Court Opinion

ID: 4077455
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-30 21:17:53.455679+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:27:18.245272
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ACCEPTED
                                                                            04-15-00653-CV
                                                                FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                     SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
                                                                      10/19/2015 4:15:46 PM
                                                                             KEITH HOTTLE
                                                                                     CLERK
                               00653
                   No. 04-15-___________-CV

                                                           FILED IN
                                                    4th COURT OF APPEALS
                                                     SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
                     In the Court of Appeals        10/19/2015 4:15:46 PM
                 For the Fourth District of Texas       KEITH E. HOTTLE
                                                             Clerk

                IN RE ALLEN J. JONES, Relator

       From the 150th District Court, Bexar County, Texas
     Cause No. 2014-CI-16674; Hon. Richard Price, Presiding

 PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS AND APPENDIX/RECORD

Christine E. Reinhard               Kimberly S. Keller
SBN: 24013389                       SBN: 24014182
Justin Barbour                      Shane Stolarczyk
SBN: 24044152                       SBN: 24033242
Schmoyer Reinhard LLP               Keller Stolarczyk PLLC
17806 IH 10 West, #400              234 West Bander Rd #120
San Antonio, Texas 78257            Boerne, Texas 78006
Tel: 210.447.8033                   Tel: 830.981.5000
Fax: 210.447.8036                   Fax: 888.293.8580

                      Attorneys for Relator

                                i
             IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

    Relator certifies this as a list of parties and their counsel:

RELATOR/PETITIONER:

    ALLEN J. JONES

COUNSEL FOR RELATOR/DEFENDANT:

    Trial:                             Appellate:
    Christine E. Reinhard              Kimberly S. Keller
    Justin Barbour                     Shane J. Stolarczyk
    Schmoyer Reinhard LLP              Keller Stolarczyk PLLC
    17806 IH 10 West, Suite 400        234 W. Bandera Rd., Suite 120
    San Antonio, Texas                 Boerne, Texas 78006

REAL PARTY IN INTEREST/RESPONDENT:

    CEARTH FAIRE

COUNSEL FOR REAL PARTY IN INTEREST/PLAINTIFF:

    Olga Brown
    Law Office of Olga Brown
    111 Soledad, Suite 1725
    San Antonio, Texas 78205

RESPONDENT:

    Honorable Richard Price
    Judge, 150th Judicial District, Bexar County

                                  ii
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS AND APPENDIX/RECORD ..... i

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL............................................ ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................... iii

MANDAMUS APPENDIX AND RECORD ........................................... iv

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ............................................................... ix

STATEMENT OF THE CASE ............................................................. 1

STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION ...................................................... 3

ISSUE PRESENTED ......................................................................... 4

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS ........................................................... 5

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT .................................................... 12

ARGUMENT SUPPORTING MANDAMUS RELIEF ............................ 14

CONCLUSION ................................................................................ 32

RULE 52.3(J) CERTIFICATE OF COMPLLIANCE ............................ 34

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLLIANCE & SERVICE ............................... 34

                                              iii
            MANDAMUS APPENDIX AND RECORD

Plaintiff’s Reply to Defendants’ Response to Motion to
Compel Deposition of Defendant Allen J. Jones
(Dated October 12, 2015) ................................................... 1

Plaintiff’s Amended Response to Defendant Kemp’s
Rule 91a Motion to Dismiss and Request for Attorney Fees
(Dated October 6, 2015) ..................................................... 2

Plaintiff’s Sixth Amended Original Petition
(Dated October 6, 2015) ..................................................... 3

Plaintiff’s Second Motion to Compel the Oral and
Videotaped Deposition of Defendant Allen J. Jones
(Dated October 1, 2015) ..................................................... 4

Plaintiff’s Response to Defendant Jones’ Motion to
Disqualify Plaintiff’s Attorney
(Dated September 15, 2015)............................................... 5

Defendant Allen J. Jones’ Motion to Disqualify Plaintiff’s
Counsel
(Dated September 8, 2015) ................................................ 6

Olga Brown’s Vacation Notice
(Dated July 21, 2015) ........................................................ 7

Rule 11 Agreement to drop hearings
(Dated June 30, 2015) ....................................................... 8

Plaintiff’s Fifth Amended Original Petition
(Dated June 19, 2015) ....................................................... 9

Plaintiff’s Response to Defendant Kemp’s Rule 91a
Motion to Dismiss and Request for Attorney Fees
(Dated June 16, 2015) ..................................................... 10

                                      iv
Order Granting Defendants’ First Amended Rule 91a
Partial Motion to Dismiss
(Dated May 6, 2015)......................................................... 11

Plaintiff’s Objections and First Supplemental Responses
to Defendant FMP’s First Set of Interrogatories and
Request for Production
(Dated May 1, 2015)......................................................... 12

Order Granting Defendants’ First Amended Rule 91a
Partial Motion to Dismiss
(Dated April 9, 2015)........................................................ 13

Plaintiff’s Fourth Amended Original Petition
(Dated March 10, 2015) ................................................... 14

Olga Brown’s Vacation Notice
(Dated February 11, 2015) ............................................... 15

Plaintiff’s Third Amended Original Petition
(Dated January 30, 2015) ................................................ 16

Plaintiff’s Response to Defendants’ Rule 91a Motion
to Dismiss and Request for Attorney Fees
(Dated January 28, 2015) ................................................ 17

Plaintiff’s Second Amended Original Petition
(Dated January 28, 2015) ................................................ 18

Olga Brown’s Vacation Notice
(Dated October 22, 2014) ................................................. 19

Petition for Leave to File Interlocutory Appeal
(Dated May 20, 2015)....................................................... 20

Order Denying Petition for Leave
(Dated June 3, 2015) ....................................................... 21

Ltr from Justin Barbour to Court re Sealed Documents

                                      v
(Dated September 16, 2015)............................................. 22

Ltr from Olga Brown re Competency of Jones Affidavit
(Dated September 14, 2015)............................................. 23

Olga Brown’s Vacation Notice
(Dated July 21, 2015) ..................................................... 24

Ltr from Olga Brownb re "wrongfully produced"
documents
(Dated June 22, 2015) .................................................... 25

Ltr from Justin Barbour to Olga Brown re return of
privilege documents
(Dated June 8, 2015) ...................................................... 26

Ltr from Justin Barbrour to Olga Brown re First
Amended Docket Control Order and dropping hearing
on Defendant's Motion to Compel
(Dated May 27, 2015)....................................................... 27

