1 ... S eeTe x. R. App
. P. 47. 4. 

## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH
NO. 2 - 0 8 - 0 8 7 - CV
AN NI E GREEN AN D JAM ES GREEN APPE L L AN TS V
. RO N A LD L. CO O K, D
. D
. S. A PPELL EE

----- ----- -- FR O M THE 415TH DI STRI CT CO URT O F PARKERCO UN TY

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### M E M ORANDU M OP I NI ON 1

----- ----- -- I . I nt r oduc t i on I n t w o i ss ues , A ppe l l ant s A nni e G r ee n and Jam esG r ee n ( col l ec t i vel y “ t he G re ens ”) as se rtt hatt he t r i al co urtab us ed i t s di sc r et i on bys anc t i oni ng t he G re e n s a n d b yd e n y i n g th e i r m o ti o n fo r c o n ti n u a n c e . W e a ffir m .2 II . F a c tu a la n d P ro c e d u ra lH i s to ry Th e G r eens f i l ed sui tagai nst A ppel l ee Ro nal d L. C ook, D
. D
. S
. ( her ei naf t er (“ D r. C o o k ” ) o n F e b ru a ry2 8 , 2 0 0 6 , fo r h i s fa i l u re to d i a g n o s e m a x i l l a ry sq uam ousce l l ca nce rw hi l e f i t t i ng Anni e f orde nt ur es . Dur i ng the c our seof di sc o v e r y , a n u mb e ro fh e a r i n g s we r e h e l d r e g a r d i n g t h e d e p o s i t i o n s o ft he G r eens’ expertw i t nesses. Because t he G r eens al l ege t hatt he t r i al courtabused i t s di sc r et i on bys anc t i oni ng t hem an d by den yi ng t hem a con t i nua ncef r om a hear i ng on D r . C ook’ s m ot i on f orsum m ar y j udg m ent , a det ai l ed pr oc e d u ral
r evi ew i s w ar r ant ed. A . H e a ri n g s o n the D e p o sit i o n o f t h eG ree n s’ E x p e rt s A cc or di ng t o t he G r ee ns , D r . Cook i ni t i al l y f i l ed a m ot i o n t o qua sh t he depo si t i on of t he G r eens’ expert , R i char d I r w i n, w hi ch w as t o have been t aken by t he G r ee nsasa t r i al de pos i t i o n . Dr
. Cook’ s obj ec t i on t o t he dep os i t i on
no tic e s w as t hathe w ant ed t o t ake a “di scover y depo si t i on” oft he G r eens’ expert s bef or e t he G r eens w er e per m i t te d to ta k e a “t r i al ” deposi t i on. A f t er hea r i ng t he ar gum ent s ofco uns el , t he t r i al co urt r ul ed t hat D r . Cook w oul d be al l ow ed t o t ak e a “ di sc ove r y”de pos i t i on bef or e t he G r ee ns ’ “ t r i al ” dep os i t i on butt hatD r . Cook w oul d ha ve t o pay f or t he exp ert s’ t i m e f or t he “d i sc ove r y” d e p o s i ti o n (th e S e p te m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 0 7 ru l i n g ).3

D r . Cook ha s a m or e e xt ens i ve and di f f er ent vi ew oft he bac kgr ound of t he case l eadi ng up t o t he f i r stm ot i on t o quash heari ng. H e assert s as f ol l ow s: Begi nni ng i n M ay, 2007 , [ D r . Cook] , th ro u g h hi s cou ns el , s ought to ta k e th e d e p o s i ti o n o f [th e G re e n s ’] e x p e rts . S e v e ra l l e tte rs w er e sentt o [ t he G r ee ns’ ] counsel r equest i ng t he depo si t i ons, w i t houta m ea ni ngf ul r es pons e. F i nal l y, t he dep os i t i on ofoneof [ t heGr e e ns ’ ] e xp e rt s , Dr
. Ri c ha r d I r w i n, w a s s c he du l e d f orJ ul y 31, 2 0 0 7 , a dat e of f er ed by [ t he G r ee ns ]
. O n Jul y 19, 200 7, [D r. C ook ] s erved not i ceofi nt entt o t ak e t he dep os i t i on ofD r . I r w i n on Jul y 31 , 20 07 , at10 : 00 a. m . O n Jul y 24 , 20 07 , [ t he G r eens] f i l ed a m ot i on t o quash D r . I r w i n’ s deposi t i on no t i c e , a l l egi ng t hat coun sel f or[ D r . C ook] f ai l ed t o obtai n agr eem ent o n t he dat e. T h e n , o n J u l y2 6 , 2 0 0 7 , th e d a y a fte r h a v i n g m o v e d to q u a s h [D r. C o o k ’s ] n o t ic e o f D r . Ir w in ’s d e p o s it io n , [ t h e G r e e n s ] s e r v e d t h e ir ow n no t i c e o fi nt e ntt o t a k e t hed e po s i t i on o fDr
. I r w i n on J ul y 31, at9: 00 a. m . , onehour ea r l i ert ha[ n] [ D r . Cook’ s] not i ce . No r ea so n w ass t at ed [ ] ast o w hy Dr
. I r w i n’ s dep os i t i on c oul d go f or w ar d on Jul y 31 at9: 00 a. m . , butnoton Jul y 31 at10 : 00 a. m . C oun sel f or[ t he G r eens] adm i t t ed t hat her m ot i ve i n quashi ng [ D r . C ook’ s] not i ceofD r . Irw i n ’s dep os i t i on a nd [ t he G r ee ns ’ ] not i ceoft he dep os i t i on f ore a rl i e r t he sa m e d ay w ast o [ i n] es se nce[ ] “j um p a h e a d ” o f[D r . C o o k ] b yt a k in g a v id e o d e p o s i t io n f o ru s e a tt r ia l. A hea r i ng w as se t on [ D r . C ook ’ s] M ot i on t o Q uas h t he dep os i t i on ofD r . I r w i n f orSep t e m b e r 1 3 , 20 07
. Bef or e t he T r i al C ourthad been gi ven t he opp ort uni t y t o r ul e on [ D r . C ook’ s] M ot i on t o Q uash and th e o r deroft he dep os i t i onsof[ t he G r ee ns ’ ] ex pert s, [ t he G r eens] , w i t hou tconsul t at i on or agr eem ent of [ D r . C ook] , not i ced t h e d e p o s i t i o n o f D r . I r wi n o n S e p t e mb e r 1 8 , 2 0 0 7 , an d t he dep os i t i on of D r . W eni g on Sept em ber 25, 200 7. Thes e a ct i onsby [ t he G r ee ns ] ag ai n ne ce ss i t at ed t he f i l i ng ofa M ot i on t o Q uas h t he d e p o s i ti o n s o f th e s e e x p e rts . [I n te rn a l c i ta ti o n s o m i tte d .] A l so accor di ng t o D r . C ook: S o o n a fte r th e h e a ri n g [ a n d th e S e p te m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 0 7 ru l i n g ], [D r. C o o k’ s] co uns el ag ai n r equ es t ed dat esf ort he t ak i ng oft he de po s i t i on s o f[ t heGr e e ns ’ ] e xp e rt s , a nd on Se pt e m be r 18, 2007 ,2 ... A ccor di ng t o t he G r eens, t he courtr eport erf ort he 4 15 t h D i s t r i ct

