# No. 03 -15- 00422 -CV

IN THE
THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AT AUSTIN, TEXAS

Shakeel Mustafa , Appellant

v. Felix Rippy ,

Appellee

Appealed from Cause No. 15

- 0708

- CC4 in the County Court at Law Number Four, Williamson County , Texas

Appellant ’s Motion for Rehearing

APPELLANT REQUESTS ORAL ARGUMENT Christopher D. Osborn State Bar No. 24037221 Osborn Law Firm, P.C. 1019 Cecelia St. Taylor, Texas 76574 512

- 275

- 6593 512

- 309

- 5317 fax chris@osbornpc.com Attorney for Appell ant ACCEPTED 03-15-00422-CV 6850555 THIRD COURT OF APPEALS

AUSTIN, TEXAS 9/9/2015 3:18:35 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE

CLERK

### 2 

# TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

. . . . . . . . 2 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

. . . . . . . . 2 ISSUES PRESENTED FOR REVIEW

. . . . . . 4 STATEMENT OF FACTS

. . . . . . . . 4 ARGUMENT

. . . . . . . . . . 6

Issue One . Th is court has jurisdiction to consider the interlocutory appeal of Appellant related to the denial of his motion to compel arbitration pursuant to the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules.
PRAYER

. . . . . . . . . . . 10 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

. . . . . . . . 1 1 APPENDIX

. . . . . . . . . . 1 2

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Federal Code: 9 U.S.C. § 16

. . . . . . . . . 3, 4
Texas Statutes:
TEX. C IV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 51.016

. . . . . 3, 4
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 154.027

. . . . 4
Texas Case Law: CMH Homes v. Perez , 340 S.W.3d 448 (2011)

. . . . 4 Little v. Tex. Dep't of Crim. Justice , 148 S.W.3d 374 (Tex.2004)

. 4

### 3 

# I SSUES PRESENTED FOR REVIEW Issue One . Th is court has jurisdiction to consider the interlocutory appeal of Appellant related to his motion to compel arbitration pursuant to the AAA Consumer
Arbitration Rules.
STATEMENT OF FACTS Rippy filed a collection lawsuit against Mustafa, a former client of Rippy. Rippy’s original pet ition requested Mustafa be jailed for 180 days, fined up to $500, and confined in the county jail until Mustafa paid the alleged debt. Each party submitted motions to compel arbitration, with the difference being that Mustafa requested the AAA Consumer Ar bitration Rules be applied. The Honorable John McMaster granted Rippy’s motion to compel arbitration and denied Mustafa’s
motion . Mustafa’s subsequent motion to stay the case pending arbitration was granted, and the Honorable Gary Harger was appointed arbitrator with authority to decide all questions of law and fact.
ARGUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES Section 51.016 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code provides that a party may appeal a judgment or interlocutory order "under the same cir cumstances that an appeal from a federal district court's order or decision would be permitted by 9 U.S.C. Section 16." TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 51.016. Section 16 of
the FAA provides that “ ( a) An appeal may be taken from (1) an order (A) refusing a

### 4 

# s tay of any action under section 3 of this title, (B) denying a petition under section 4
of this title t o order arbitration to proceed, (C) denying an application under section
206 of th is title to com pel arbitration . . . .” 9 U.S.C. § 16.
Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 51.016 expressly adopts federal law. Thus, an interlocutory appeal is permitted only if it would be permitted un der
the same circumstances in federal court under section 16. CMH Homes v. Perez, 340
S.W.3d 448

- 9 (2011) ( citing Lit tle v. Tex. Dep't of Crim. Justice , 148 S.W.3d 374,
381

- 82 (Tex.2004) (examining federal law when interpreting state statute that incorporated federal statute ) ). In this case, Appellant is not contesting the existence of an arbitral agreement. To the contrary, Appellant is appealing the denial of his m otion to compel mediation
then arbitration pursuant to the agreement and AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules.
The agreement between the parties provides “THE PARTIES AGREE TO MEDIATE ALL SUCH DISPUTES PRIOR TO ARBITRATION.” (emphasis in original). Appellant’s motion to the trial court requested mediation and arbitration
be initiated following the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules, pursuant to t he Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. sec 1 et seq.) and/or pursuant to Texas Civil Practice &
Remedies Code section 154.027. The denial of Appellant’s motion to compel arbitration constitutes an order from which an interlocutory appeal is authorized under the FAA. 9 U.S.C. § 16.