Ltr from Olga Brown forwarding Petition for Leave to
File Interlocutory Appeal re 91a Motion to Dismiss
(Dated May 21, 2015)....................................................... 28

Hearing Transcript re Motion to Partially Dismiss
(March 18, 2015) ............................................................. 29

Hearing Transcript re Motion for New Trial
(May 6, 2015) ................................................................... 30

EEOC Charge
(Dated February 23, 2015) ............................................... 31

TWC Charge
(Dated February 10, 2015) ............................................... 32

EEOC Dismissal
(Dated October 6, 2015) ................................................... 33

                                        vi
TWC Dismissal
(Dated August 20, 2015) .................................................. 34

Defendant Allen Jones' First Set of Interrogatories
and Requests for Production to Plaintiff Cearth Faire
(Dated March 2, 2015) ..................................................... 35

Defendant FMP SA Management Group, LLC d/b/a
Food Management Partners' First Set of Interrogatories
and Requests for Production to Plaintiff Cearth Faire
(Dated March 2, 2015) ..................................................... 36

Plaintiff's Objections and Responses to Defendant's FMP's
First Set of Interrogatories and Requests for Production
(Dated April 1, 2015)........................................................ 37

Bexar County Online Full Case Information Docket Sheet
(Printed October 14, 2015) ............................................... 38

Justin Barbour’s Verification of Mandamus Appendix
/Record ........................................................................... 39

Ltr from Olga Brown re Response to Letter dated June 26
Re dropping Motion to Compel hearing
(Dated June 26, 2015) ..................................................... 40

Ltr from Olga Brown re not available on Sept. 14, 2015
(Dated September 10, 2015)............................................. 41

First Amended Fiat re Motion to Disqualify
(Dated September 10, 2015)............................................. 42

Order on Defendant Allen Jones' Motion to Disqualify
Plaintiff's Counsel
(Dated October 2, 2015) ................................................... 43

Second Amended Deposition Notice of Allen Jones
(Dated August 27, 2015) .................................................. 44

                                        vii
Deposition Notice of Jason Kemp
(Dated August 27, 2015) .................................................. 45

Chart
(Dated August 27, 2015) .................................................. 46

Hearing transcript re Motion to Compel Discovery and
Amended Motion to Drop or Amend Docket Control Order
(Dated September 16, 2015)............................................. 47

                                    viii
                              TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

Cases
In Re Am. Home Prods. Corp.,
  985 S.W.2d 68 (Tex. 1998) (orig. proceeding) ..................... 3, 15, 32

In re Automated Techs., Inc.,
  156 S.W.3d 557 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding) ............................. 32

In re Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.,
  87 S.W.3d 139 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002) (orig. proceeding) ... 25

In Re Columbia Valley Healthcare Sys., L.P.,
  320 S.W.3d 819 (Tex. 2010) (orig. proceeding) ................... 3, 15, 32

In re CSX Corp.,
  124 S.W.3d 149 (Tex. 2003) (per curiam) (orig. proceeding) ......... 14

In re EPIC Holdings, Inc.,
  985 S.W.2d 41 (Tex. 1998) (orig. proceeding) ............................... 30

In re Hoar Const., LLC,
  256 S.W.3d 790 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008) (orig.
  proceeding).................................................................................. 31

In re Marketing Corp.,
  80 S.W.3d 44 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1998) (orig. proceeding) ..... passim

In re Marketing,
80 S.W.3d at 52 .................................................................... 22, 28

In re Meador,
  968 S.W.2d 346 (Tex. 1998) ................................................. passim

In re Meador,
968 S.W.2d at 351 ...................................................................... 16

In re Meador,
968 S.W.2d at 352 ...................................................................... 29

                                                ix
In re Odyssey Healthcare, Inc.,
  310 S.W.3d 419 (Tex. 2010) (per curiam) (orig. proceeding) ......... 14

In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am.,
  148 S.W.3d 124 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding).......................... 14

In re Reynoso,
  361 S.W.3d 719 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2012, no pet.) (orig.
  proceeding).................................................................................. 15

In re Team Rocket, L.P.,
  256 S.W.3d 257 (Tex. 2008) (orig. proceeding) ......................... 15

In re XL Specialty Insur. Co.,
  373 S.W.3d 46 (Tex. 2012) (orig. proceeding) ............................... 21

Johnson v. Brewer & Pritchard, P.C.,
  73 S.W.3d 193 (Tex. 2002) .......................................................... 27

NCNB Tex. Nat’l Bank v. Coker,
 765 S.W.2d 398 (Tex. 1989)) ................................................. 16, 32

Prudential,
148 S.W.3d at 136 ..................................................................... 15

Richards v. Jain,
  168 F. Supp. 2d 1195 (W.D. Wash. 2001)..................................... 28

Vaughan v. Walther,
 875 S.W.2d 690 (Tex. 1994)) ....................................................... 32
Walker v. Packer,
 827 S.W.2d 833 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding)............................. 14

Walker,
827 S.W.2d at 840 ..................................................................... 14

                                                x
Welex Jet Servs. v. Owen,
 325 S.W.2d 856 (Tex. Civ. App. –Fort Worth 1959, writ ref’d n.r.e.)
 ................................................................................................... 27

West v. Solito,
 563 S.W.2d 240 (Tex. 1978) .................................................. 21, 26

Statutes
Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.201(e) ...................................................... 3

Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221(b)(1).................................................. 3

Rules
Tex. R. App. P. 52.1 ......................................................................... 3

TEX. R. EVID. 503(b) ........................................................................ 21

                                                  xi
                      STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Nature of the Case:        Relator Allen J. Jones filed this original
                           proceeding to challenge the trial court’s
                           denial of his motion to disqualify opposing
                           counsel (order signed on October 2, 2015).
                           Jones contends the trial court abused its
                           discretion in denying this Motion, as each
                           of the six factors set forth by the Texas
                           Supreme Court in In re Meador, 968 S.W.2d
346 (Tex. 1998) support and require
                           disqualification of Ms. Olga Brown, counsel
                           for Real Party in Interest Cearth Faire, who
                           came into possession of, reviewed, and
                           produced during discovery Jones’ privileged
                           documents.

