Court Opinion

ID: 4044276
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-28 23:33:58.406005+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:01:54.159832
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                                        03-14-00725-CV
                                                                                               3918372
                                                                              THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                         AUSTIN, TEXAS
                                                                                   1/27/2015 3:12:26 PM
                                                                                      JEFFREY D. KYLE
                                                                                                 CLERK

                          CAUSE NO. 03-14-00725-CV
                                                                        FILED IN
                                                                 3rd COURT OF APPEALS
                                  INTHE                              AUSTIN, TEXAS
                          THIRD COURT OF APPEALS                 1/27/2015 3:12:26 PM
                               AUSTIN, TEXAS                       JEFFREY D. KYLE
                                                                         Clerk

                              GEORGE GREEN
                  By Power of Attorney for Father Garlan Green
                                                 Appellants

                                       vs.
  PORT OF CALL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, RANDOLPH HARIG,
 NANCY CAROTHERS, PHILLIP JACOBS, JOHN ROSS BUCHHOLTZ AND
                  RICHARD PAT MCELROY

                                                   Appellee

                               On Appeal from the
                             33Ro DISTRICT COURT
                          of LLANO COUNTY, TEXAS

  APPELLEES' AGREED MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE BRIEF

TO THE HONORABLE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS:

      NOW COME PORT OF CALL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION,

RANDOLPH HARIG, PHILLIP JACOBS, JOHN ROSS BUCHHOLTZ AND

RICHARD PAT MCELROY ("Appellees"), filing their Agreed Motion to Extend

Time to File Brief, and would show unto this Court as follows:
                                        A.
                                    PARTIES

1.    Appellant Garlan Green was a member of the Port of Call Homeowners

Association (HOA). Garlan Green has passed away. (Ex. A).

2.    Appellant George Green is Garlan's son and has represented him in this suit

by a Power of Attorney. (CR 136).

3.    Appellees are the HOA and individual board members.

                                       B.
                               INTRODUCTION

4.    While subject to further discovery, the case involves claims against the

Appellees   claiming   they   violated the   organizational   documents   of the

Homeowners' Association for breach of contract, the Property Code, and a breach

of fiduciary duty. Appellants seeking review of an order they claim to be an

injunction filed this Appeal. They base the appeal §51.014(a)(4) and Chapter 65 of

the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Appellees understand the Order

from which Appellants seek relief is a discovery sanction. Wood v Moriarty, 940
S.W.2d 359 (Tex. App-Dallas, 1997, no pet.)

                                       c.
                          PROCEDURAL HISTORY

5.    In the trial court, a motion was filed by the Appellees seeking protection

from Appellant George Green's discovery actions. (CR 114-130) After an order for

protection was granted, Appellant George Green continued conduct Appellees

                                       -2-
believed subject to the order of protection.             Thus, Appellees filed a Motion to

Enforce the Order. (CR 153). A hearing was held on that Motion on October 14,

2014. (CR 175) The Judge granted the Motion to Enforce the Protective Order and

entered an Order on October 21, 2014. (CR 175) 1 That is the order that is the

subject of this appeal.

6.        After that Order was entered, George Green advised that he disagreed with

the Order, came to meetings of the Association and participated in those meetings

(Ex. A). Appellees agree that the Order does not prevent him from attending or

speaking at those meetings.

                                                D.
               EXTENSION OF DATE TO FILE BRIEF REQUESTED

7.        The parties are discussing possible modification of the Order at issue in the

trial court. Such action may moot this appeal. Moreover with Garlan Green's

death, Appellees believe the Power of Attorney may be nullity and a representative

of his Estate must be named to pursue his case.

9.        Under these circumstances, Appellees pray the Court grant this Motion and

extend its deadline to file a brief for thirty (30) days until March 5, 2015.

10.       Appellants' counsel has agreed to this extension.

1
    A copy of that Order was also attached to Appellant's Docketing Statement.

                                                -3-
                                           E.
                                   CONCLUSION

      WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellees pray that the Court

of Appeals for the Third District of Texas at Austin extend the deadline for filing

of Appellees' brief for thirty (30) days until March 5, 2015, and further pray for

further relief that they may be justly entitled to at law or in equity.