C ourtw as pr esent at t he hear i ng on D r . C ook’ s m ot i on f orr ehear i ng on O ct ober 29 , 20 07
. H ow ever , w hen t he t r anscr i ptw as r eques te d b y th e G r eens’ at t or ney f orsubsequent hear i ngs, t he court r eport er r epr esent ed t hat t her e w as n o rec o rd o f th e h e a ri n g o n th a t d a te, a n d th e e x a c t p roc e e d i n g s o n tha t da te c o u ld n o tb e p r e s e n t e d f o rt h is a p p e a l. 4 [D r. C o o k ] se n t c o rre s p o n d e n c e to [th e G re e n s ] c o n fi rm i n g th a t [D r. C ook ] w ashol di ng s eve r al d at esf ort he dep os i t i onsofD r . I r w i n, D r . W eni g and D r . C r ow . O n Sept em ber 25, 200 7, cou ns el f or[ t he G r eens] cal l ed t he of f i ces of [ D r . C ook’ s] counsel , and, f ort he f i r st t im e , w a s in f o r m e d t h a ta ll t h r e e o f[t h e G r e e n s ’ ] e x p e rt s w o u ld r e q u ir e a $ 5 ,0 0 0 r e t a in e r b e f o r e e v e n g iv in g d a t e s f o rt h e ir depo si t i ons. I n l i ght oft hi s r ef usal t o pr ovi de [ D r . C ook’ s] counsel w i t h dat es f or t he depo si t i ons of[ t he G r eens’ ] expert s, [ D r . C ook] fi l e d h i s M o ti o n to C o m p e l the D e p o sit i o n s o f [ th e G ree n s’] E x p e rt s a nd M ot i on f orRe c on s i de r a t i on o ft heCou rt ’ s Se pt e m be r13, 2007 R u l i n g [th e “ R e c o n s i d e ra ti o n M o ti o n ” ]. [ In te rn a l c i ta ti o n s o m i tte d .] B. Dr . Cook’ s M ot i on f orReco ns i derat i on O n O ct ober 1, 20 07 , D r . C ook f i l ed hi s R econsi der at i on M ot i o n . In essence, t he m ot i on w as a r epeat of hi s m ot i on t o quash, but cover ed al l t hr ee oft he G r ee ns ’ ex pert s— I r w i n, W eni g, an d Cr ow . A tt he con cl us i on oft he hea r i ng 2o n th e m o ti o n , th e c o u rt s i g n e d D r. C ook’ s pr opo sed or der[ t he O ct ober 29 , 20 07 or der ] , on w hi ch t he courtw r ot e: “N o l at er t h a n No v e mb e r 9 , 2 0 0 7 , [ t h e Gr e e n s ’ ] c o u n s e l s h a l l p r o v i d e 3 al t er nat i ve da te s o f o c cur r enc e p r i ort o a nd i ncl udi ng Dece m ber7, 2007 , f or R ul e 19 5 d eposi t i ons ofD r s. I r w i n, W eni g and C r ow . ” The or deral so pr ovi ded5

t hatthe dep osi t i ons ofI r w i n, W eni g and C r ow w oul d occurnotl at ert han Nov e m be r16, 2007
. C . Dr . Cook’ s M ot i on f orSanc t i ons O n N o v e m b e r 1 6 , 2 0 0 7 , D r. C o o k fi l e d a “ M o ti o n fo r S a n c ti o n s fo r F a i l u re t o Com pl y w i t h t he C ourt ’ s O ct obe r29, 2007 O rd e r, a n d M ot i on t o Q uas h” bas ed on a N ove m ber 9, 200 7 l ett er f r om t he G r ee ns t hat pr ovi ded dat esf or onl y t w o oft he G r ee n s ’ th re e exp ert s. Addi t i ona l l y, D r . Cook’ s m ot i on f or
sa nct i onsco m pl ai ned t hatt w o oft he t hr ee dat es f or W eni g a nd t w o oft he f our dat es f orI r w i n had been pr evi o u s ly d e s i gnated by t he G r eens’ at t or ney as vacat i on dates
. A c c o rd in g t o t he G r eens’ r esponse t o t he m ot i on f orsanct i ons and as
ar gue d a tt he hea r i ng on t he m att er , de sp i t e t he G r ee ns ’ be stef f ort s, by Fr i day , N ove m ber9, 200 7, onl y D r s. I r w i n and W eni g had r es ponde d t o phoneca l l s f or depo si t i on datesbecause D r . C r ow had been out of t ow n. C onsequ ent l y, aft er
w a i t i ng u nt i l t hee nd o ft hed a y f orDr
. Cr ow ’ s r e s po n se , on Nov e m be r9, 200 7, at 6: 47 p. m . , t he G r ee ns pr ovi ded t he se ven da t esf ort he dep os i t i ons of D r s. I r w i n and W eni g, expl ai ni ng t hat “D r . C r ow has been out of[ t he] of f i ce