### 5 

# Thus, Appellant requests this court reconsider its ruling that it does not have jurisdiction to hear this interlocutory appeal. Therefore, Appellant requests the opportunity to fully address this issue through argument to this Co urt.
PRAYER For the reasons stated in this motion, Appell ant asks the Court to grant this motion for rehearing, withdraw its opinion, recognize it has jurisdiction, and allow Appellant to fully brief this issue. Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Chris Osborn

. Christopher Osborn State Bar No. 24037221
Os born Law Firm, P.C. 1019 Cecelia St. Taylor, TX 76574 512

- 275

- 6593 512

- 309

- 5317 chris@osbornpc .com At torney for Appellant

### 6 

# CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I n accordance with the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.4, the undersigned attorney of record certifies that this brief contains 14

- point typeface for the body of the document, 12

- point typeface for footnotes in the brief, and contains
510 words as indicated by the word count software, excluding those words identified as exempt from the word count under the rule and was prepared on Microsoft Word.
/s/ Chris Osborn

. Christopher Osborn

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that a copy of A ppellant ’s Brief was served on Appellee, Felix Rippy, via
electronic mail b efore 5:00 p.m. this 9 th 

# day of September, 2015.

/s

/ Chris Osborn

. Christopher Osborn

I c ertify tha t I contacted Appellee, F el ix Rippy, via e lectronic m a il to felix rippy@aol.com on September 9, 2015, a nd he i s op po sed t o t his m otion

. /s

/ Chris Osborn

. Christopher Osborn CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE

### APPENDIX 

# APPENDIX EXHIBIT 1 – APPELLANT’S MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION PURSUANT TO THE AAA CONSUMER ARBITRATION RULES (Exhibit 1 includes the arbitration agreement as an attachment)

### Defendant’s M o t i o n t o C o m p e l M e d i a t i o n a n d A r b i t r a t i o n P u r s u a n t t o A A A C o n s u m e r A r b i t r a t i o n R u l e s Page 1 

## Cause No. 15

- 0708

- CC4
FELIX RIPPY , Plaintiff

v. SHAKEEL MUSTAFA , Defendant § § § § § § § IN THE COUNTY COURT

AT LAW NUMBER 4

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, T EXAS
**DEFENDANT’S O**  **BJECTION TO PLAINTIFF**  **’ S**  **A SSSIGNMENT,**  **AND DEFENDANT**  **’ S**  **M O**  **TION TO COMPEL MEDIATION T**  **HEN ARBITRATION**  **PURSUANT TO AAA CONSUMER ARBITRATION RULES**  **AND IN THE ALTER**  **NATIVE MOTION TO DISMISS** 


## 1

. S hakeel Mustafa, Defendant , asks the Court to refer th e dispute between Rippy & Taylor, P. C. and Sh a keel Mustafa, Individually, to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) under the authority of Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code and pursuant to the Federal
Arb itration Act. D efendant a lternatively requests that Plaintiff ’ s petition be dismissed for
failure to c u re defects noted in Defendant ’ s Special Exc eptions and due to the defective purported assignment

. **INTRODUCTION**
2

. Plaintiff, Felix Rippy, Ind ividually, file d suit against Shakeel Mustafa. T he attorney
client agreement attached to Plaintiff ’ s Original Petition is between Rippy and Taylor, P.C.
and Mr. Mustafa

. A fter Defendant filed special exceptions objecting to the case filed on behalf of Felix Rippy, Indivi dually, and after this Court ’ s order allowing Plaintiff to re

- plead on June 12, 2015, t h e style of this case remains filed on behalf of F elix Rippy, Individually. P laintiff failed to cure the defects, instead alleg ing that all claims have been assigned to him, individually.