                                                 Respectfully submitted,

                                                 WRIGHT & GREENHILL, P.C.
                                                 221 W. 6th Street, Suite 1800
                                                 Austin, Texas 78701
                                                 5121476-4600
                                                 5121476-5382 (Fax)
                                                 rpringle@w-g.com
                                                 hcoughlin@w-g.com
                                                 mthompson@w-g.com

                                                  Isl Mike Thompson, Jr.
                                                 By: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
                                                     Brantley Ross Pringle, Jr.
                                                     State Bar No. 16330001
                                                    Heidi A. Coughlin
                                                    State Bar No. 24059615
                                                    Mike Thompson, Jr.
                                                    State Bar No. 19898200

                                                 ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES
                                                 PORT OF CALL HOMEOWNERS
                                                 ASSOCIATION, RANDOLPH
                                                 HARIG, PHILLIP JACOBS, JOHN
                                                 ROSS BUCHHOLTZ AND RICHARD
                                                 PAT MCELROY

                                           -4-
                      CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE

       Appellant agrees to a 30-day extension of the deadline for Appellees to file
their brief.

                     NOTICE OF ELECTRONIC FILING

       The undersigned counsel certifies that on 27'h day of January, 2015, he has
electronically filed the foregoing document with the Third Court of Appeals
Austin, Texas, Clerk's Office using the electronic filing system through ProDoc
efiling2 and counsel will send notification of such filing to Mr. David Junkin and
Mr. L. Hayes Fuller, III.

                                       -5-
                        CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing has
been served on the following via facsimile or certified mail, return receipt
requested, in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, on this 27'h day
of January, 2015.

David Junkin
LAW OFFICE OF DA YID JUNKIN
P. 0. Box 2910
Wimberley, TX 78676

L. Hayes Fuller, III
NAMAN HOWELL SMITH & LEE, P.L.L.C
400 Austin Avenue, Suite 800
P. 0. Box 1470
Waco, TX 75703-1470
                                Isl Mike Thompson, Jr.

                                             Brantley Ross Pringle, Jr.
                                             Heidi Coughlin
                                             Mike Thompson, Jr.

                                       -6-
Exhibit A
                            CAUSE NO. 03-14-00725-CV

                                   IN THE
                           THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
                                AUSTIN, TEXAS

                               GEORGE GREEN
                   By Power of Attorney for Father Garlan Green
                                                  Appellant

                                       vs.
  PORT OF CALL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, RANDOLPH HARIG,
 NANCY CAROTHERS, PHILLIP JACOBS, JOHN ROSS BUCHHOLTZ AND
                  RICHARD PAT MCELROY

                                                  Appellee

                                 On Appeal from the
                              33Ro DISTRICT COURT
                           of LLANO COUNTY, TEXAS

                      AFFIDAVIT OF HEIDI COUGHLIN,
                       LEGAL NAME HEIDI VAN REET

      BEFORE ME, the undersigned notary, personally appeared Heidi Coughlin,

the Affiant, a person whose identity is known to me. After I administered an oath,

Affiant testified as follows:

       1.    "My name is Heidi Coughlin. I am over 18 years of age, of sound
             mind, and capable of making this Affidavit. The facts stated in this
             Affidavit are within my personal knowledge and are true and correct.
2.   "I have reviewed the Docket Sheet for this case, my pleadings file and
     the Appellee' s Motion to Dismiss Appellant's Appeal for Lack of
     Jurisdiction and can state the following from that review.

3.   "The Order attached to the Plaintiff's Notice of Intent to Appeal is a
     true and correct copy of the Order that was entered by the Court in
     response to Appellees' Motion for Enforcement of the Protective
     Order.

4.   "Attachment 1 to this Affidavit is a true and correct copy of the
     Motion for Enforcement of the Protective Order that was filed on
     behalf of my clients.