. . . [ b u ta ] s s o o n a s s h e c o n t a c t s u s , I w ill n o t if yy o u o fh e ra v a ila b le depo si t i on dates
. ” Furt her , as expl ai ned by t he G r eens, t he G r eens had noti f i ed D r . C ook t ha tD r . W eni g ( t he onco l ogy sur geon ) w oul d need som e advance6

not i cef orhi s d e p o s i ti on i n Ev ans t on, I l l i noi s. Nevert hel es s, ac cor di ng t o t he G r ee ns , at4: 20 p. m . , on M onda y, N ove m ber 12, 200 7, D r . C ooknot i ce d t he dep os i t i on of D r . W eni g i n Eva ns t on on N ove m ber14, 2007 , an d t he dep os i t i on ofDr
. I r w i n, t heDal l a sp e r i od on t i s t , o n Dec e m be r5, 2007
. Furt her , ac cor di ng t o t he G r ee n s , i m m edi at el y up on r ec ei vi ng t he depo si t i on no t i ces, on N ovem ber 12 , 20 07 , t he G r eens’ at t or ney senta l et t er b yfa c s i m i l e to d e fe n s e c o u n s e l re q u e s ti n g th a t h e re v e rs e th e o rd e r o f D r. W e n i g ’ s a n d D r . I r w in ’s d e p o s it io n s , a llo w in g D r . W e n ig m o r e n o t ic e f o rh is d e p o sit i o n s i n E v a n sto n , I l l i n o i s, an d p e rm i tti n g the G ree n s’ atto rne yt im e to
m a k e tr a v e l arran g e m e n ts to I l l i n o i s. M o reo v e r, the G ree n s’ atto rne yag ree d to post pon e herTh anksgi vi ng hol i day, t o pr ovi de def ense counsel w i t h addi t i onal dat esf ort he dep os i t i on oft he G r ee ns ’ ex pert s. W hen no r es p o n s e t o t he G r ee ns ’ l ett erw asr ec ei ved f r om def ens e c ouns el by N ove m ber14, 2007 , t he G re e n s ’ a tto rn e y h e r s e l f n o ti c e d th e d e p o s i ti o n s o f th e G re e n s ’ e x p e rts , D r. I r w i n and D r . W eni g, t o r eserve t he depo si t i on dat es t hat w er e open f ordef ense
c o u n s e l , w h i c h th e G re e n s ’ e x p e rts h a d s e t a s i d e . It w a s a t th i s p o i n t th a t D r. C ookr es ponde d byf i l i ng a “ M ot i on f orSanc t i onsf orFa i l ur e t o C om pl y w i t h t he C o u rt’sO c to b e r 2 9 , 2 0 0 7 O rd e r a n d M o ti o n to Q u a s h .” I n hi s m ot i on f orsanct i ons, D r . C ook assert ed t hatt he G r eens di sobeyed t he cou rt ’ s O c to ber29, 2007 or derbe ca us e, ac cor di ng t o Dr
. Cook, t he3 ... A cc or di ng t o r ul e 21a, bec aus e t he G r ee ns ’ r es pons e w as by f ax and

a fte r 5 :0 0 p .m ., i t w a s c o u n te d a s re c e i v e d o n N o v e m b e r 1 0
. S eeTex. R. Ci v. P. 21 a. 7 G r ee ns ’ l ett erw i t h t he exp ert dep os i t i on da t es , f axe d a f t er5: 00 p. m . on F r i day , N o v e m b e r 9 , 2 0 0 7 , v i o l a te d th e c o u rt’s o rd e r i n th a t i t w a s “ u n ti m e l y ,” 3 a n d i tf ai l ed t o pr ovi de dat es f orD r . C r ow ’ s depo si t i on. Furt her , D r . C ook ar gued t hat , duet o t he G r ee ns ’ att or ney ’ s vac at i on l ett er , t he G r ee ns w er e i n vi ol at i on oft he cou rt ’ s O ct obe r29, 2007 or derbe ca us e t w o oft he fo u r dat esf ort he I r w i n dep os i t i on and t w o of t he t hr ee dat es f ort he W eni g de pos i t i on w er e n ot
ava i l abl e f ort he G r ee ns ’ att or ney , l ea vi ng onl y t w o dat esf orI r w i n a nd on e f or W eni g. T h e G r e e n s ’ a t t o r n e yre s p o n d e d t h a tt h e G r e e n s h a d t a k e n e v e r yp o s s ib le
m ea su r e t o c om pl y w i t h t he cou rt ’ s or der
. Speci f i ca l l y, s he sa i d t hatD r . I r w i n, a p er i odont i st i n D al l as , w asav ai l abl e o n Novem ber14, 20, 21, an d on D ec em b e r 5 , 2007 , an d t hatD r . W eni g, t he onc ol ogy su r geo n i n Ev ans t on I l l i n o is , a lt hou gh avai l abl e on N ovem ber14 , 20 07 , w hen he i ni t i al l y pr ovi ded de po s i t i on d a t e s , w a s a l s o a va i l a bl e on Nov e m be r21 a nd Dec e m be r5, 2007 , but coul d not be avai l abl e on one d ay’ s not i ce. The G r eens’ a tt o rn ey al so
a r g u e d t h a t s h e h a d a g r e e d t o c a n c e l h e r v a c a t io n p la n s in o r d e rt o b e a v a ila b le N ove m ber20 and 21, 2007 , t o pe r m i tad di t i ona l da t esf orex pertde pos i t i ons8