### Defendant’s M o t i o n t o C o m p e l M e d i a t i o n a n d A r b i t r a t i o n P u r s u a n t t o A A A C o n s u m e r A r b i t r a t i o n R u l e s Page 2 

## OBJE **C T**  **ION TO PURPORTED ASSIGNMENT**
3

. Defendant objects to Pl aintiff ’ s purported assignment of the underlying contract from the professional corporation to himself, individual ly. The underlying contract , which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit “ 1 ” provides in paragraph five that “ [a]
refer r a l to an attorney outside the firm may require a separate contract with that attorney
and will not be done without Client ’ s consent

. ” ( emphasis added). Thus, the purp orted assignment here is improper because the agreement specifies that if it is to be sent “ outside the firm [ Rippy & Taylor, P.C.] , ” it requires “ the Client ’ s consent. ”
4

. Assignments should be permitted or prohibited based on the likely effect on society, and in particular, on the legal system. Employing a public policy analysis, the majority of courts in this country have concluded that a t least some c laims arising out of the attorney

client relationship are not assignable. Vinson & Elkins v. Moran , 946 SW 2d 381 ( Tex.App. Houston [14th Dist.] 1997 ) (analyzing mal practice claims).
**PLAINTIFF ’**  **S REQUEST FOR CONTEMPT FINDINGS**  **SHOULD BE DISMISSED**
5

. Plaintiff mistakenly claims that the final decree of divorce between Mr. Mustafa and
his ex

- wife constitutes a secured judgment in the amount of $17,500 against Mr. Mustafa, individually. H owever, due process requires this issue to be adjudicated before it should be treated as a violation of any court order. The phrase relied on by Plaintiff i s found in the underlying divorce decree requiring each l itigant pay their own attorney ’ s fees , but this does not equal language that support s a finding of contempt. The Texas Supreme Court analyzed
this issue in Ex parte Chambers , 898 S.W.2d 257, 259 (Tex.1995) : “ A court order is insufficient to support a judgment of contempt only if its interpretation requires inferences or conclusions about which reasonable persons might differ. ” MacCallum , 807 S.W.2d at 730.

### Defendant’s Motion to Compel Mediation and Arbitration Pursuant to AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules Page 3 

## T he existence of reasonable alternative constructions of a court order will prevent
enforcement of the order. See, e.g., Ex parte Crawford , 684 S.W.2d 124 (Tex.App. Houston [14th Dist.] 1984, orig. proceeding) (holding an obligor in contempt who knew with certainty
he wa s to pay one of two amounts of child support but ignored the order altogether). Here, there was no order to pay a specific amount. I n fact, Defendant will testify that no invoice was ever received by him and that this suit is in retaliation for filing a grievance with the
State Bar of Texas.
**PLAINTIFF ’**  **S CLAIMS SHOULD BE DISMISSED FOR FAILURE TO CURE DEFECT**  **OF PARTIES**


## 6. Pl aintiff h as not cured the defects noted in Plaintiff ’ s special exceptions a nd there remains a defect in the parties

. P laintiff ’ s claim should be dismissed in its entirety without prejudice.
**MOTION TO COMPEL MEDIATION THEN ARBITRATION WITH**  **AAA CONSUMER ARBITRATION**  **RULES**
7. In t he event the Court does not dismiss this suit, Defendant requests that the Court order that Plaintiff follow the terms of the agreement requiring mediation. D efendant requests that the Court order mediation pursuant to the agreement that provides “THE
PARTIES AGREE TO MEDIATE ALL SUCH DISPUTES PRIOR TO A RBITRATION

. ” (e m phasis
in original). Defendant requests the Court order mediation pursuant to Texas Civil
Practice & R em edies Code section 154.023.
8. I f mediation does not resolve the dispute, Plaintiff asks this Court to order bindi ng arbitr ation between Rippy and Taylor, P.C. and Defendant, following the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration A ct (9 U.S.C. sec 1 et seq.) and/or pursuant to Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 154.027.