Respondent/Trial Court:    Honorable Richard Price, 150th District
                           Court, Bexar County, Texas

Relief Sought by Relator at
Trial Court:                Jones seeks mandamus relief to reverse the
                            order denying his motion to disqualify
                            opposing counsel. Real Party in Interest,
                            Cearth Faire, is a former personal assistant
                            to and agent for Jones. Faire came into
                            possession       of    Jones’     privileged
                            communications and documents while
                            working for Jones, who was CEO of FMP SA
                            Management Group, LLC d/b/a Food
                            Management Partners (a Co-Defendant in
                            the underlying case). These privileged
                            communications pertained to Jones’ prior
                            family law proceedings, in which Ms. Brown
                            represented Jones’ ex-wife, Tetyana Jones.
                            At some point, Faire provided to her
                            counsel (Brown) Jones’ personal, private,

                                   1
                       and privileged communications. Brown did
                       not return the documents. Rather, Brown
                       thoroughly reviewed, analyzed, and intends
                       to use these documents in the ongoing
                       litigation between Jones and Faire.
                       Because each of the six Meador factors
                       weighed in favor of disqualification, Jones
                       asked the trial court to disqualify Brown
                       from further representation of Faire in her
                       underlying lawsuit.

Respondent:            Hon. Richard Price, 150th District Court,
                       Bexar County, Texas.

Respondent’s Action:   The trial court denied Jones’ motion on
                       October 2, 2015.

Relief Sought:         Jones respectfully requests this Court
                       vacate the trial court’s October 2, 2015
                       Order and direct the trial court to grant the
                       Motion to Disqualify.

                               2
                  STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION

     This Court has jurisdiction under Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. §

22.221(b)(1): “Each court of appeals for a court of appeals district may

issue writs of mandamus, agreeable to the principles of law regulating

those writs, against a … judge of a district or county court in the court

of appeals district[.]” See also TEX. R. APP. P. 52.1 et seq. (governing

original proceedings in appellate courts). The 150th District Court,

Bexar County, Texas is within this Court’s district. TEX. GOV’T CODE

ANN. § 22.201(e). This Court’s mandamus authority extends to orders

denying Motions to Disqualify. In Re Am. Home Prods. Corp., 985
S.W.2d 68 (Tex. 1998) (orig. proceeding); In Re Columbia Valley

Healthcare Sys., L.P., 320 S.W.3d 819 (Tex. 2010) (orig. proceeding).

                                    3
                    ISSUE PRESENTED

One:   The trial court erred by denying Relator’s Motion to
       Disqualify Counsel for Real Party in Interest, based on
       counsel’s acceptance, review, and production of Relator’s
       privileged documents.

Two:   Relator lacks an adequate remedy by appeal.

                             4
                       STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

      The case underlying this original proceeding is a quid pro quo

sexual harassment claim arising under Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor

Code. Real Party in Interest Cearth Faire is a former employee of FMP

SA Management Group, LLC d/b/a Food Management Partners

(“FMP”), a corporate co-defendant in the underlying lawsuit. App. 3 at

¶ 22. During the term of her employment with Defendant FMP, Faire

worked as a personal assistant to Relator Allen J. Jones, FMP’s Chief

Executive Officer. Id. at ¶ 7. As Jones’ personal assistant, Faire was

responsible for handling and assisting with various personal and

business matters for Jones. App. 6, Ex. D at ¶ 3. Faire remained

employed with FMP until August 31, 2014, when she was terminated

due to erratic behavior and suspected drug use while on the job, which

included caring for Jones’ small children. Id. at ¶ 6.

      During the term of Faire’s employment, Jones was involved in

multiple family law disputes, which included divorce and child

custody proceedings. 1 Faire’s sworn testimony admits her “attorney,

1 Ohio App. 5, Ex. B at ¶ 4. These family law cases are styled Tetyana Jones v. Allen J.
Jones, No. 2013-CI-04328 (in the 57th District Court, Bexar County) and In the
Interest of Allen Jones, et al., No. 2013-CI-11046 (in the 407 District Court, Bexar
County). While Cause No. 2013-CI-11046 has been closed, Cause No. 2013-CI-
04328 remains pending. See App. 38.

                                         5
Olga Brown, represented Mr. Jones’ third wife, Tetyana Jones, in [this]

international child custody case.” App. 5, Ex. B at ¶ 4. In her capacity

as Jones’ personal assistant, Faire was copied on and came into

possession of numerous privileged communications to, from, and

between Jones, his counsel Mr. Sam Bashara, and Mr. Bashara’s

agents and representatives. Id. ¶ 8 (admitting she was in possession

of Jones’ privileged “emails both sent directly to my personal account,

and those I forwarded to my work account”); App. 6, Ex. D at ¶ 5 (noting

“Faire was copied on or had access to emails and other confidential

and privileged documents of [Jones] in connection with the family law

proceedings”).

     Faire’s pleadings in the trial court, as well as before this Court,

acknowledge she participated in and assisted Jones with his defense

in those family law proceedings. App. 2 at 4 (“… Plaintiff [worked] for

approximately five months to assist him in his divorce defense …”);

App. 5, Ex. B at ¶ 6 (“As Mr. Jones’ personal assistant, I was to gather

personal information and forward it to his legal team …”); App. 16 at

¶ 24 (Jones allegedly promised to gift Faire a house “in consideration

for her loyal efforts in assisting [him] in the defense of his suit for

divorce”); App. 18, 2d Am. Pet. ¶ 24 (same); App. 20 at 1 (Faire

                                   6
“assist[ed]   administratively   in   his   defense   in   Jones’   divorce

proceedings pending in Bexar County, Texas during 2013 and 2014”);

App. 29 at 29:21-23 (“She had been working, like I said, 24/7 helping

him defend in the divorce pending here in Bexar County”). The trial

court record demonstrates Jones did not authorize or have any

knowledge that Faire had retained possession of his confidential and

privileged communications beyond her August 31, 2014 termination

of employment. App. 6, Ex. D at ¶ 8.

     Brown, counsel for Faire in proceeding below (and for Jones’ ex-

wife in the family law proceedings), has repeatedly attempted to

intermingle these distinct lawsuits. For example, Brown has

repeatedly accused Jones of holding “hostage his infant son in the

Dominican Republic … to gain financial advantage in the” underlying

family law proceedings. App. 1 at 1-2; App. 5 at 3, Ex. B ¶ 4. Similarly,

Brown has repeatedly cited sworn testimony offered before the Hon.

Cathleen Stryker in the family law proceedings for the proposition that

Jones allegedly “admitted to human trafficking.” App. 1 at 1; App. 2 at

3, 4; App. 3 at ¶ 41; App. 4 at ¶¶ 7-8; App. 9 at ¶ 29; App. 10 at 2; App.

