Houston Case Law Monitor
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HARRIS COUNTY CIVIL COURTS AT LAW

CCCL#1   Hon. R. Jack Cagle
CCCL#2   Hon. Jacqueline Lucci-Smith
CCCL#2   Hon. Gary Michael Block (former judge)
CCCL#3   Hon. Linda Storey
CCCL#3   Hon. Lynn Bradshaw-Hull (former judge of this court)
CCCL#4   Hon. Roberta Anne Lloyd

HARRIS COUNTY PROBATE COURTS (see --> probate court cases)

Probate Court No. 1: Judge Georgia Akers | Kathy Stone (2009)
Probate Court No. 2: Judge Mike Wood
Probate Court No. 3: Judge Rory R. Olsen
Probate Court No. 4: Judge William C. McCulloch

HOUSTON CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS AND JUDGES
Also see -->Democratic Candidates in 2008 Houston Judicial Races
11          Judge Mark Davidson  | Mike Miller (2009)
55          Judge Jeff Brown aka Jeffrey Vincent Brown (now an appellate judge)
55          Judge Jeffrey A. Shadwick (appointed January 2, 2008) | Dion Ramos
61          Judge John Donovan | Al Bennet (2009)
80          Judge Lynn M. Bradshaw-Hull | Larry Weiman (2009)
80           Judge Kent Sullivan (former judge of this court)
113         Judge Patricia Ann Hancock
125         Judge John A. Coselli | Mark Carter (2009)
127         Judge Sharolyn P. Wood | R. K. Sandill (2009)
129         Judge S. Grant Dorfman | Michael Gomez (2009)
133         Judge Lamar McCorkle | Jaclanel McFarland (2009)
151         Judge Caroline E. Baker | Mike Engelhart (2009)
152         Judge Kenneth P. Wise aka Ken Wise | Robert Schaffer (2009)
157         Judge Randy Wilson aka Randall William Wilson
164         Judge Martha Hill Jamison | Alexandra Smoots-Hogan (2009)
165         Judge Elizabeth Ray | Josefina Muniz Rendon (2009)
189         Judge Bill Burke
190         Judge Patricia Jean Kerrigan (appointed 2007, elected 2008)
190         Judge Jennifer Elrod aka Jennifer Walker Elrod  (former)
215         Judge Levi Benton | Steven E. Kirkland (2009)
234         Judge Reece Rondon aka Mauricio Rondon
234         Judge Bruce Oakley (former judge of this court)
269         Judge Daniel E. Hinde (newly appointed by Gov. Rick Perry)
269         Judge John T. Wooldridge (resigned Aug. 2008)
270         Judge Brent C. Gamble
280         Judge Tony D. Lindsay
281         Judge Sylvia A. Matthews (newly appointed by the Governor)
281         Judge David Bernal aka David Jorge Bernal (resigned Aug. 2008)
295         Judge Tracy E. Christopher
333         Judge Joseph James Halbach Jr.
334         Judge Sharon McCally

HARRIS COUNTY FAMILY LAW CENTER
Family District Courts with Names of Presiding Judges

245th District Court     Judge Annette Kuntz (pka Galik)
246th District Court     Judge Jim York
247th District Court     Judge Bonnie Crane Hellums
257th District Court     Judge Judy Warne
308th District Court     Judge Georgia Dempster
309th District Court     Judge Frank Rynd
310th District Court     Judge Lisa Millard
311th District Court     Judge Doug Warne
312th District Court     Judge David Farr (new judge)
312th District Court     Judge James D. Squier (resigned)
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RECENT CASES FROM THE HOUSTON COURTS OF APPEALS

Berkefelt v. Jackson: Defective Rule 106 service of citation requires reversal of default judgment (Tex.App.-
Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 9, 2008)(Bland)(SAPCR default judgment set aside, defective service)

