Court Opinion

ID: 4077708
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-30 22:03:13.859564+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:32:41.540333
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                            15-0836
                                            11/2/2015 10:46:28 AM
                                            tex-7633687
                                            SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS
                                            BLAKE A. HAWTHORNE, CLERK

             15-0836
      No. _____________________

 In the Supreme Court of Texas

   In re Gearbox Software LLC,

                                        Relator.

  Relator’s Emergency Motion for
    Stay of Discovery Deadline
(Deadline: Tuesday, November 3, 2015)

            Michael E. Schonberg
           State Bar No. 00784927
             J. Michael Heinlen
           State Bar No. 24032287
            Richard B. Phillips, Jr.
           State Bar No. 24032833
        Thompson & Knight llp
        1722 Routh Street, Suite 1500
             Dallas, Texas 75201
            Phone: (214) 969-1700

         Counsel for Relator
        Gearbox Software LLC
To The Honorable Supreme Court of Texas:

   1. Under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 52.10, Relator Gearbox

Software, LLC respectfully requests that this Court stay the discovery order

document production deadline set by the trial court in the underlying case,

pending resolution of Gearbox’s Petition for a Writ of Mandamus, which

was filed on November 2, 2015.

   2. In its mandamus petition, non-party Gearbox seeks mandamus review

of an order entered by the trial court in the underlying case requiring

Gearbox to produce all documents sought in a third-party subpoena served

by Real Party in Interest Meghan Martel. The order requires non-party

Gearbox to produce confidential trade secret financial documents and

records. (See App. Tabs B, J.) The uncontroverted evidence in the trial court

establishes that the documents sought by Mrs. Martel are trade secrets. (See

Mandamus Petition at 6-8.)

   3. Gearbox argues that it should not have to produce the documents

because they are trade secrets and because Mrs. Martel has not carried her

burden to show that the documents are necessary for a fair adjudication of

her case. (See id. at 9-17.)

                                      -1-
   4. The trial court’s order requires Gearbox to produce the documents by

November 3, 2015 (seven days after the order was signed). (App. Tab J.)

   5. Because of the short time between the entry of the order and the

deadline for production and the imminent harm faced by Gearbox, Gearbox

has not sought a stay of the deadline from the trial court.

   6. Gearbox seeks a stay because if Gearbox is required to produce the

disputed documents while its mandamus proceeding is pending, the status

quo will be altered and this Court’s ability to grant effective relief will be

hampered. If the documents are produced to Mrs. Martel, Gearbox will lose

the protections of the trade-secret privilege that it seeks to preserve through

its mandamus petition.

   7. There is currently no trial setting or scheduling order in place in the

underlying action so there is no prejudice to Mrs. Martel resulting from a

short stay of the production order.

   8. Therefore, the trial court’s order should be stayed until this Court

disposes of the mandamus petition.

   9. Counsel for Gearbox has discussed this motion with counsel for Mrs.

Martel by phone. See Tex. R. App. P. 51.10(a). Counsel for Mrs. Martel

indicated that Mrs. Martel is opposed to the requested stay.

                                        -2-
   10. No bond is necessary if the Court grants the requested stay. The only

effect will be to stay production of documents during the pendency of this

mandamus proceeding.

   Wherefore, Relator Gearbox Software LLC respectfully requests that

this Court stay enforcement of the trial court’s October 27, 2015 order until

this Court disposes of Gearbox’s mandamus petition. Gearbox further

requests general relief.

                                             Respectfully submitted,

                                             By: /s/Richard B. Phillips, Jr.
                                             Michael E. Schonberg
                                              State Bar No. 00784927
                                             J. Michael Heinlen
                                              State Bar No. 24032287
                                             Richard B. Phillips, Jr.
                                              State Bar No. 2403833
                                             THOMPSON & KNIGHT LLP
                                             1722 Routh Street, Suite 1500
                                             Dallas, Texas 75201
                                             Phone: (214) 969-1700
                                             Fax: (214) 969-1751
                                             michael.schonberg@tklaw.com
                                             michael.heinlen@tklaw.com
                                             rich.phillips@tklaw.com

                                             Counsel for Relator
                                             Gearbox Software LLC

                                     -3-
                 Certificate of Conference

   On November 2, 2015, I discussed this motion with Clint Westhoff,
counsel for Real Party in Interest Meghan Martel. Mr. Westhoff indicated
that Mrs. Martel will oppose the request for a stay.

                                           /s/ Richard B. Phillips, Jr.
                                          Richard B. Phillips, Jr.

                    Certificate of Service

   On November 2, 2015, this emergency motion for stay was served on
counsel for the Real Parties in Interest by electronic service.

                                           /s/ Richard B. Phillips, Jr.
                                          Richard B. Phillips, Jr.

                                    -4-