14 at ¶ 29. Brown has made similar claims in correspondence between

counsel. See App. 23 (enclosing purported transcript from prior family

                                      7
law proceedings and alleging, based on testimony in that prior family

law matter, Jones’ “credibility in this motion and in the entire [Chapter

21] lawsuit is at issue”). 2 A chart tracking the numerous instances in

which Brown has attempted to conflate the earlier family law

proceedings and this instant lawsuit, as well as relevant excerpts from

such documents, is attached at Appendix 46.

      In the underlying litigation, Faire has alleged a Chapter 21 claim

for quid pro quo sexual harassment against Jones.3 As part of this

litigation, Jones, FMP, and other Defendants served on Faire standard

discovery     requests,     seeking     documents,        emails,    and     other

communications that evidenced or supported such claims. See App.

35; App. 36. Faire provided her responses and objections to these

Interrogatories and Requests for Production on April 1, 2015. App. 37.

2 Brown’s statements are utterly untrue and inflammatory. They were made to
sully Jones’ reputation, credibility, and integrity in an effort to gain leverage at
the underlying proceeding. Moreover, these allegations are irrelevant to the
factual and legal questions within Faire’s claim for Chapter 21 sexual harassment
in the underlying proceeding. Brown’s statements evidence an intent to relitigate
the Jones family law proceedings vis a vis the instant lawsuit.
3
  Previously, Faire alleged claims for promissory estoppel and “oral gift” of real
estate, stemming from Jones’ purported promise to gift her a home, as well as a
claim for civil conspiracy against Jones and certain other co-Defendants in the
District Court litigation. See App. 14 at ¶¶ 25-46; App. 16 at ¶¶ 20-42. Jones’ Rule
91a Partial Motion to Dismiss was granted (and reaffirmed) as to these claims.
App. 13; App. 11; App. 21. As such, the lone claim remaining against Jones in the
trial court arises under Chapter 21 of the Labor Code.

                                         8
Notably, nowhere within these discovery responses did Faire indicate

(i) she was in possession of communications to, from, or between

Jones, his representatives, and his legal counsel in the prior family

law litigation or (ii) that she had disclosed and provided such

privileged communications to Brown, her attorney in this matter and

counsel for Jones’ ex-wife in the prior family law matter. Id.

     Thereafter, Faire produced 279 pages of documents, ostensibly

in response to Jones’ Requests for Production. On review of these

documents, it was discovered Faire had retained possession of, shown

to Brown, and then produced back in the underlying litigation nearly

100 pages of Jones’ privileged communications in the prior family law

litigation (they were labeled FAIRE 015-16, 068-71, 149-204, 213-

230, 237-241, and 246-255). These documents included emails

between Jones’ family law counsel (Mr. Sam Bashara) and Jones,

discussing pleadings, hearings, and litigation strategy in the family

law proceedings. Before Faire’s production of these documents in the

underlying proceeding, Jones was unaware Faire had retained these

emails or that these emails were ever provided to Brown. App. 6, Ex. D

at ¶ 8; App. 39.

                                   9
     On June 8, 2015, Jones’ counsel addressed Faire’s wrongful

conduct and demanded Brown take remedial action, including:

    • Immediately return Jones’ privileged documents and
      communications;

    • Provide an accounting and detailed description of any other
      of Jones’ privileged information and documents not yet
      disclosed during discovery but in the possession of Faire or
      Brown; and

    • Brown’s withdrawal from representation of Faire in this
      lawsuit.

App. 26.

     Brown responded to this demand, disputing whether “all

documents” were in fact privileged, though her correspondence

implicitly acknowledges that some, if not many, of the documents were

such. App. 25. Brown refused to take any of the other actions

requested therein. Id. Brown instead contended that, because the

documents were responsive to Jones’ discovery requests, she was

allowed to retain them and use them in litigation despite their status

as privileged documents. Id.

     Days later, Brown communicated with Jones’ counsel and asked

that the parties “make attempts to resolve the discovery issues before

going to court.” App. 40. As a demonstration of their good faith and

                                  10
willingness to confer in an attempt to resolve the parties’ disputes

without seeking intervention by the trial court, Defendants agreed to

such. Defendant’s counsel attempted to schedule a conferral meeting

to discuss all pending matters, but Brown never responded.

Nonetheless, there was a de facto stay of this matter, with no further

filings, discovery, or other substantive action was taken in the trial

court until August 27, 2015, when Faire noticed the depositions of

Jones and Jason Kemp, FMP’s Chief Financial Officer.

     As Faire refused to take any actions to return the privileged

documents or otherwise mitigate the prejudice to Jones, Jones filed

his Motion to Disqualify on September 8, 2015, days after Faire

restarted the proceedings and lifted the de facto stay. App. 6. This

Motion was initially set for hearing on September 14, 2015. Id. Brown

indicated she had a conflicting setting on that date, App. 41, so the

hearing was reset to September 16, 2015. App. 42.

     Plaintiff’s Response to the Motion to Disqualify was filed the day

before the hearing. App. 5. In the response, Brown does not deny she

came into possession of, reviewed, or intended to utilize Jones’

privileged communications in the underlying lawsuit. Id. Instead, the

response contends the facts in the family law and Chapter 21 claims

                                  11
were distinct, somehow absolving Brown’s invasion and violation of

Jones’ attorney-client privilege. Id. at 3. Moreover, the response

repeatedly invokes facts and allegations from the prior family law

dispute, including allegations of purported “violation of human

rights.” Id. at 9.

      The Motion to Disqualify was argued before the Hon. Richard

Price on September 16, 2015. 4 During this hearing, Judge Price

requested that the privileged communications reviewed by Brown be

submitted in a sealed format for the Court’s inspection. Id. That same

day, Jones’ counsel submitted the documents in sealed form for Judge

Price’s review. App. 39; App. 22.5 On October 2, 2015, Judge Price

denied Jones’ Motion. App. 43. Jones now seeks mandamus relief from

this Court.

                     SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

      Faire wrongfully and surreptitiously retained privileged attorney-

client communications obtained while she was Jones’ personal

assistant. After she was let go from her employment, she,

4 The transcript of the parties’ September 16, 2015 hearing on the Motion to
Disqualify is attached at Appendix 47.
5 Jones has provided these documents to this Court in hard copy format in an

envelope with a cover page entitled, Relator’s Sealed Mandamus Appendix.