### Defendant’s Motion to Compel Mediation and Arbitration Pursuant to AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules Page 4 

## 9. This case is appropriate for referral to ADR because there is a binding arbitration agreement between Defen d ant and Rippy and Taylor, P. C.
**ADDITIONAL SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS**
10. D efendant specially excepts t o Pla intiff ’ s claim that “ Felix Rippy

... has individu a l
claims a gainst Shakeel Mustafa, as well ” in that there is not specificity as to the basis of these purported claims that Plaintiff contends exist in addition to the c ontractual claims of Rippy and Taylor, P.C. If there are indeed other facts or causes of action that will be asserted, the question of whet he r those claims are arbitrable will require a separate inquiry because there is no arbitration agre em ent between Felix Rippy, Individually, and Defendant.
**CONCLUSION**
F or these reasons, D efendant asks the Court to dismiss this suit or render judgment that plaintiff take nothing, assess costs and fees against plaintiff, and award all other relief to
which defendant is entitled. Defendant asks the Court to s trike the defective portions of Plaintiff’s pleading. A lternatively, Defendant asks this Court to compel mediation followed by binding arbitration, if necessary, between Rippy and Tay lor, P. C. and Defendant , following
the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
O SBORN LAW FIRM, P.C. By: /s Chris Osborn

. Christopher D. Osborn State Bar No. 24037221 1019 Cecelia Street Taylor, Texas 76574 512

- 275

- 6593 512

- 309

- 5317 fax chris@osbornpc.com

### Defendant’s M o t i o n t o C o m p e l M e d i a t i o n a n d A r b i t r a t i o n P u r s u a n t t o A A A C o n s u m e r A r b i t r a t i o n R u l e s Page 5 

## CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing document has been served on each attorney of record or party in accordance with the Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21a on this 1 9 th day of June 2015.
/s/Chris Osborn

. Christopher D. Osborn Felix Rippy 3000 Joe DiMaggio, Ste. 3 Round Rock, TX 78665 512

- 310

- 9500 512

- 310

- 2580 fax ❒ hand

- delivery

x ❒ telecopy
❒ first class mail
❒ certified mail, return receipt requested**ATTORNEY/CLIENT ENGAGEMENT**  **AGREEMENT (Hourly**  **Basis)**

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**Client and**  **Attorney agr·ee:**  **4. A tt**  **o rn**  **e y**  **will devote**  **his professio118I**  **abilities to**  **the matter,**  **s tr**  **i v**  **e to**  **keep Client**  **informed of**  **significant developments**  **in t**  **h i**  **s case**  **and be**  **reasonably available to**  **answer inquiries.**  **Client agrees**  **to fully**  **c oop**  **e r**  **a te**  **with Attorney,**  **including but**  **not limited**  **to k**  **eepi n**  **g Attorney advised**  **of all**  **developments r**  **e late**  **d to**  **this m**  **a t**  **t e**  **r** 

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**. Where**  **applicable, n**  **e i**  **t h**  **e r**  **Attorney nor**  **Client will**  **s e**  **tt l**  **e the**  **case without**  **the o**  **t he**  **r's written**  **ap p**  **r o**  **va l** 