5.   "During the course of this litigation, Appellant had made and
     continued to make written and verbal requests for information from
     the Homeowner's Association on an almost weekly basis. Frequently,
     new requests for updated information were made while outstanding
     requests were being responded to. Furthermore, Appellant repeatedly
     requested documents and information that had been previously
     produced to him. The requests were creating a unique burden on the
     Homeowner's Association to respond and the requests were
     unreasonable.

6.   "Accordingly, on behalf of our clients, we filed the initial Motion for
     Protective Order requesting that the Court enter an Order to manage
     Appellant's request for information from Appellees and to provide
     reasonable discovery during the pendency of the litigation. The Court
     entered such an Order on August 14, 2014.

7.   "Subsequent to the August Order of Protective, Appellant made
     additional written requests for information to Appellees despite the
     terms of the Court order.

8.   "As a result, Appellees filed their Motion to Enforce the Protective
     Order which was argued on October 14, 2014 and granted by written
     Order on October 21, 2014.

9.   "This appeal followed.

                                -2-
10.   "Following entry of the Order on October 21, 2014, George Green
      attended a meeting of the Homeowners Association on November 1,
      2014. Mr. Green stated that he interpreted the Order to allow him to
      attend and speak at Home Owner Association Meetings. We agreed
      with him and do not interpret the Order of 21, 2014 as preventing him
      from attending or participating in such meetings.

11.   "On January 22, 2015, in a phone call with Appellant's lawyer, I
      learned that Garlan Green had passed away."

                                      Heidi oughlin
                                      Affiant

                                -3-
STATE OF TEXAS   §
                 §
COUNTY OF TRAVIS §

       BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, on this day personally
appeared Heidi Coughlin Van Reet who being first duly sworn, stated that
all facts contained in the foregoing Affidavit are true and correct to the best
of her knowledge and belief.

  \   SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO this Jrth day of
~"\)    ttj\.':\.   '2015.

                                              Notary Public, State of Texas

                                  -4-
Attachment 1
                                   CAUSE NO. 18314

GEORGE GREEN                                    §
                                                §
                                                §
v.                                              §
                                                §
PORT OF CALL HOMEOWNERS                         §
ASSOCIATION, RANDOLPH HARIG,                    §
NANCY CAROTHERS, AND PHILLIP                    §
JACOBS, JOHN ROSS BUCHHOLTZ,                    §           33rd JUDICIAL DISTRICT
AND RICHARD PAT MCELROY                         §

             DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO ENFORCE PROTECTIVE ORDER

TO THE HONORABLE" JUDGE OF SAID COURT:
       COME NOW, Port of Call Homeowners Association, Randolph Harig, Phillip
Jacobs, John Ross Buchholtz and Richard Pat McElroy, Defendants in the above-entitled
and numbered cause, and file this their Motion to Enforce Protective Order and in
support thereof, would respectfully show unto the court as follows:
                                           I.
      On August 14, 2014 Defendants and Plaintiff appeared, by and through their
counsel, before Judge Garrett on various issues including Defendants' Molion for
Protective Order.   Given Plaintiff's unreasonable, overly burdensome and abusive
requests for documents, Judge Garrett granted Defendants' Motion for Protective Order
and ruled that Plaintiff was no longer allowed to pepper Defendants with document
requests and, in turn, Defendants had to supplement production of the Port of Call
Homeowners Association's records every forty-five (45) days from the date of the
Order. See Exhibit "A".
      Defendants have gone to great lengths and.costs to abide by the Judge's ruling.
Since the hearing Defendants have supplemented their production with over 1,400
pages of documents. See Exhibit "B"; documents produced on August 22, 2014 Bates
    Labeled POC 6217-6253, and documents produced Bates Labeled POC 6254-7641 on
September 11, 2014.
         It has been less than sixty (60) days since the Judge's ruling and Plaintiff has
already violated the Protective Order by sending a threatening "Demand for
Information" to Defendants directly. See Exhibit "C." Not only is this request a clear
violation of the Court's ruling, it demands that Defendants create documents 1, which
they are under no obligation to do. Furthermore, Plaintiff already has the only
document he specifically requests in violation of the Protective Order because
Defendant produced it to him on Sept. 11, 2014. See Exhibit "D."
         The Court went to great pains to clarify the duties and obligations of Plaintiff
and Defendants in the hearing on August 14, 2014 and in his subsequent Order. The
Court went so far as to state that any party in violation of his ruling would be
sanctioned. Plaintiff knows that his actions are in clear violation of the Judge's Order.
Defendants now seek enforcement of Judge Garrett's ruling as well as sanctions against
Plaintiff. Defendants seek sanctions against Plaintiff to compensate Defendants for
bringing this motion and to deter continued violations of the Order.
         WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Defendants would respectfully
request that the foregoing Motion to Enforce Protective Order be sustained, that the
Court enter an order setting forth the sanction levied against Plaintiff, and for such
other and further relief to which the Defendants may show themselves justly entitled, at
law or in equity.