                                     12
unbeknownst to Jones, forwarded those privileged communications to

her counsel, Brown. Brown did not contact Jones or his counsel to

inform him of the unauthorized retention and disclosure. Nor did

Brown return the privileged documents to Jones. Rather, Brown held

onto the privileged documents, analyzed them, and subsequently

produced them as “responsive” to certain of Jones’ discovery requests

in the underlying case. Brown further has made it clear through

various pleadings and correspondence that she intends to use these

privileged documents to attack Jones’ credibility and integrity in the

underlying case. Despite these facts, the trial court denied Jones’

Motion to Disqualify Brown.

     In another employee-employer case with strikingly similar facts,

the Dallas Court of Appeals reversed a trial court’s denial of the motion

to disqualify and granted mandamus relief. In re Marketing Corp., 80
S.W.3d 44 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1998) (orig. proceeding). There, the

Dallas Court of Appeals applied the six-factor test enunciated by the

Texas Supreme Court in In re Meador to hold that the conduct by the

opposing attorney required disqualification. In re Marketing Corp., 80
S.W.3d at 51; accord In re Meador, 968 S.W.2d 346 (1998). Jones

respectfully asks this Court to grant his mandamus petition, vacate

                                   13
the trial court’s order denying his Motion to Disqualify, and instruct

the trial court to enter an order disqualifying Brown.

          ARGUMENT SUPPORTING MANDAMUS RELIEF

                               I.
            Standard Governing Mandamus Proceeding

     The standard governing mandamus proceedings is                       well-

established. In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135–

36 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). Mandamus relief is warranted

where: (1) the trial judge has committed a clear abuse of discretion;

and (2) there is no adequate remedy on appeal. In re Odyssey

Healthcare, Inc., 310 S.W.3d 419, 422 (Tex. 2010) (per curiam) (orig.

proceeding). As to the first prong, a “clear abuse of discretion”

occurs   when     the   challenged        ruling   is   “so   arbitrary   and

unreasonable as to amount to a clear and prejudicial error of law.”

In re CSX Corp., 124 S.W.3d 149, 151 (Tex. 2003) (per curiam) (orig.

proceeding); see Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839 (Tex. 1992)

(orig. proceeding). It is well-established, however, that the “review of a

trial court’s determination of the legal principles controlling its

ruling is much less deferential.” Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 840.

According to the Texas Supreme Court, “[a] trial court has no

                                     14
‘discretion’ in determining what the law is or applying the law to the

facts.” Id. Thus, the trial court abuses its discretion if there is “a clear

failure by the trial court to analyze or apply the law correctly[.]” Id.

     As to the second prong of the mandamus standard, “the

adequacy of an appellate remedy must be determined by balancing

the benefits of mandamus review against the detriments.” In re

Team    Rocket, L.P., 256 S.W.3d 257,   262   (Tex.   2008)   (orig.

proceeding). An appellate remedy is only adequate if the detriments

to issuing mandamus relief outweigh the benefits; but if the

detriments are outweighed by the benefits, “courts must consider

whether the appellate remedy is adequate.” Prudential, 148 S.W.3d

at 136; accord In re Reynoso, 361 S.W.3d 719, 723 (Tex. App.—

Corpus Christi 2012, no pet.) (orig. proceeding).

     Texas law provides that mandamus relief is available to set

aside an improperly denied Motion to Disqualify. In re Am. Home

Prods. Co., 985 S.W.2d 68, 72 (Tex. 1998) (orig. proceeding); In re

Columbia Valley Healthcare Sys., L.P., 320 S.W.3d 819, 823 & n.2 (Tex.

2010) (orig. proceeding) (“[m]andamus is available where a motion to

disqualify is inappropriately denied, as there is no adequate remedy

                                     15
on appeal”) (citing NCNB Tex. Nat’l Bank v. Coker, 765 S.W.2d 398, 400

(Tex. 1989)).

                              II.
 Brown Should be Disqualified Based on her Possession, Review,
           and Analysis of Jones’ Privileged Emails

     In In re Meador, Chief Justice Tom Phillips instructed:

           Without doubt, there are situations where a
           lawyer who has been privy to privileged
           information improperly obtained from the other
           side must be disqualified, even though the
           lawyer was not involved in obtaining the
           information. Discovery privileges are an integral
           part of our adversary system.

In re Meador, 968 S.W.2d at 351. Chief Justice Phillips went on to

state:

           Thus, a lawyer who uses privileged information
           improperly    obtained     from     an   opponent
           potentially subverts the litigation process.

Id. In this case, Brown falls into the category of lawyers described by

Chief Justice Phillips. Accordingly, this Court should grant Jones’

Petition for Writ of Mandamus, vacate the trial court’s order, and

instruct the trial court to grant Jones’ Motion to Disqualify Brown.

A.   The Six-Factor Analysis

     The Texas Supreme Court established a six-factor analysis to

guide trial court’s during the consideration of disqualification motions

                                   16
based on the review of privileged information. See In re Meador, 968
S.W.2d 346 (Tex. 1998). These factors include:

      (1)   whether the attorney knew or should have
            known that the material was privileged;

      (2)   the promptness with which the attorney notifies
            the opposing side that he or she has received its
            privileged information;

      (3)   the extent to which the attorney reviews and
            digests the privileged information;

      (4)   the significance of the privileged information;
            i.e., the extent to which its disclosure may
            prejudice the movant’s claim or defense, and the
            extent to which return of the documents will
            mitigate that prejudice;

      (5)   the extent to which movant may be at fault for
            the unauthorized disclosure;

      (6)   the extent to which the nonmovant will suffer
            prejudice from the disqualification of his or her
            attorney.”

Id. 351-352. 6

6
  At the trial court, Jones moved to disqualify Brown based on multiple grounds:
(1) based on Faire’s membership on his “litigation team” in the prior family law
proceedings; (2) based on Brown’s participation in Faire’s breach of her fiduciary
duties owed to Jones; and (3) based on the Meador six-factor analysis. Jones
maintains his position that all grounds raised below constitute valid grounds for
Brown’s disqualification; however, Jones’ Petition focuses on only one ground: the
trial court’s failure to disqualify Brown based on the Meador six-factor test.

                                       17
B.   In re Marketing mirrors this case.

     One case applying the Meador six-factor analysis mirrors the

case before this Court. In In re Marketing Corp., 80 S.W.3d 44 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 1998) (orig. proceeding), the Dallas Court of Appeals

addressed a similar situation -- an employee’s retention and his

counsel’s   review   and   use   of    wrongfully   retained   privileged

communications during litigation by the employee against his

employer. Id. at 46-47. In that case, after the employee was

terminated, he concealed from the employer that he was in possession

of confidential and privileged communications. Id. After litigation was

initiated, the employee’s counsel produced the privileged documents

during discovery. Id. at 47. The employer requested that all documents

be returned, but the employee refused to do so. Id. The employer then

sought and was denied disqualification of the employee’s counsel. Id.