and assert ed t hatt her e w as no r eason t hatdef ense counsel coul d not r ever se t he dep os i t i onsda t esf orD r . W eni g a nd Dr
. I r w i n. A g a i n , D r. C o o kh a d a d i fferen t vi e w o n th e se e v e n ts. H e a ss e rt e d tha t: O n Fr i day, N ovem ber9, 20 07 , at 6: 47 p. m . [ t he G r eens’ ] counsel f axed a l et t ert o [ D r . C ook’ s] counsel concer ni ng dat es f orD r s. I r w i n a nd W eni g. The l ett ers tat ed “Dr
. I r w i n i s ava i l abl e o n N o v e m b e r1 4 , 2 0 , 2 1 a n d D e c e m b e r5 , 2 0 0 7 . D r . W e n ig is a v a i l a b l e o n N o v e m b e r 1 4 , 2 1 a n d D e c e m b e r 5 , 2 0 0 7 . H o w e v e r, a s y o u ca n se e fr o m m yv a c a ti o n l e tter se n t t o y o u an d the co u rt , I w i l l be out of t ow n on N ove m ber20 and 21, 2007
. ” O ft he f our di f f er entda t es of f er ed i n [ t he G r ee ns ’ ] l ett erofN ove m ber9, [ t he G r ee ns ’ ] co uns el s t at ed t her ei n t hats he w as una vai l abl e o n t w o of t hem , m aki ng N ovem ber 14 and D ecem ber5, 20 07 , t he onl y dat es o n w h ic h D r s. I r w i n and W eni g w er e t o be depo sed. Sai d l et t er i n c l u d e d n o d a te s fo r th e d e p o s i ti o n o f [th e G re e n s ’] e x p e rt D r. C r o w. Be c a us e o ft hel a t e t i m e of[ t heGr e e ns ’ ] f a x ofNov e m be r9, t he l ett erw asr ec ei ved by [ D r . Cook ’s ] co uns el on M onda y, N ovem ber12
. D espi t e t he short n o tic e gi ven t o [ D r . C ook’ s] c o u n s e l b y [th e G re e n s ’] c o u n s e l i n o ffe ri n g d a te s fo r [th e G re e n s ’] e x p e rt s’ d e p o sit i o n s, [ D r. C o o k ’s] c o u n se l w e n t to g rea t l e n g th s to a rra n g e a c o u rt re p o rte r a n d a c c o m m o d a te tra v e l to Il l i n o i s o n s h o rt not i cei n a n e ffo rt [to] de pos e Dr
. W eni g on a d at e t hat[ t he G r ee ns ’ ] co uns el s ai d hew asav ai l abl e. Thats am e d at e, [ t he Gr e e ns ] i s s ue d de po s i t i on no t i c e s f or Dr
. W e ni g f orNov e m be r15 a nd f orDr
. I r w i n on Dec e m be r5. At 7: 54 p. m . on Nov e m be r12, [ t he G r eens’ ] counsel f or w ar ded a l et t ert o [ D r . C ook’ s] counsel st at i ng t hatD r . W eni g m ay not be avai l abl e f orhi s de p o s ition as noti ced. Th i s l et t er f r om [ t he G r eens’ ] counsel w enton t o accuse [ D r . Cook’ s] co uns el ofs che dul i ng t he dep os i t i on “ t o c aus e t he g r e a t e s ti n c o nveni ence f o rmyo f f i c e a n d Dr
. W e n i g . ” On N ove m ber13, [ t he G r ee ns ’ ] co uns el f or w a r ded a l ett eri ndi ca t i ng t hatD r . W eni g c oul d no l onge r t es t i f y on N ove m ber14, 2007
. The le t t e r s f r o m [t h e G r e e n s ’] c o u n s e l o n N o v e m b e r 1 2 -1 3 a ll i n c o rr e c tl ys t a ted tha t [ D r. C o o k ’s] c o u n se l h a d req u e ste d to depo se D r . Irw in bef or e D r . W eni g, w hen i n f act[ D r . C ook’ s]9

c o u n s e l h a d m a d e n o s u c h re q u e s t. In l i g h t o f [th e G re e n s ’] l e tte r, [ D r . C ook’ s] counsel not i f i ed [ t he G r eens’ ] coun sel t hatsam e day t hat , so as not t o i ncura d d itional expense, and despi t e t he f act t hatt he dat e s el ec t ed f orD r . W eni g’ s dep o s i t i on w asoneoft he d a t e s t h a t[t h e G r e e n s ’] c o u n s e l h a d g iv e n t o [D r . C o o k ’s ] c o u n s e l, D ef end ant ’ s cou ns el ca nce l ed pl anst o t r ave l to Il l i noi s f ort he dep os i t i on ofD r . W eni g. Fol l ow i ng [ D r . C ook ’ s] ca nce l l at i on oft he d e p o s i t i o n o fD r. W e n i g , o n N o v e m b e r 1 4 , 2 0 0 7 , [th e G re e n s ’] c ou ns e l n ot i c e d t hed e po s i t i on s o fDr
. I r w i n on Nov e m be r20, 2007 ( a d a t e o n wh i c h [ t h e Gr e e n s ’ ] c o u n s e l h a d o r i g i n a l l yc l ai m ed unavai l abi l i t y) , and D r . W eni g on D ece m b e r 5 , 20 07
. [ I nt er nal ci t at i onsom i t t ed] D . O r ders on Dr . Cook’ s M ot i on f orSanc t i ons F o l l o w i n g a h e a ri n g o n D r. C o o k ’s m o ti o n fo r s a n c ti o n s , tw o o rd e rs w e re si gned by t he court . The i ni t i al or der , si gned D ecem ber 5, 20 07 , or der ed t hat t he dep os i t i onsoft he G r ee ns ’ ex perts b e ta k e n on Jan uary 11, 2007 , an d Jan uary 15, 2007 , at def ens e c ouns el ’ s of f i cean d t hatt he exp ert s’ t es t i m ony b e l i m i ted to th e i r r e p o rt s. A d d i ti o n a l l y , th e G ree n s’ atto rne yw a s o rde red to payD r . Cook’ s att or ney$4, 000
. 00 f orhi s m ot i on f ors anc t i onsan d f ort he pr epa r at i on a nd a ppe ar anc e o n hi s pr evi ousm ot i on t o c om p e l (i .e . , t he R e c o n s i d e ra ti o n M o ti o n ). The se con d or der , si gne d D ec em ber 10, 200 7, i ndi ca t ed i n ha ndw r i t i ng t hat i t w as “Am end ed. ” The “Am end ed” or der st r uck t he G r ee ns ’ o n col ogy
su rge o n ( D r. B a rry W e n i g ) a s a n e x p e rt w i tn e ss , a n d D r. C row w a s o rde red to be depo sed at10 : 00 a. m . on Janu ar y 15 , 20 08 , at def ense coun sel ’ s of f i ce,10

r at hert han i n he rH ous to n o f f i cet o w hi ch sh e h ad agr ee d. The G r ee ns
as se rt ed t hatt he “Am end ed”or ders erved t o m ak e i t i m pos si bl e f orD r . Cr ow t o pr ov i deh e rd e po s i t i on o n Ja nu a r y 15, 2008
. I n bot h t he D ec em ber5 and D ec em ber10 or der s, t he t r i al co urtm adet he fo l l o w i n g fi n d i n g s :