1
 "As soon as possible but not later than 3 days from the receipt of this demand for
information provide a detailed summary of any and all statements verbal or by written
handout provided to members in attendance." Page 1-2 <[7,8,9.
Respectfully submitted,

WRIGHT & GREENHILL, P .C.
221 W. 6th Street, Suite 1800
Austin, Texas 78701
512/ 476-4600
512/ 476-5382 (Fax)
rl2ri!:!gle@w-g.com
hcoughlin@w-g.com

By:~~~~~~~~~­
   Brantley Ross Pringle, Jr.
   State Bar No. 16330001
   Heidi A. Coughlin
   State Bar No. 24059615

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS
PORT OF CALL HOMEOWNERS
ASSOCIATION, RANDOLPH HARIG,
PHILLIP JACOBS, JOHN ROSS
BUCHHOLTZ AND RICHARD PAT
MCELROY
                             CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing has been
served on the following via facsimile or certified mail, return receipt requested, in
accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, on this 10th day of October, 2014.

David Junkin
LAW OFFICE OF DAVID JUNKIN
P. 0. Box 2910
Wimberley, TX 78676

L. Hayes Fuller, III
NAMAN HOWELL SMITH & LEE, P.L.L.C
400 Austin Avenue, Suite 800
P. 0. Box 1470
Waco, TX 75703-1470

                                              Heidi A. Coughlin
                                                                     \lt..t..HI\   ~/1Vt   ••\VI ,,,_..., .• ,.•I .,., • • •

                                                                                                F~LElfJ

                                                                                               AUG 111 201'1
                                   CAUSE NO. 18314                   A1, j ; ;1..              J:: __.O'CLOCK ~--J}.;_M
                                                                       \             .~J.W                                     iJf~
GEORGE GREEN                                    §                IN:~~-D~TRIC~~~;;;                                              \
                                                §
                                                §
v                                               §              OF LLANO COUNTY, TEXAS
                                                §
PORT OF CALL HOMEOWNERS                         §
ASSOCIATION, RANDOLPH HARIG,                    §
NANCY CAROTHERS, AND PHILLIP                    §.
JACOBS, JOHN ROSS BUCHHOLTZ,                    §                 33·• JUDICIAL DISTRICT
AND RICHARD PAT MCELROY                         §

    ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO COMPEL AND PROTECTIVE
                             ORDER

