Court Opinion

ID: 3068465
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-15 23:53:59.197122+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:41:33.667870
License: Public Domain

In The
                                 Court of Appeals
                        Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo
                                  ________________________

                                       No. 07-15-00141-CV
                                  ________________________

                             JOSEPH E. MCCLAIN III, APPELLANT

                                                   V.

        DELL INC., SEATON CORP. D/B/A/ STAFF MANAGEMENT, APPELLEES

                            On Appeal from the 200th District Court
                                    Travis County, Texas
            Trial Court No. D-1-GN-14-005063; Honorable Darlene Byrne, Presiding

                                             May 19, 2015

                                              ORDER
                      Before CAMPBELL and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

        Appellant, Joseph E. McClain III, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, has

filed suit against Appellee, Dell Inc. four times over the same dispute.1 The first suit

resulted in summary judgment in favor of Dell on August 1, 2012. Litigation in a second

lawsuit resulted in the trial court granting Dell’s motion to dismiss with prejudice on May

        1
         From the clerk’s record, we discern that the underlying suits arose from a dispute after McClain
was terminated from employment with Genesis Networks Enterprises LLC. According to Dell, McClain
has never worked for Dell.
8, 2013, and after an appeal of the order was likewise dismissed, the Texas Supreme

Court dismissed McClain’s petition for review in 2014. A petition for writ of mandamus

was resolved against McClain in 2013.

        In 2013, a Travis County Justice Court judge dismissed McClain’s third suit

against Dell. On December 4, 2014, McClain filed his fourth suit against Dell which

resulted in the trial court granting an Order on Dell’s Motion for Sanctions, Motion to

Dismiss, and Motion for Declaration that Plaintiff is a Vexatious Litigant on February 3,

2015. McClain filed his pro se notice of appeal expressing “intent to appeal the trial

court’s judgment rendered on February 03, 2015.”2 The clerk’s record and reporter’s

record have both been filed. Appellant’s brief on the merits is due on or before June 10,

2015.

        Currently pending before this Court are various motions and objections, the gist

of which are difficult to decipher.           Specifically, McClain has filed the following

documents:

        (1) Plaintiff's 1st Amended Motion for Injunctive Relief/Motion for Stay of
        Judgment (filed April 15, 2015),

        (2) Appellant's Objection (the gist of which challenges the trial court’s
        finding that he is a vexatious litigant) (filed April 15, 2015, and May 6,
        2015),

        (3) Plaintiff's 2nd Amended Motion to Vacate Judgment/Motion to Dismiss
        Judgment under Sec. 6 Freedom of Expression, The Citizens Participation
        Act T.R.C.P.C. CH. 27. Actions Involving Certain Constitutional Rights
        (three copies electronically filed May 6, 2015),

        2
          The case was originally appealed to the Third Court of Appeals and then transferred to this
Court by the Texas Supreme Court pursuant to its docket equalization efforts. TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. §
73.001 (West 2013).

                                                 2
      (4) Relator's Motion for Mandatory Judicial Notice of Facts (filed May 6,
      2015), and

      (5) Plaintiff's 1st Amended Motion for Injunctive Relief/Motion for Stay of
      Judgment (filed May 6, 2015).

Included in McClain’s filings is a proposed order that the justices of this Court issue a

Stay of Judgment, a declaration that he is a victim of identity theft committed by Dell,

damages in the amount of $837,000.00 plus a 5% employer contribution under his

benefits plan, and attorney’s fees of $6,000.00.

      The Texas Constitution provides that courts of appeals shall “have original or

appellate jurisdiction, under such restrictions and regulations as may be prescribed by

law.” See TEX. CONST. art. V, § 6. The Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure establish

the procedural context within which we must exercise that jurisdiction. McClain has not

directed this Court to any constitutional provision, statute, or procedural rule

demonstrating this Court’s authority to grant the relief being requested. After a careful

review of the documents, we conclude McClain’s pending motions and objection should

be denied.

      It is so ordered.

                                                      Per Curiam

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