• The Gr ee nsvi ol at ed t he cou rt ’ s O ct obe r 29, 200 7 or derby notpr ovi di ng de pos i t i on da t esf orD r . Cr ow .

• T h e G re e n s v i o l a te d th e s a m e o rd e r b yp ro v i d i n g e x p e rt dep os i t i on da t esw hi ch i n cl ude d va ca t i on da t esoft he G r ee ns ’ att or ney .

• Th e N ovem ber9 l et t erf r om t he G r eens’ at to rn e y w as unt i m el y.

• A l t hough D r . W eni g w asap pr opr i at el y no t i ce d f orde pos i t i on b yD r. C o o k , th e G re e n s ’ a tto rn e yn o ti fi e d D r. C o o k ’s att or neyt hathew oul d notap pea rf orhi s dep os i t i on, p re v e n ti n g th e d e p o s i ti o n i n v i o l a ti o n o f th e c o u rt’s o rd e r.

• D r . C ook had been seeki ng t he depo si t i ons oft he G r eens’ e xp e rt s s i nc e a tl e a s tM a y of2007
. I n sum , t he courtf oun d t hatt he G r eens had vi ol at ed t he court ’ s O ct ober 29, 2007 or der , t he vi ol at i on w ar r ant ed st r i ki ng D r. W eni g a s a w i t nes s, an d
se t t i ng a da t e a nd pl ac e c ert ai n f orD r . Cr ow ’ s dep os i t i on w asw ar r ant ed. E. The G r ee ns ’M ot i on f orRehe ar i ng O n D e c e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 0 7 , th e G re e n s fi l e d th e i r m o ti o n fo r re h e a ri n g o n D r. C o o k ’s s a n c t i o n s o rd e r re g a rd i n g th e d e p o s i ti o n s o f th e G re e n s ’ e x p e rt11

w it n e s s e s . In t h a t m o t io n , t h e G r e e n s re it e r a t e d t h e irp o s it io n t h a tt h e iro n ly
nonc om pl i anc e w i t h t he O ct obe r 29, 2007 or derw ast hei ri nab i l i t y t o pr ovi de d e p o s i t i o n d a t e s f o rD r . C r o w be c a us es h e h a d b e e n o u to ft o wn a tt h e t i me t hatm essages f ordeposi t i on datesw er e l ef t w i t h herof f i ce and t hat“def ense
cou ns el m er el y ne ede d t o t ak e t he dep os i t i on oft he l i abi l i t y e xpe rtbe f or e t he dam age expert , and t her e w oul d have been no pr obl em i n havi ng bo t h oft hose d e p o s i ti o n s ta k e n .” T h e G re e n s ’ m o t i o n fo r re h e a ri n g a n d th e G re e n s ’ m o ti o n to q u a s h D r. C ook ’ s d e p o s i ti on ofD r . Cr ow , f i l ed on Dece m ber13, 2007 , w er e s etf or he a r i n g b y t h e t r i a l c o u rt o n J a n u a r y 1 4 , 2 0 0 8 , t h e d a y b e f o r e t h e not i ced d e p o sit i o n o f D r. C row . D u ri n g th a t h e a ri n g , th e G ree n s’ atto rne yarg u e d tha t, i n e ss enc e, t he cou rtha d or der ed dea t h- pen al t y sa nct i ons aga i ns tt he G r ee ns b ys tri k i n g o n e e x p e rt (D r. W e n i g ), b ya l l o w i n g D r. C o o kto n o ti c e a n o th e r (D r. C r ow ) at a t i m e and pl ac e t hat m ade i t i m pos si bl e f or her t o a t t end , an d bynot al l ow i ng t he vi deo t api ng of t he l as t of t he G r ee ns ’ exp ert s ( D r . I r w i n ), w ho coul d not appearatt r i al , t her eby necessi t at i ng a second depo si t i on t hathad yet t o bet ak en. Dr
. Coo kf i l e d a r e s po ns e t o t he Gr e e ns ’ m ot i on s on Ja nu a r y 10, 2008 , r equest i ng add i t i onal sancti ons agai nstt he G r eens’ at t or ney, cont endi ng t hat t he G r ee ns ’ m ot i onsw er e “ gr oundl es s, ” and al l egi ng t hat“ sl and er o us an d12