     The employer sought mandamus, arguing that counsel “did not

notify the Corporation of his receipt of the documents in question or

tender their return as required by Texas law.” Id. at 51. Applying the

six Meador factors, the Court of Appeals noted that “[m]any of the

documents refer directly to the status of litigation and strategy for

future action” in such litigation and were thus privileged. Like with

                                  18
Brown in the instant matter, the In re Marketing decision noted it was

“undisputed that [counsel] has extensively reviewed the documents,

… and has shown an intent to use them in the future.” Id. Thus,

because the documents were “kept by a terminated employee,” not

returned upon demand, and because the “questions arise” at a point

when the “case is neither well developed nor ready for trial,”

disqualification was warranted. As a result, the Court of Appeals held

the trial court erred, in relevant part, in not disqualifying counsel for

his conduct, and conditionally granted the writ.

C.   The six-factor analysis requires Brown’s disqualification.

     In re Marketing bears stunning factual similarities to the instant

case. There, the Meador factors weighed in favor of disqualification.

Here, as demonstrated in more detail below, the Meador factors, when

applied to the facts, also weigh in favor of disqualification. As such,

the trial court clearly erred in denying Relator’s Motion to Disqualify

and, as in In re Marketing, mandamus is warranted.

           1.   Brown knew or should have known the documents
                were privileged.

     The first factor asks whether Brown “knew or should have

known” the documents provided by Faire were privileged. Id. In the

                                   19
prior family law proceedings, Brown represented Jones’ ex-wife. App.

5, Ex. B at ¶ 4. For her part, Faire admits Jones was represented by

Bashara & Schwartz, P.C. Id. at 3-4, id. Ex. B at ¶ 6. As Brown had

direct and adversarial involvement with Jones’ family law counsel

(Bashara), she cannot now disclaim knowledge of such. See id. at 3-4

(admitting “Jones was represented by Sam Bashara and his office …”).

        A simple review of the privileged documents produced at FAIRE

015-16, 068-71, 149-204, 213-230, 237-241, and 246-255 7 reveals

that nearly all communications were sent to or from Bashara,

Bashara’s paralegal (Melinda Flores), or Jones’ counsel in the

Dominican Republic (Elvis Roque). These documents contain detailed

description of legal and factual issues underlying the family law

proceedings (FAIRE 254-255), correspondence to and from Brown as

opposing         counsel     (FAIRE   189-192,    195-196,      217-222),

correspondence regarding payment of Jones’ legal fees (FAIRE 223-

230), and the discussion of legal strategy, fact investigation, and

counsel regarding same (FAIRE 68-71, 149-156, 158-175, 181-188,

193-194,         197-204).    These   emails   constitute   “[c]onfidential

7
    Supra n.5.

                                      20
communications between client and counsel made to facilitate legal

services …” In re XL Specialty Insur. Co., 373 S.W.3d 46, 49 (Tex. 2012)

(orig. proceeding) (citing TEX. R. EVID. 503(b), noting the Rule “protects

not only confidential communications between the lawyer and the

client, but also discourse among their representatives”). Therefore,

pursuant to Rule 503(b), these emails are protected by the attorney-

client privilege, which has never been waived by Jones.

     Brown admitted she was aware Bashara and his office

represented Jones. App. 5 at 3-4. She does not deny she failed to

recognize these documents were privileged upon her review of them.

Instead, in her response to Jones’ Motion, Faire contended, without

support, that “[e]mails are not private and after six months lose

confidentiality if any existed.” App. 5 at 5. Case law reveals, however,

that the attorney-client privilege is not subject to a statute of

limitations. See, e.g., West v. Solito, 563 S.W.2d 240, 244-45 (Tex.

1978) (attorney-client privilege belongs to holder of privilege unless

and until it is expressly waived). Thus, because the admissions of

Faire and Brown, coupled with a reading of the privileged documents

themselves, plainly evidence that these items are privileged, this factor

weighs in favor of disqualification.

                                    21
           2.    Brown failed to notify Jones she had received his
                 privileged communications.

     The record demonstrates Faire and Brown failed to notify Jones

they were in possession of and had reviewed his privileged

communications. See App. 6, Ex. D at ¶¶ 7-8. Jones was first made

aware of this fact when reviewing the documents turned over by Faire

as responsive to Jones’ discovery requests. Id. This fact is tacitly

acknowledged by Ms. Brown’s June 22, 2015 correspondence, App.

25, and Faire’s failure to address this factor within her Response to

Jones’ Motion to Disqualify. App. 5.

     In an identical factual circumstance, the In re Marketing court

determined this factor weighed in favor of disqualification. There, the

“attorney did not notify the [company] that he had these documents.

Rather, [plaintiff] produced the documents in response to a discovery

request.” In re Marketing, 80 S.W.3d at 52. In such a circumstance,

where no notice is given in advance of the review and production of

the opposing party’s own privileged documents, this factor weighs in

favor of disqualification. Id.

                                  22
           3.      Extent to which Brown reviewed or digested the
                   privileged information.

      The third factor considers the extent the opposing lawyer

reviewed or digested the privileged information. Notably, Brown — the

person with most knowledge relevant to this inquiry — failed to

provide any sworn evidence or testimony to the trial court.

Significantly, she did not disavow that she had reviewed or digested

the 95 pages of privileged communications. Moreover, the content of

Faire’s Response to the Motion to Disqualify, which was signed by

Brown, demonstrates Brown has thoroughly reviewed, digested, and

analyzed these privileged communications.

      Indeed, the Response indicates that Brown not only reviewed the

privileged documents, but also found it acceptable to discuss their

content within Faire’s Response. For example, the Response argues

(in   conclusory    fashion)   that   the   emails   “are   not   privileged

information,” represents that the emails were previously housed on

“[Faire’s] personal and business phone,” and “were those that

remained in the electronically stored communications on [Faire’s]

personal email account.” App. 5 at 4. Such representations could only

be made based on a review of the underlying emails themselves, thus

                                      23
proving the extent to which Brown analyzed the 95 pages of privileged

documents and, by extension, invaded Jones’ attorney-client privilege.