**. 5.**  **Client empowers**  **Attorney to take**  **all s**  **t e**  **p s**  **in said**  **matter d**  **e e**  **m e**  **d by**  **A t**  **t o**  **rn e**  **y to**  **be advisable.**  **Client understands**  **and agrees**  **t h**  **a t**  **Attorney wi**  **11, to**  **the extent**  **Attorney believes**  **it to**  **be reasonable,**  **c o**  **o p**  **e rat**  **e with**  **any opposing**  **attorney concerning**  **se t**  **t i**  **n gs**  **for trial**  **o r**  **h earin**  **g ,**  **sched uling**  **d e positions**  **or me**  **e t**  **ings ,**  **and w**  **h e**  **t h**  **e r**  **to r**  **e qu**  **es t**  **or a**  **g r**  **e e**  **to continuances**  **or d**  **e la**  **y s**  **. The**  **undersigned attorney**  **may deem**  **i t**  **advisable to**  **refer Client's**  **case to**  **a n**  **ot h**  **e r**  **attorney wit**  **h i**  **n the**  **firm of**  **Rippy &**  **Taylor, PC,**  **or to**  **an a**  **t torn**  **e y**  **outside the**  **firm. A referral**  **to an**  **attorney outside**  **t h**  **e firm**  **may require**  **a separate**  **contract with**  **that attorney**  **and will**  **not be done without Client's**  **co11se11t. 6.**  **C l**  **i e**  **nt agrees**  **t o**  **compensate Attorney**  **for hi**  **s services**  **at th**  **time which**  **is devoted**  **to Client's**  **case w**  **i t**  **h a**  **m i**  **n i**  **m um**  **fee of$**  **te of$**  

### SOO **per hour**  **for the**  **3sc:io ci.e"A which**  **sha 11**  **b e**  **considered earned**  **at the**  **t i**  **m e**  **Attorney commences**  **work 011**  **C l**  **i e**  **nt '**  **s case.**  **here applicable,**  **this minimum**  **fee is**  **i nte**  **n d**  **e d**  **to c**  **o m**  **pe n**  **s a**  **t e**  **Attorney for**  **the preparation**  **and fi**  **l i**  **n g**  **of initial**  **p l**  **e ad**  **i n**  **gs ,**  **for a**  **l l**  **o c**  **a t**  **i n**  **g the**  **time and**  **resources of**  **Attorney and**  **the staff**  **of the**  **law firm**  **to Client's**  **case, for**  **the n**  **at u**  **r e**  **and complexity**  **of Cl**  **i e**  **nt '**  **s case**  **and the**  **experience of**  **the Attorney**  **hand Ii**  **rig the**  **matter and**  **to compensate**  **Attorney for**  **the potentiality**  **that, by**  **accepting this**  **employment, Attorney**  **may also**  **be precluded**  **from accepting other employment.**  **From t**  **i me**  **to time**  **it may**  **be n e**  **c e**  **s s**  **a r**  **y for**  **other m**  **e m**  **b e**  **r s**  **of t**  **h e**  **law firm**  **to assist**  **in the**  **C l**  **i ent**  **' s**  **matter, and**  **Client agrees**  **to c**  **o m**  **pen s**  **a t**  **e Attorney**  **for these**  **services at**  **the fol**  **l o**  **wi n**  **g rates:** 

**Page I**  **of 3** **Partner attorney:**  **$300/hr Legal**  **assistant $**  **75/hr Client**  **agrees to**  **pay t o**  **Attorney all**  **costs and**  **disbursements incurred**  **in said**  **matter. For**  **t h**  **e following**  **expenses, and**  **no others,**  **A t**  **torney will**  **charge a**  **per case**  **flat fee of**  **$25.00: (I)**  **long distance**  **telephone c**  **h ar**  **g es;**  **(2) in-office**  **photocopy ex**  **p e**  **n s**  **e s**  **;** 

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**. All**  **other expenses**  **will be**  **b i**  **l l**  **ed to**  **C lie**  **n t**  **in the**  **actual amount**  **i n**  **c urre**  **d**

**. 7.**  **C l**  **i e**  **n t**  **will pay**  **A t**  **t o**  **rney the**  **sum of**  

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# Jeo�.e. **as a**  **retainer at**  **the time**  **of execution**  **of this**  **Ag r**  **e e**  **m en**  **t**

**. At**  **torney will**  **not take**  **a n**  **y action**  **til th**  **retainer is**  **received. The**  **r eta**  **i n**  **er will**  **be deposited**  **in Attorney's**  **trust a**  **c cou**  **nt** 