unw ar r ant ed com m ent s abo utde f ense c ouns el ” had be en m ade
. Af t ert he h e a ri n g , th e tri a l c o u rt d e n i e d th e G re e n s ’ m o ti o n fo r re h e a ri n g a n d g ra n te d D r. Coo k ’ s m ot i on r e qu e s t i ng a dd i t i on a l s a nc t i on s a ga i ns tt heGr e e ns ’ a t t or ne y. By
o r d e rs ig n e d o n J a n u a r y3 0 , 2 0 0 8 , t h e t r ia l c o u r t o r d e r e d t h a t$ 1 ,4 0 0 in
a d d it io n a l a t t o r n e yf e e s b e p a id b yt h e G r e e n s ’ a t t o r n e yt o d e f e n s e c o u n s e l. F. The G r eens’D eposi t i on N ot i ces Pr evi ousl y, on D ecem ber31 , 20 07 , t he G r eens sent noti ces t o def ense
c o u n s e l to ta k e th e d e p o s i ti o n s o f th e i r e x p e rt, D r. Irw i n , a n d o f D r. S te c k l e r, D r . Br ow n, an d Dr
. El l i s. The dep os i t i onsw er e s che du l e d to b e t ak en on Jan uary 16, 17, 22, an d 24— dat est hatde f ens e c ouns el ha d pr ovi ded
. W he n t heGr e e n s ’ a t t or ne y r e t ur ne d t o he ro f f i c e a f t e rt heJ a nu a r y 14, 20 08 hear i ngs, she aver r ed t hat she has been noti f i ed t hat her f at her had been hosp i t a l i z e d i n s e r i o u s c o n d i t i o n a n d t h a t s h e wa s a d v i s e d t o m ake
arran g e m ent s t o c om e t o Tenn es se e a s so on a s pos si bl e. Bef or e l ea vi ng t he of f i ce t o t r avel t o Ten nessee, t he G r eens’ at t or ney senta f acsi m i l e t o def ense
cou ns el t o r ei t er at e t hat D r . C r ow w oul d not be abl e t o a t t end a dep os i t i on t he fo l l o w i n g m o rn i n g , sin c e i t w a s n o t n o ti c e d i n th e a fte rn o o n a t D r. C ro w ’s H o u s t o n o f f ic e a n d t o s t a t e t h a t s h e w a s c a n c e lin g t h e d e p o s it io n o fD r . I r w in schedul ed f orJanuar y 16 , 20 08
. A ddi t i onal l y, t he G r eens’ at t or ney asked her l egal assi st ant t o confi r m w i t h def ense counsel t hatt he depo si t i ons schedul ed4 ... The n at ur e o ft hi s se con d f une r al i s notex pl ai ned
. 13 f ort hatw ee k w er e c anc el ed unde rt he ci r cum st anc es . By v oi ce m a i l an d by fac sim i l e to d e fen se co u n se l , th e l e g a l a ss i sta n t n o ti fi e d d e fen se co u n se l o f a “f am i l y em er gency” t hatnecessi t at ed t he cancel l at i on of t he depo si t i ons. G . The G r ee ns ’ M ot i on f orCont i nua nceofD r . Cook’ s “No Evi den ce ” M ot i on f orSum m ary Ju dgm ent O n Ja nua r y 16, 2008 , de f ens e c ouns el f i l ed a n o e v i den cem ot i on f or
s u m m a ryj u d g m e n t a n d h a d i t s e t fo r h e a ri n g o n F e b ru a ry8 , 2 0 0 8 . H o w e v e r, be c a us e t heGr e e ns ’ a t t or ne y’ s f a t he rd i e d on Su nd a y m or ni ng , J a nu a r y 20, 20 08 , she w as unab l e t o r et ur n t o t he of f i ce ort o t ake t he depo si t i ons noti ced f o rt h a tw e e k . A c c o r d in g t o t h e G r e e n s ’ c o u n s e l , a f t e rt w o f u n e r a ls (in Tenne ss eean d i n Chi ca go) 4and t he bur i al of her f at her , t he G r eens’ at t or ney
re tu rn e d to T e x a s o n S a tu rd a yn i g h t, J a n u a ry2 6 , 2 0 0 8
. O n M o n d a y , J a n u a ry 2 8 , 2 0 0 8 , th e G ree n s’ atto r n e y s t a ted tha t sh e atte n d e d the m e d i a ti o n o f a D al l asca set hatha d be en sc hed ul ed m ont hs i n a dva ncean d t hatd i d not
c o n c lu d e u n t il a f t e r8 :3 0 p .m . C o n s e q u e n t ly , a c c o r d in g t o t h e G r e e n s ’ c o u n s e l, t hef i r s td a y t ha ts her e t ur ne d t o t he of f i c e w a s o n Tu e s da y, J a nu a r y 29, 2008 , atw hi ch t i m e s he di sc ove r ed t hatde fe n s e c ouns el ha d f i l ed a m ot i on f or
s um m a r y j ud gm e ntt ha tw a s s e tt o beh e a r d on F e br ua r y 8, 2008
.14

D u e t o t h e l a c k o f d i s c o v e r y , i n p a rt d u e t o s a n c t i o n s , t h e G r ee ns
assert ed t hat t hey di d not have t he depo si t i ons necessar y, norsuf f i ci entt i m e, t o re s p o n d t o D r . C o o k ’ s “ n o e v id e n c e ” s u m m a r yju d g m e n tm o t io n ; t h e ir
r e s p o n s e w a s d u e t o b e f ile d o n F e b r u a r y1 , 2 0 0 8 , w it h in t h r e e d a y s o ft h e ir at t or ney’ s r et ur n t o heroff ic e . C onsequ ent l y, t he G r eens’ at t or ney pr epar ed
m ot i on s f or c on t i nu a nc e of t hes um m a r y j ud gm e nth e a r i ng a nd t heF e br ua r y 12, 20 08 t r i al dat e. A f t era br i efhear i ng on t hese m ot i ons, t he t r i al courtdeni ed t he G r eens’
m ot i on f orcont i nuan ce oft he s u m m ar y j udg m enthear i ng, and i tgr ant ed
su m m ary j udgm ent . Thi s app ea l f ol l ow ed. I I I . C onti nuan ce I n t hei rs ec ond i s s u e , th e Gr ee ns co m pl ai n t hatt he t r i al co urter r ed by de n y i n g t h e m a c o n t i n u a n c e f r o m t h e h e a r i n g o n D r . C o o k ’ s mo t i on f or
su m m a ry j u d g m e n t. A . Revi ew Th e deci si on t o gr antordeny a m ot i on f orcont i nuan ce i s r evi ew ed und er
a n a b u s e o f d i s c re ti o n s ta n d a rd
. S tate v. Wood O i l D i str i b. , I nc. , 751 S
. W
. 2d 863 , 865 ( Tex. 198 8)
. W hen t he con t i nua ncei nvol vest he pos t pone m entof
a sum m ar y j udg m enthear i ng, t he r evi ew i ng cou rtconsi der s sever al f acto r s, i ncl udi ng t h e n a tu r e and com pl exi t y oft he case, t he nat ur e oft he evi dence15

r e q u ir e d t o a d d r e s s t h e m o t io n , h o w lo n g t h e m o t io n h a s b e e n o n f ile , a n d , if t he abs enc e o fco uns el i s an i ss ue, w het hert he abs enc e i s t he f aul toft he
c o n ti n u a n c e -re q u e s ti n g p a rty . See State v. Crank , 6 6 6 S .W .2 d 9 1 , 9 4 (T e x .) (o p . o n re h ’g ), cert. denied, 4 6 9 U .S
. 8 3 3 ( 1 9 8 4 ); McMahan v. Greenwood, 1 0 8 S .W .3 d 4 6 7 , 4 9 8