       On this 14th day of August came for consideration in the above-styled and
numbered cause, Defendant's Motion to Compel and Motion for Protective Order.
                                           I.
      This Court having heard the arguments of both Plaintiff and Defendants agrees
to GRANT Defendants' Motion to Compel George Green .and 6arlan GreBJ.'b.s.
Depwition~ This Court ORDERS George Green and Garland Green be presented for

deposi.tion on or before   ~                        2014.   ~ti:ortaJ.l..y-t;-l'flnl~
Dfilerrda~~-ees-                        against tli"eftaimiff in the                  tti''tt€H:l~

~~~6)-"'v'ith tho~eeeffti.Rg-dtte-and:-

p~'l'hti(.>-l"J'rrl\ir-rt-~'1'W'1fh>-Hl4~rff~ecn      do not appear fei;:      depooi~s--s-Ea.recl

~
                                          II.
      This Court also GRANTS Defendants' Protective Order and this Court ORDERS
that documents previously produced to Plaintiff in a digital format are sufficient to
comply with. Def.endants' requirements for production of documents. Further, thfo1

                                                                   l:XHIBIT ~
Court 3n~S that Defe~dants only need to supplement documents to Plainpff I~~>J
fil~1~nr:tbeginning on     A»Jbt 1l1.vv io1 ~ .w~ ~ ~..Jrfaa~
                                        1
                                                          ~ l(yJ        '
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                                                                                           .c.J_
                                                                                            • "\
      :r1:-IBr-t.l:0fflible-thh~a-P~Y.-....

      SIGNED this      (   lf~day of 4-v3Af'Y'I- ,2014.

                                             ~~~-------··
                                        ~ieSiCfu1g
                                        (                                     (
                                        ·~

                                             WRJGHT & GREENHJLL,       P.C.
                                                 ATTORNEYS AT LAW

     221 WEST 6TH STREET, SUITE 1 800                                                TELEPHONE 512/476-4600
        AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701-3495                                                      FACSIMILE 51 2/ 476-5382
         P.O. Box 21 66 • 78768                                                      DIRECT DIAL 51 2/708-5234

            HEIDI A. COUGHLIN                                                         E·MAIL   HCOUGHLIN @W-G.COM
                                                  August 22, 2014

        VIA FACSIMILE and CMIRRR
        Mr. David Junkin
        LAW OFFICE OF DAVID JUNKIN
        P. 0. Box 2910
        Wimberley, TX 78676

                RE:     Cause No. 18,314; George Green v. Port of Call Homeowners Association,
                        Randolph Harig, Nancy Carothers, Philip Jacobs, et al; In the District Court of
                        Llano County, Texas 33rd Judicial District
                        Our File No. 9792-43682

        Dear Mr. Junkin:

                Please find enclosed the following documents in connection with this matter:

                I. Defendants Port of Call Homeowners Association (Incorporated), Pat McElroy, John
                   Buchholtz, Phillip Jacobs and Randy Harig's Supplemental documents POC 6217 -
                   POC 6253.

                                                      Sincerely,

                                                      Wright & Greenhill, P.C

                                                      By: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
                                                          Heidi A. Coughlin
       HAC/scb
       enclosures
       cc: L. Hayes Fuller, III - VIA REGULAR MAIL
.,

                                                                                  EXHIBlT I
       11 Comple.te items 1, 2, and 3. Also complete
          item 4 if Restricted Delivery is desired.
       111 Print your name and address on the reverse
          so that we can return the card lo you.
       111 Attach this card to the back of the maflpiece,
          or on the front ff space permits.
                                                            D. Is delivery address different from item 1?
       1. Artie le Addressed to:                               If YES, enter delivery address below:

      ~\~~\'-~~
     ' ~ -G ,{hoy::          2 °\ \ 0
      V\~b(_r-\'-\ ~ ige:,t b                               3. Service Type
                                                                    ertified Mail    D   Express Mail
                                                                    egistered       ~Return Receipt for Merchandi~t
                                                               D Insured Mail        OC.O.D.
                                                            4. Restricted Delivery? (Extra Fee)             D Yes
      2
          ....   70D9     ·-1410 DD 01 6 2 2 3 8 4 4 0
      PS Form    3811, July 1999                                                                        102595·00·1.1·0952

                                                                   \                                          ;~~
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                                            **           Transmit                            Conf. Report                                      **
            P. 1                                                                                                                            Aug 22 2014   16:12
            Line                              WRIGHT&GREENHILL                               Fax:5124767357

                     Fax/Phone Number                                         Mode             Start              Time          Page Result           Note

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