Farragut Financial, et al. v. Capital One Auto: Contract not formed in absence of essential term (Tex.App.-
Houston [1st Dist.] Sep. 25, 2008)(Bland)(auto financing, no contract formation, no meeting of the minds on
terms)
Choice Auto Brokers, Inc. v. Dawson: No personal jurisdiction through e-advertising (Tex.App.- Houston [1st
Dist.] Sep. 25, 2008)(Nuchia) (Internet sales of vehicles, accelerated, interlocutory appeal challenging the trial
court's order denying of special appearance; case dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction)
Lopez v. DFPS (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Sep. 25, 2008)(Higley)(termination of parental rights reversed,
appointment of CPS as SMC affirmed)
In re Strachan (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Sep. 11, 2008)(per curiam)
(trial court's failure to rule on pending motion warrants mandamus relief)
In Interest of DCM, LGM (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Sep. 9, 2008)(Hedges) (SAPCR modification,
mischaracterization of attorney's fees as child support corrected)
Lushann International Energy Corp. v. Harris County (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Sep. 11, 2008)(per
curiam) (no jurisdiction over restricted appeal; motion for new trial in court below precludes restricted appeal)
State of Texas v. Clear Channel Outdoor (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Sep. 11, 2008)(Bland)
(inverse condemnation, state's plea to the jurisdiction overruled)
DFPS v. Dickensheets (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Sep. 11, 2008)(Keyes)(CPS suit, constitutional
challenge to deadline)
McCloskey v. McCloskey (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Sep. 9, 2008)(Hedges)
(attorney's fees incurred in SAPCR litigation not child support, child support, scope of remand)
In Interest of DCM, LGM (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Sep. 9, 2008)(Hedges)
(SAPCR modification, mischaracterization of attorney's fees as child support corrected)
Luccia v. Ross (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Sep. 4, 2008)(Alcala)
(lease law, real estate sale purchase option for property, specific performance)
Harris County Municipal District No. 156 v. United Somerset Corp. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Sep. 4,
2008)(Alcala)
(plea to the jurisdiction, immunity, local government unit, suit dismissed for want of jurisdiction)
Bank of Texas, NA v. V R Electric (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Sep, 4, 2008)(Alcala)
(suit over payment of forged check, contract claim, attorney's fees)
In re Scally (Tex.App. - Houston [1st Dist.] Sep. 4, 2008)(per curiam) (mandamus denied)
Authorlee v. Tuboscope Vetco International, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 28, 2008)(Nuchia)
(challenge to agreed judgment, fraud claim, aggregate settlement claim, public policy)
Dissenting Opinion by Justice Keyes  (would set aside settlement aside as against public policy)      
Hernandez v. Hernandez (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug 28, 2008)(Higley)
(OAG child support enforcement suit, NPT nunc pro tunc order void)
Dissenting Opinion by Justice Keyes  
Speedemissions, Inc. v. Capital C Enterprises, Ltd (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug 28, 2008)(Radack)
(summary judgment, tortious interference with business relationship, breach of fiduciary duty)
Nguyen v. Barahona (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 28, 2008)(Jennings)
(personal injury, damages, workplace injury safety)
Monterosso v. Vance (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 28, 2008)(Nuchia)
(denial of special appearance affirmed)
In re Senior Living Properties, LLC (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 25, 2008)(per curiam)
(arbitration agreement illusory, lacking mutuality, enforcement denied)
Richardson v. Custom Corporates, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 25, 2008)(per curiam) (appeal
reinstated)
Dyer v. Regions Bank (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 22, 2008)(per curiam)
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. v. Technip USA Corp. (Tex. App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 21, 2008)(Higley)
Randall's Food and Drugs, LP v. Patton (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug 21,2008)(Radack)
Burris and Wheelchair & Scooter Express, LLC v. Metro of Harris County (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.]
Aug. 14, 2008)(Keyes) (inverse condemnation case, taking, ingress easement, no material and substantial
impairment of access to store) (court concludes, as a matter of law, that the impairment of access at issue in
case does not rise to the level of material and substantial and therefore appellants' claims are not compensable.)
Thompson v. Myrow (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug 14, 2008)(Keyes)
(probate case, finality of order, no interlocutory jurisdiction, DWOJ)
Lakota Resources, Inc v. Pathex Petroleum, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 14, 2008)(Keyes)
(post judgment garnishment proceeding, no interlocutory appeal permitted, DWOJ)
Tran v. Poe (Tex.App. - Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 14, 2008)(per curiam)
(untimely notice of appeal)
Garrett v. Harris County Hospital District (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 14, 2008)(Bland)
(TTCA, HCLC, discovery rule does not apply to notice requirement under Texas Tort Claims Act, no tolling)
Benefield v. State of Texas (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 14, 2008)(Bland)
(quo warranto proceeding, receivership, interlocutory appeal, orders granting a temporary injunction and
order appointing receiver reversed)
ODL Services, Inc. v. Conoco Phillips Co. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 14, 2008)(Taft)
(arbitration, whether FAA applies, arbitrability, motion to stay arbitration, challenge to findings of fact)
ODL Services, Inc. v. Conoco Phillips Co. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 14, 2008)(Taft) (arbitration
mandamus denied) (see companion interlocutory appeal disposed of in same opinion)
In re Stephanie Ann Bourg (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 12, 2008)(Jennings)
(criminal contempt of court, family court judge's capias order found void in its entirety, habeas corpus relief
granted)

Metro v. Harris County (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 26, 2008)(Fowler)
(workers comp subrogation)
Texas Mutual Ins. Co. v. Morris (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 26, 2008)(Fowler)
(insurance code violation damages affirmed, loss of credit reputation damages deleted)
Transcontinental Ins. Co. v. Crump (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 26, 2008)(Anderson)
(worker's compensation death benefits judicial review proceeding, attorneys fees)
In the Interest of D.A.P. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 26, 2008)(Seymore)
(child support, SAPCR, OAG suit, modification, counterclaim, jurisdiction, out-of-state parent, no service)
Salymeh v. Plaza Centro, LLC (Tex. App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 26, 2008)(Seymore)
(lease law, landlord-tenant, forcible detainer, right of possession, lost rents not proven)
West v. Triple B Services, LLP (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 26, 2008)(Fowler)
GP II Energy, Inc. v. Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, WIlliams & Martin (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug.
26, 2008)(Frost)(fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, escrow agent, non-disclosure)
Thompson v. Peak (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 26, 2008)(Fowler)
(homestead, liens, sanctions appeal mooted by compliance with sanctions order)
Dissenting Opinion by Justice Frost  
Anglo-