### , **anci A**  **t t**  **o rne**  **y will**  **clrnw ag**  **a in**  **s t**  **those funds**  **to satisfy**  **Attorney's mo**  **nt h**  **l y**  **statements, copies**  **of which**  **will be**  **sent to**  **Client for**  **C l**  **ie n**  **t '**  **s information.**  **Upon d e**  **p l**  **e t**  **io n**  **of the**  **retainer, the**  **C l**  **i e**  **n t**  **agrees to**  **d e**  **p o**  **s i**  **t an**  **a dd**  **i ti**  **o na**  **l retainer**  **111 an**  **am o**  **u n**  **t at**  **le as**  **t equal**  **to the**  **original r**  **e t**  **a i**  **n e**  **r into**  **Attorney's trust**  **a c**  **co unt** 

**. I**  **fan additional**  **retainer fee**  **is r**  **e q**  **u i**  **r e**  **d ,**  **Client agrees**  **to pay**  **the amount**  **required within**  **ten** 

### ( **10) days**  **of A**  **t t**  **o rne**  **y '**  **s request.**  **Any funds**  **re ma**  **i n**  **i n**  **g in**  **the trust**  **acco u**  **n t**  **at the**  **end of**  **the representation**  **will be**  **rerurned to**  **Client at**  **the time**  **of the**  **next billing**  **period following termination**  **of representation.**  **This retainer**  **fee is**  **not necessarily**  **t h**  **e total**  **cost for**  **t h**  **e services**  **of t**  **he Attorney.**  **The total**  **cost of**  **legal services**  **may exceed**  **the r·etainer**  **fee amount.**  **8. C**  **l i**  **e n**  **t has**  **the r**  **i g**  **h t**  **to cancel**  **this Agreement**  **a11cl t**  **e r**  **m i**  **n a**  **t e**  **Attorney's representation**  **at a**  **n y**  **time by**  **written notice**  **to Attorney.**  **Clie11t understands**  **that Attorney**  **ha s**  **the right**  **to cancel**  **this Agreement**  **and withdraw**  **from r**  **e pr**  **ese nt**  **i ng**  **CI i**  **en t**  **if any of**  **Attorney's invoices**  **are not**  **p a**  **i d**  **by CI**  **ient wi**  **t h**  **i n**  **30 days**  **of the**  **date that**  **Attorney sends**  **them to**  **CI i**  **en t**  **; if**  **Client fai**  **Is to**  **d e posit**  **additional i-etainer**  **fu n**  **d s**  **as r**  **eq u**  **i r**  **e d**  **by P**  **aragra p**  **h 7;**  **if the**  **Client d**  **e t**  **e r**  **m i**  **n e**  **s not**  **to fol**  **low the**  **At t**  **o rne**  **y '**  **s advice;**  **fai Is**  **to communicate**  **with the**  **At t**  **o rn**  **e y**  **; or**  **if Attorney**  **concludes for**  **any other**  **re<Json that**  **Attorney is**  **unable to**  **rep1·esent Client.**  **Attorney**
**w i**  **l l**  **provide w**  **r i**  **tt en**  **notice in**  **the event**  **that Attorney**  **decides to**  **withdraw from**  **representation.**
**9. In**  **the e**  **ve n**  **t any**  **legal action**  **is taken**  **to en**  **forc e**  **this Agreement,**  **Client consents**  **to jurisdiction**  **of the**  **s t**  **a t**  **e of**  **Texas and**  **venue in**  **Williamson County,**  **Texas, and**  **to all**  **disagreements' being**  **arbitrated pursuant**  **to A.A.A**  **arbitration ruies,**  **CLIENT AND**  **ATTORNEY AGREE**  **THAT ALL**  **DISPUTES ARJSING**  **OUT OF**  **ATTORNEY'S REPRESENTATION**  **OF CLIENT**  **OR FEES**  **CHARGED TO**  **CLIENT SHALL**  **BE ARBIT**  **RATED IN**  **A BINDING**  **ARIHTRA TION**  **BEFORE AN**  **ARBITRATOR IN**  **WI L**  **L I**  **A M**  **SON COUN**  **TY, TEXAS.**  **UNLESS AN**  **ARBITRATOR IS AGREED**  **UPON BY**  **THE PARTIES,**  **THE ARBITRATOR**  **SHALL BE**  **A PP**  **O IN**  **T E**  **D BY**  **THE .JUDGE**  **OF A**  **COURT OF**  **RECORD SITTING**  **IN WILLIAMSON**  **COUNTY, TEXAS.**  **PRIOR TO**  **ARBITRATION, CLIENT**  **AGREES TO**  **SUBMIT ANY**  **COMPLAINTS REGARDING**  **ATTORNEY'S REPRESENTATION**  **OR DISPUTES**  **REGARDING ATTORNEY'S**  **FEES TO**  **ATTORNEY IN**  **WRITING. THE**  **PARTIES AGREE**  **TO MEDIATE**  **ALL SUCH**  **DISPUTES PRIOR**  **TO A**  **RB ITRATION.**  **There are**  **advantages and**  **d i**  **sa dv**  **a nt**  **a g**  **es to**  **arbitration as**  **c o**  **m pa**  **r ed**  **to a**  **judicial resolution**  **of disputes:**  **1) the**  **cost and**  **time of**  **an arbitration**  **is frequently**  **less than**  **that associated**  **with a**  **lawsuit; 2)**  **the level**  **of discovery**  **may be**  **reduced: 3)**  **the r**  **u l**  **e s**  **of evidence**  **may be**  **relaxed; 4)**  **the level**  **of privacy**  **in the**  **arbitration process**  **is greater**  **than that**  **found in courts;**  **5) significant**  **r i**  **gh t**  **s are**  **waived in**  **an arbitration,**  **i n**  **c l**  **u d**  **i n**  **g the**  **right to**  **a jury**  **t r**  **i al**  **and the**  **right to**  **a judicial**  **appeal because**  **arbitration decisions**  **can be**  **challenged only**  **on limited**  **grc1u11cls. Arbitrators**  **may allocate**  **costs or**  **fees in**  **an arbitration**  **as well as**  **a w**  **a r**  **d ing**  **monetary relief**  **to a**  **party.**
**Page 2**  **of 3 10.**  **Cli e**  **n t and Attorney agree**  **that this Agreement is**  **the entire**  **agreement between**  **them regarding**  **th e**  **matters set**  **forth herein**  **and supercedes any**  **prior oral**  **or written**  **discussions 01·**  **agreements between**  **them. This**  **A gre**  **e me**  **n t**  **can only be amended**  **by a subseciuent**  **written document**  **signed by**  **both Client**  **and Attorney.** 