      Given     Brown’s   detailed   discussion    and    analysis   of    the

documents in Faire’s Response, as well as the fact she represented

Faire during the document production, it is “undisputed that [Faire’s]

attorney has extensively reviewed the documents, … and has shown

an intent to use them in the future.” See In re Marketing, 80 S.W.3d at

51. Additionally, Brown gave the trial court no evidence or testimony

to dispute such a conclusion. As such, this factor also weighs in favor

of disqualification.

           4.     The privileged information is significant to Jones.

      The fourth factor examines the significance of the privileged

information to the party seeking disqualification. As discussed above,

the 95 pages of privileged communications contain detailed timelines

developed for counsel’s use and reference, discussion of legal strategy,

and   intimate,    confidential   discussions     regarding    Jones’     legal

proceedings. As such, these documents go to the very heart of the

protections afforded by the attorney-client privilege.8 Brown, who has

8
 The documents retained by Faire, reviewed by Brown, and produced in the trial
court have varying levels of confidentiality and importance to Jones. However,
Brown and Faire have made the conclusory assertion that, because some of these

                                      24
been adverse to Jones on two different, unrelated matters, is now in a

position to utilize Jones’ privileged, private, and confidential

communications against him in adversarial proceedings. There is no

way to effectively “screen” out her knowledge of or reliance on these

privileged communications. Instead, disqualification is the sole

remedy to eliminate prejudice to Jones. As such, this factor also

weighs in favor of disqualification. In re Marketing Invest. Corp., 80
S.W.3d 44, 51 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1998) (orig. proceeding) (documents

may be deemed to have “significance” to the privilege’s holder if the

“return of the documents will [not] mitigate that prejudice”).

             5.    Jones was not responsible for the disclosure of
                   privileged communications to Brown.

      Quite simply, Jones bears no responsibility for Brown’s receipt

of his privileged communications. This is not a case where Jones

inadvertently produced documents in litigation, left documents

exposed to third parties’ eyes, or otherwise took actions that

documents are not, in their opinion, significant, that fact, by itself, eliminates the
need for disqualification. Brown’s speculative statements are irrelevant to this
analysis, however. By her own admissions, Faire was actively involved in and
assisted with Jones’ defense in his divorce proceedings. Thus, her newly-alleged
“bald assertions do not controvert … specific evidence that [she] was privy to many
of [Jones’] legal strategies in suits …” In re Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., 87 S.W.3d
139, 147 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002) (orig. proceeding).

                                          25
voluntarily or negligently endangered his attorney-client privilege.

Instead, Faire’s sworn testimony acknowledges she received these

privileged communications in her capacity as Jones’ personal

assistant and for the purpose of aiding him in the defense of his

divorce suit. App. 5, Ex. B at ¶ 6 (“As Mr. Jones’ personal assistant, I

was to gather personal information and forward it to his legal team

…,” “Some [emails] were duplicates in that I produced emails both sent

directly to my personal account, and those I forwarded to my work

account”); App. 18 at¶ 24 (Jones promised a home to Faire “in

consideration for her loyal efforts in assisting [him] in the defense of

his suit for divorce”); App. 20 at 1 (Faire “assist[ed] administratively in

his defense in Jones’ divorce proceedings pending in Bexar County,

Texas during 2013 and 2014.”); App. 29 at 29:21-23 (“She had been

working, like I said, 24/7 helping him defend in the divorce pending

here in Bexar County”).

     Jones was entitled to rely upon the assumption that Faire, his

former personal assistant and agent, who owed him fiduciary duties,

would keep his privileged communications secure. See, e.g., West v.

Solito, 563 S.W.2d 240, 244-45 (Tex. 1978) (attorney-client privilege

belongs to holder of privilege unless and until it is expressly waived);

                                    26
see also Johnson v. Brewer & Pritchard, P.C., 73 S.W.3d 193, 202 (Tex.

2002) (agents owe fiduciary duty to principal and employee is

obligated to actin employer’s best interest); Welex Jet Servs. v. Owen,

325 S.W.2d 856, 858 (Tex. Civ. App. –Fort Worth 1959, writ ref’d n.r.e.)

(“[c]onfidential    information   secured     by   reason   of   fiduciary

relationships may not be used or disclosed to [employer’s] detriment

…”). As in In re Marketing, Brown came into possession of Jones’

privileged communications because her own client wrongfully

provided them to her. Thus, in this case, as in In re Marketing, this

factor weighs in favor of disqualification.

           6.      Faire will not        be   prejudiced    by   Brown’s
                   disqualification.

     Finally, Faire will not be unfairly prejudiced should Brown be

disqualified. This proceeding is in an early stage of litigation. No

depositions have been taken. Dispositive briefing deadlines are many

months away. App. 39. Additionally, this matter is not set for trial until

March 7, 2016. Id. Thus, in the event Brown is disqualified, Faire’s

substitute counsel has ample time to learn the case and provide

competent representation. Faire has only one claim against Relator

Jones: Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code. Brown does not specialize

                                    27
in employment litigation, 9 eliminating any risk of unique prejudice to

Ms. Faire. Accordingly, Faire has minimal, if any, risk of prejudice

from disqualification, further warranting disqualification. Cf. In re

Marketing, 80 S.W.3d at 52 (trial court erred in not disqualifying

counsel, as disqualification arose relatively early in litigation, case was

not well-developed, and there was no indication former employee

could not obtain alternate counsel).

     A federal district court has guided that, in determining whether

to exercise discretion in disqualifying counsel under the Meador

analysis, “the Court should resolve any doubts in favor of

disqualification.” Richards v. Jain, 168 F. Supp. 2d 1195, 1209 (W.D.

Wash. 2001) (applying Meador factors and analysis). Here, the

mandamus record demonstrates that all Meador factors weigh in favor

of disqualification. As such, it was a clear abuse of discretion for the

trial court to deny Jones’ Motion to Disqualify.

9

https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template
=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=16158
8 (designating Brown’s practice areas as “Business, Family, Litigation:
Commercial, Litigation: Personal Injury).

                                    28
                                III.
                   Faire Cannot Establish Waiver

     At the trial court level, Faire contended Jones’ disqualification

motion should be denied based on waiver. App. 5. First, many of

Faire’s “waiver” arguments assume disqualification should have been

sought immediately upon suit being filed in the trial court. However,

disqualification is only warranted under the six-factor analysis once

the movant becomes aware that “a lawyer receives [his] privileged

materials …” In re Meador, 968 S.W.2d at 352.

