)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Hanks
Before Justices Nuchia, Hanks and Higley
01-06-00565-CV John C. Scott v. William E. King
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Susan Elizabeth Criss

2007 Appeals from cases in Judge Criss's Court:

In re BP Amoco Chemical Co (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Jan. 25, 2007)(per curiam)
(discovery mandamus granted)
MOTION OR WRIT GRANTED: Per Curiam
Before Justices Anderson, Hudson and Guzman
14-06-00778-CV        In Re: BP Amoco Chemical Company and BP Products North America, Inc.
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Judge Susan Criss)

In re Michael Medina (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Dec. 6, 2007)(Hanks)
(IME, mental injury, legal malpractice, multiple plaintiffs)
GRANT PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: Opinion by Justice Hanks
Before Justices Taft, Hanks and Higley
01-07-00747-CV In re Michael Medina, et al
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Hon. Susan Elizabeth Criss)

Court of Appeals Again Grants Mandamus against Judge Susan Criss

Judge Susan Criss is ordered to vacate gag order by female judge on higher court
In re Hearst Newspapers Partnership LP (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 30, 2007)(Opinion by Elsa Alcala)(civil liberties, first
amendment, freedom of speech and of the press, order prohibiting jurors from speaking about case to media and others)
GRANT PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: Opinion by Justice Alcala
Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Higley
01-07-00866-CV In re Hearst Newspapers Partnership, L.P. and Galveston County Daily News
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Hon. Susan Elizabeth Criss)

VACATED AND REMANDED: Per Curiam (joint motion for settlement)
Before Justices Brock Yates, Fowler and Guzman
14-07-00335-CV Ira and George Ann Held v. Allsel Corporation, Hillcrest Foster Investments, L.P. and the Estate of Luther
Allen, Decease d
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Hon. Susan Criss)

Adair v. Veritas (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Sep. 27, 2007)(substitute opinion by Frost)(seismic survey property damage
claim)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Frost
Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Fowler and Edelman
14-06-00254-CV Sandra Adair, Et Al v. Veritas DGC Land, Inc.
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Hon Susan Elizabeth Criss)
Adair v. Veritas DGC Land, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.} Aug. 9, 2007)(Fowler)(opinion withdrawn and superseded by
opinion issued Sep. 27, 2007)
(mass litigation, seismic survey damage alleged, summary judgment affirmed, M4C)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Fowler
(Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Fowler and Edelman)
14-06-00254-CV        Sandra Adair, Et Al v. Veritas DGC Land, Inc.
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Hon. Susan Elizabeth Criss)

In re BP Plaintiff's Steering Committee (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 16, 2007, pet. filed and briefing on the merits
requested)(per curiam)
DENY PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: Per Curiam
Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Taft and Alcala
01-07-00624-CV In re BP Plaintiffs' Steering Committee
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Judge Susan Criss)

McLean Bowers v. Speer Taylor (Tex.App. - Houston [1st Dist.] May 3, 2007)(Alcala)
[UDJA, deed, mineral estate dispute, fee simple ownership, attorneys fees]
REVERSE TC JUDGMENT AND REMAND CASE TO TC FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS: Opinion by Justice Alcala
Before Justices Taft, Alcala and Hanks
01-05-00667-CV Ruth McLean Bowers, Marrs McLean Bowman, Bonnie Bowman Korbell, Ruth Bowman Russell, Beth Bowman
Harper and Margaret Bowman McMahon v. Betty Speer Taylor, Robert C. Barker, Jr., Charles H. Barker, David T. Speer, T.C.
Craighead & Co., and Bank of America, N.A., as Trustee for the Katherine C. Holt Trusts f/b/o Robert C. Barker, Jr., Charles H.
Barker, Betty Speer Taylor, David T. Speer,--Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Judge Susan Criss)

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)

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)

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)

In re BP Products North America Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 9, 2007)(per curiam denial of mandamus,
discovery,motion to quash)
DENY PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: Per Curiam
(Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Higley)
01-06-00943-CV        In re BP Products North America Inc.
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Judge Susan Criss)
See --> subsequent Texas Supreme Court ruling granting mandamus

In re Precon Marine, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 4, 2007)(per curiam denial of mandamus, order granting new trial)
DENY PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: Per Curiam
(Before Justices Taft, Keyes and Hanks)
01-06-01091-CV        In re Precon Marine, Inc.
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Hon. Susan Elizabeth Criss)

City of La Marque v. Toyya Braskey d/b/a The Momma Cat (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 4, 2007)(Alcala)(no jurisdiction
over challenge to criminal law, city ordinance, regulation of cat shelter, criminal prosecution)
VACATE TC JUDGMENT AND DISMISS CASE: Opinion by Justice Alcala
(Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Bland)
01-04-01224-CV        The City of La Marque v. Toyya Braskey d/b/a The Momma Cat
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (Hon. Susan Criss)