– 9 9 ( T e x . A p p .— H o u sto n [ 1 4 th D i st.] 2 0 0 3 , p e t. d e n i e d ); Bla kev. L e wis , 8 8 6 S .W .2 d 4 0 4 , 4 0 9 (T e x . A p p .— H o u s to n [1 s t D i s t.] 1 9 9 4 , n o w ri t). It i s th e G re e n s ’ p o s i ti o n th a t a re v i e w o f th e d e ta i l e d p ro c e d u ra l h i s to ry p rev i o u sly s e t f o rt h w a rr a n ts t h is c o u rtto fi n d tha t t h e tr i a l co u rtab u se d i ts d i s c re ti o n b yd e n y i n g th e i r re q u e s t fo r a c o n t i n u a n c e o f th e h e a ri n g o n D r. C o o k ’s m o ti o n fo r s u m m a ryj u d g m e n t. D r . Cook r es pondst hatt he G re e n s’ ( 1) ar e r equ i r ed t o s how t he
m at er i al i t y of t he evi dence t hat w oul d be devel oped t hr oug h t he gr antofsuch
c o n t in u a n c e , ( 2 ) a r e re q u ir e d t o s h o w t h e d u e d ilig e n c e u t iliz e d p r e v io u s lyin
o b t a in in g t h e m a t e r ia l e v id e n c e , a n d (3 ) c o u ld h a v e p r o d u c e d a f f id a v it t est i m o n y t o addr ess t he sum m ar y j udg m entm ot i on, had r ebutt al evi dence exi st ed. Tex. R. C i v. P. 16 6 a , 2 5 2 ; Ri sn er v. Mc D o n a ld ’sCo rp . , 18 S
. W
. 3d 9 0 3 , 9 0 9 (T e x . A p p .— B e a u m o n t 2 0 0 0 , p e t. d e n i e d ); J.E.M
. v. F i del ity & Ca s ., Co . o f Ne wYo rk , 928 S. W
. 2d 668, 676 ( Te x. App
. — Hous t on [ 1s tDi s t . ] 1996 , n o w ri t).16

B . A n a ly s is A t t ac hed t o t he G r ee ns ’ m ot i on f orco n ti n u anc e w asan af f i dav i tf r om th e i r c o u n s e l th a t s e t fo rth th e p ro b l e m re s u l ti n g fro m n o t v i d e o ta p i n g D r. Irw i n ’s d e p o s i ti o n a n d th e p ro b l e m re s u l ti n g fro m th e l o c a ti o n o f D r. C ro w ’s dep os i t i on, w i t h bot h de pos i t i onsbe i ng a v e r r ed t o a s “m at er i al , ” asar e t he d e p o s it io n s o fc e rt a in u n id e n t if ie d “ p h y s i c ia n s w h o t r e a t e d P la in t if fA n n ie G re e n .” N o th i n g i s d i s c u s s e d a s to th e n a tu re o f th e a b s e n t te s ti m o n y . W e
a gr e e t ha tt hi s a f f i da vi tf a i l s t o c om po rtw i t h t her e qu i rem e nto fr ul e 252,

w hi ch i n pa rtne ce ss i t at esa sh ow i ng t hatt he nee ded t es t i m ony i s m a te ri a l , sh owi

ng the m ater

i al ity thereof, and t hat he has used due di l i gence , t o pr ocur e such t est i m ony, s ta ti ng such di l i gence, a n d th e c a u se o f fai l u re, i f kn o wn ; t hats uch t es t i m ony cannot be procured f

rom any other

source ; . . . i f i t be f o r t h e ab se n c e o f a w i tn e s s , . . . wh a th eexp e c tsto p ro veb yhim ; . . . t hatt he conti nuan ce i s n o ts o ugh tf o r dela yo n ly , butth a t j u s ti cem ay be d o n e [.] T e x . R . C i v . P
. 2 5 2 (e m p h a s i s s u p p l i e d ). F u rth e r a n d a s a p ra c ti c a l m a tte r, t her e i s no s how i ng t hataf f i dav i t s cou l d notha ve bee n pr oduc ed by t he G r e e n s ’ e x p e rt s t o re b u tt h e s u m m a r yju d g m e n tm o t io n , a s a llo w e d b yru le 166 a. Bas ed on t he f or ego i ng a nd on t he con f l i ct i ng e vi den ceco nce r ni ng t he p roc e d u ral b a c k d rop o f t h i s c a se , w e ca n n o t sa ytha t t h e tr i a l c o u rtab u se d i ts di s c r e t i o n b y d e n y i n g t h e Gr e e n s ’ mo t i o n f o r c o n t i n u a n c e . W e o v e r r u l e t he G r eens’ second i ssue.17 I V . Sanc t i ons I n th e i r f i rst i ss u e , th e G ree n s a ss e rttha t t h e tr i a l co u rtab u se d i ts di scr et i on bygr ant i ng w hatt hey t er m t o be “deat h penal t y sanct i ons” agai nst t h e m. A . St andar d ofRev i ew G ene r al l y, t he que st i onsof w het her t o i m pos e s anc t i onsort he sa nct i ons to b e i m p o s e d l i e w i th i n th e d i s c re ti o n o f th e c o u rt. Braden v. D owney , 811 S .W .2 d 9 2 2 , 9 2 7 (T e x . 1 9 9 1 ); BodnowCor p. v. City of