     Here, the mandamus record reveals Jones was unaware Faire

had retained his privileged communications, App. 6, Ex. D. ¶¶ 7-8, let

alone that Faire had divulged those documents to Brown for review.

Id. Jones first became aware of this fact upon Faire’s discovery

production, which included the privileged documents. Id. at ¶ 7. Thus,

because Jones had no knowledge of the invasion of his attorney-client

privilege until discovery production in the underlying case, he had no

basis to seek disqualification previously.

     In this way, Faire’s waiver claim may be disposed of by reference

to the Texas Supreme Court’s decision in In re EPIC Holdings, Inc.,

which found no waiver.      There, the party seeking disqualification

                                   29
“waited almost eleven months after they first knew or should have

known” of the basis for disqualification before filing such a motion. In

re EPIC Holdings, Inc., 985 S.W.2d 41, 57 (Tex. 1998) (orig. proceeding)

(Baker, J., dissenting). Epic Holdings’ delay was on account of the

parties attempting to confer resolving resolution of their dispute and,

once such conferral efforts became futile, submitting the matter to the

trial court. Id. at 52-53. Moreover, it is probative that, during the

timeframe relevant to the waiver analysis, “no discovery was

conducted …” Id. at 53.

     Similarly, in the instant matter, the parties reached an

agreement to delay further hearings, including those pertaining to

discovery disputes, via their June 30, 2015 Rule 11 Agreement. App.

8. This Rule 11 Agreement was requested by Faire just four days after

she responded to Jones’ demand that she return the privileged

documents and Brown withdraw as counsel. App. 25; App. 40. During

the ensuing conferral period, no further discovery was taken and no

depositions were noticed, making the matter subject to a de facto stay.

On August 27, 2015, Faire served deposition notices for Jones and

Kemp, at which time it became clear conferral efforts would be

                                   30
unsuccessful. App. 44; App. 45. Accordingly, just twelve days later,

Jones filed his instant Motion to Disqualify on September 18, 2015.

      As in In re EPIC Holdings, to the extent any “delay” occurred in

seeking disqualification, it was solely necessitated by the parties’

conferral attempts.      Importantly, like in In re EPIC Holdings, no

discovery was conducted during the intervening period, thereby

eliminating any risk of further prejudice to Jones at that time. Instead,

only once it became apparent conferral efforts were unsuccessful did

Jones have a duty to file his Motion to Disqualify, which he promptly

did. In sum, whereas nearly eleven months passed in In re EPIC

Holdings, only five total months did in the instant matter. There was

no finding of waiver by the Supreme Court in the former matter, nor

should there be any such finding in the instant case before this Court.

In re EPIC Holdings, Inc., 985 S.W.2d at 57; see also In re Hoar Const.,

LLC, 256 S.W.3d 790, 796-97 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008)

(orig. proceeding) (finding no waiver of right to seek disqualification

based, in part, on parties’ efforts to “resolve any conflict” during

intervening period of time). 10

 Notably, to the trial court, Faire did not identify any case holding that a five
10

month period would constitute waiver. Instead, she argued a seven-month delay

                                       31
                                 IV.
             Relator Lacks an Adequate Appellate Remedy

      An improperly denied Motion to Disqualify is subject to

mandamus review and relief. This Court’s mandamus authority

extends to orders denying meritorious motions to disqualify. In re Am.

Home Prods. Co., 985 S.W.2d 68, 72 (Tex. 1998) (orig. proceeding); In

re Columbia Valley Healthcare Sys., L.P., 320 S.W.3d 819, 823 n.2,

829 (Tex. 2010) (orig. proceeding) (“[m]andamus is available where a

motion to disqualify is inappropriately denied, as there is no adequate

remedy on appeal”) (citing NCNB Tex. Nat’l Bank v. Coker, 765 S.W.2d
398, 400 (Tex. 1989)).

                                  CONCLUSION

      Jones meets both prongs of the mandamus standard and is

entitled to mandamus relief. Relator respectfully asks this Court to

would constitute such. See App. 5 at 8 (citing Vaughan v. Walther, 875 S.W.2d
690, 692 (Tex. 1994)). In Vaughan, the party seeking disqualification waited not
just five months, without any apparent excuse, but also sought disqualification
on the final day of a hearing on a child custody dispute. In this case, there was
no such lengthy period of delay, and disqualification was sought well in advance
of trial. Moreover, no other discovered cases provide for waiver of a right to seek
disqualification on account of a five-month period, during which conferral efforts
and negotiations were ongoing, and when the Motion to Disqualify was filed well
in advance of trial. In different contexts, the Supreme Court has held that “a delay
of five months” is “not sufficient” to constitute waiver. In re Automated Techs., Inc.,
156 S.W.3d 557, 559 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding) (analyzing enforcement of
forum selection clause).

                                          32
grant the Petition for Writ of Mandamus and vacate the trial court’s

Order denying his Motion to Disqualify.

                                      Respectfully submitted,
                                      KELLER STOLARCZYK PLLC
                                      234 West Bandera Road #120
                                      Boerne, Texas 78006
                                      Tele: 830.981.5000
                                      Facs: 888.293.8580
                                      /s/Kimberly S. Keller
                                      Kimberly S. Keller
                                      SBN: 24014182
                                      Email: kim@kellsto.com

                                      Christine Reinhard
                                      SBN: 24013389
                                      Email: creinhard@sr-llp.com
                                      Justin Barbour
                                      SBN: 24055142
                                      Email: jbarbour@sr-llp.com
                                      Schmoyer Reinhard LLP
                                      17806 IH 10 West, Suite 400
                                      San Antonio, Texas 78257
                                      Tele: 210.447.8033
                                      Facs: 210.447.8036

                                      RELATOR’S COUNSEL

                                 33
          RULE 52.3(J) CERTIFICATE OF COMPLLIANCE

     I certify I have reviewed this Petition for Writ of Mandamus and

concluded that every factual statement in the Petition is supported by

competent evidence included in the Mandamus Appendix/Record.

                                            /s/Justin Barbour

           CERTIFICATE OF COMPLLIANCE & SERVICE

     I certify this Petition for Writ of Mandamus contains 5,604 words.

I certify this Petition for Writ of Mandamus and Mandamus

Appendix/Record were, on October 19, 2015, served on the following

via e-mail/first class mail:

                             Olga Brown
                      Law Office of Olga Brown
                       111 Soledad, Suite 1725
                      San Antonio, Texas 78205

                                       /s/Kimberly S. Keller
                                       Kimberly S. Keller

                                  34