**FAVORABLE OUTCOME**  **NOT GUARANTEED** 
**11. Each**  **case is**  **different. Client**  **understands that Attorney**  **has made**  **no representation**  **concerning the**  **successful termination**  **of the**  **claim or**  **claims relating to**  **L11e matter**  **in controversy**  **or the**  **favorable outcome of**  **any legal**  **ac t**  **io n**  **that is or**  **may be filed.** 

**DATED:**



## 5 **Y A**  **!Z f**  

## E **L cuENT**  **Rippy &**  **Taylor, PC** 

**Page 3 of 3**

## Christopher D. Osborn, Esq. chris@os bornpc.com
VIA ELECTRONIC FILING September 8, 2015

J effrey D. Kyle Clerk of the Court Third Court of Appeals P.O. Box 12547 Austin, TX 78711
Re: N otice of Appearance | Case No. 03

- 15

- 00422

- CV | Mustafa v. Rippy
Dear M r. Kyle :
T his letter is notice of appearance that I have been retaine d to represent Appellant, Shakeel Mus tafa, related to this appeal. Very truly yours, /s/ Chris Osborn Christopher D. Osborn 

# O SBORN 

# L AW 

# F IRM 

# , P.C. www.OsbornPC.com 1019 Cecelia Street, Taylor, Texas 76574 512

- 275

- 6593 | 512

- 309

- 5317 fax

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