Hondo , 721 S
. W
. 2d 8 3 9 , 8 4 0 ( T e x . 1 9 8 6 ). T o d e term i n e w h e th e r a tr i a l co u rtab u se d i ts d i sc reti o n , w em u st d e c i d e w h e th e r th e tr i a l co u rtac ted w i th o u t r e fere n c e to any gu i di ng r ul es orpr i nci pl es; i n ot herw or ds, w e m ustdeci de w het hert he act

w a s a rb i tra ryo r u n re a s o n a b l e . Ci re v. Cum m i

ngs , 134 S
. W
. 3d 835, 838– 39 (T e x . 2 0 0 4 ). A n a p p e l l a te c o u rtca n n o t co n c l u d e tha t a tri a l co u rtab u se d i ts di sc r et i on m er el y be ca us e t he app el l at e cou rt w oul d hav e r ul ed di f f er ent l y i n t he
s a m e c i rc u m s ta n c e s . E. I
. du PontdeNem our s & Co. v. Robi

ns on , 923 S. W
. 2d 54 9, 55 8 ( Tex
. 19 95 )
. A n abuse of di scr et i on does not occur w hen t he t r i al
c o u rt b a s e s i ts d e c i s i o n s o n c o n f l i c ti n g e v i d e n c e . I n re Bar

ber, 982 S. W
. 2d 364 , 366 ( Tex. 1998 ) ( or i g. pr oce edi ng)
. Furt her m or e, an abu se ofdi sc r et i on does not occuras l ong as som e evi dence ofsubst ant i ve and pr obati ve char act er5 ... D r . C ook as su m es i n hi s br i ef t hat t he dea t h pen al ty s a n c t i on

c o m p la in tre f e r s t o t h e d e n ia l o f t h e G r e e n s ’ m o t io n f o r c o n t in u a n c e , b u tt h is i sn ots up po rt e d i n t her e c or d ora r gu e d i n t heGr e e ns ’ b r i e f i ng t o t hi s c ou rt . F u rth e rm o re , th e tri a l c o u r t ru l e d i n a te l e p h o n i c h e a ri n g th a t D r. C o o k ’s at t or ney di d not have t o t ake t he depo si t i on of D r. I r w i n t hathe had no t i ced and t hatt he G r e e n s ’ a ttor neyw aspr epa r ed t o vi deo t ape . As t her e i s no pr ocedu r al basi s f orconsid e rin g th i s a s anct i on, as opposed t o an i nci dental d i s c o v e ryru l i n g , i t w i l l n o t b e c o n s i d e re d
. S eeTe x. R. App
. P. 47. 1. 18 e x i s ts to s u p p o rt th e tri a l c o u rt’s d e c i s i o n . B utnaru v. Ford Motor Co. , 84 S .W .3 d 1 9 8 , 2 1 1 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ). B . A n a ly s is A s s e t fo rth i n th e G re e n s ’ b r i e f a n d a s g l e a n e d fro m th e re p o rte r’s
r ec or d, t he “d ea t h pe nal t y s anc t i ons ” r ef er r ed t o i n t hei r f i r st i ss ue ar e ( 1) t he st r i ki ng oft hei r exp ert , D r . W eni g; ( 2) al l ow i ng Dr
. Cook t o not i cet he depo si t i on of anotherexpert , D r . C r ow , at a pl ace t hat D r . C r ow had not agr eed t o a ppe ar ; and ( 3) notal l ow i ng t he vi deo t api ng oft hei rot herex pert , D r . I r w i n. 5 Bear i ng i n m i nd t he t r i al cou rt ’ s f i ndi ngs r ega r di ng t he G r ee ns ’ vi ol at i on ofi t s O ct obe r 29, 200 7 or der , t hat t he t r i al co urtdoe s notab us e i t s di sc r et i on
w hen i tba se s i t s dec i si on on co nf l i ct i ng e vi den ce , an d t he f ac t t hatw e c ann ot
con cl udet hatan ab us e o fdi sc r et i on oc cur r ed m er el y be ca us e w e w oul d ha ve
r ul ed di f f er ent l y, w e ca nnot sa y t hat t he t r i al cou rt abu se d i t s di sc r et i on i n t he act i ons t hati tt ook f ol l ow i ng its f i ndi ng t hati t s O ct ober29 , 20 07 or derhad bee n vi ol at ed.19

F u rt h e r, b e c a u se w e h a v e h e l d tha t t h e tr ia l c o u rtd i d n o t ab u se i ts di sc r et i on byde nyi ng t he G r ee ns ’ m ot i on f orco nt i nua nce, th e G r ee ns ha ve fa i l e d to s h o w th a t th e a fo re m e n ti o n e d s a n c ti o n s h a rm e d th e m i n s o m e m a n n e r. A s pr evi ous l y di sc us se d, be ca us e t hi s w as a s um m ary j udgm enthe ar i ng a nd
n o t a t r a di t i on a l t r i a l o n t hem e r i t s , n oto nl y ha vet he y f a i l e d t o de m on s t rate
w h ya ffid a v i t te s ti m o n yc o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n p ro c u re d to a d d re s s th e s u m m a ry j udgm entm ot i on, butt heyha ve al so f ai l ed t o de m ons t r at e w h atde pos i t i on te s ti m o n yw o u l d h a v e b e e n o ffe re d b yth e w i tn e s s e s to re b u t th e s u m m a ry j u d g m e n t m o ti o n . H e n c e , w e h a v e n o th i n g to re v i e w to d e term i n e the effe c t, i fany, on t he sum m ar y j udg m ent hear i ng. W e over r ul e t he G r eens’ f i r sti ssue. V . Concl us i on H a v i n g ove r r ul ed t he G r ee ns ’ t w o i ss ues , w e a f f i r m t he t r i al co urt’s j u d g m e n t.

B OB M CC OY J U S T I C E PA N EL: LI V I N G STO N an d M C C O Y, JJ. ; a n d W I LL I A M BRI G H A M , J. ( Seni or J u s ti c e , R e ti re d , S i ttin g b yA s s i g n m e n t). DEL I VERE D: F e br ua r y 5, 2009