Veronica L. Davis and James A. Davis v. State Farm Lloyds Texas and Gerald Krouse ( 2016 )


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  •                                                                              ACCEPTED
    03-16-00091-CV
    13096560
    THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
    AUSTIN, TEXAS
    10/6/2016 10:51:57 AM
    JEFFREY D. KYLE
    CLERK
    NO. 03-16-00091-CV
    FILED IN
    3rd COURT OF APPEALS
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS        AUSTIN, TEXAS
    FOR THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS10/6/2016 10:51:57 AM
    DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN     JEFFREY D. KYLE
    Clerk
    JAMES A. DAVIS AND VERONICA L. DAVIS
    Appellants,
    v.
    STATE FARM LLOYDS TEXAS AND GERALD KROUSE,
    Appellees.
    On Appeal from the 250th
    Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas
    BRIEF OF APPELLEE, GERALD KROUSE
    APPELLEE REQUESTS ORAL ARGUMENT
    Gregory A. Whigham
    State Bar No. 21266800
    MacINNES, WHIGHAM &
    SIEFKEN, L.L.P.
    3305 Northland Drive, Suite 205
    Austin, TX 78731
    (512) 477-6813 Telephone
    (512) 477-7573 Facsimile
    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
    GERALD KROUSE
    NO. 03-16-00091-CV
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
    DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
    JAMES A. DAVIS AND VERONICA L. DAVIS
    Appellants,
    v.
    STATE FARM LLOYDS TEXAS AND GERALD KROUSE,
    Appellees.
    BRIEF OF APPELLEE, GERALD KROUSE
    TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:
    Appellee, GERALD KROUSE respectfully presents this his Brief of Appellee
    in support of the Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, signed on January
    19, 2016, by the 345th District Court, Travis County, Texas, and in support of the
    preceding Order, signed on November 16, 2015, by that same District Court (which
    Order dismissed Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, following Plaintiffs/Appellants’
    Notice of Non-Suit), and respectfully represents the following:
    i
    IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
    Appellants/Plaintiffs:     James A. Davis and Veronica L. Davis
    Trial/Appellate Counsel:   Veronica L. Davis
    State Bar No. 05557300
    Law Office of Veronica L. Davis
    226 N. Mattson
    West Columbia, Texas 77486
    Telephone: 979-345-2953
    Facsimile: 979-345-5461
    Appellee/Co-Defendant:     Gerald Krouse
    Trial/Appellate Counsel:   Robert A. MacInnes
    State Bar No. 12760550
    Gregory A. Whigham
    State Bar No. 21266800
    MacINNES, WHIGHAM & SIEFKEN, L.L.P.
    3305 Northland Drive, Suite 205
    Austin, TX 78731
    Telephone: 512-477-6813
    Facsimile: 512-477-7573
    Appellee/Co-Defendant:     State Farm Lloyds Texas
    Trial/Appellate Counsel:   Edward F. Kaye
    State Bar No. 24012942
    Skelton & Woody
    248 Addie Roy Rd., Ste. B-302
    Austin, Texas 78746
    Telephone: 512-651-7000
    Facsimile: 512-651-7001
    ii
    PARTY REFERENCES
    References to Appellee, Gerald Krouse, will sometimes be “Krouse”
    References to Appellee, State Farm Lloyds Texas, will sometimes be “State Farm”
    CITATION REFERENCES
    Clerk’s Record will be cited as “CR”.
    Supplemental Clerk’s Record will be cited as “SCR”.
    iii
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    IDENTITY OF PARTIES & COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
    PARTY REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
    CITATION REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
    INDEX OF AUTHORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
    STATEMENT OF FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
    SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
    ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
    A. The Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, signed on January 19,
    2016, by the 345th District Court, Travis County, Texas, and the preceding
    Order, signed on November 16, 2015, by that same District Court (which Order
    dismissed Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, following Plaintiffs/Appellants’ Notice
    of Non-Suit), are final, disposing of all issues in that Cause Number . . . . . 3, 6
    B. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to allow venue transfer once the
    previous severance order was granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 8
    C. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Vacating Prior “Order” &
    Order on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Sanctions, Motion to Compel, and Motion for
    Continuance, signed on July 15, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 8
    D. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to grant a continuance in Cause No.
    D-1-GN-13-001724 on November 16, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 9
    iv
    E. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion
    to Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 10
    F. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Sustaining Contest to
    Affidavit of Indigence Inability to Pay Fees and Related Costs of Appeal, signed
    on March 8, 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 10
    G. There is nothing in the record before this Honorable Appellate Court to
    demonstrate that the Court made any “determination of mistake” that allegedly
    forced Plaintiffs/Appellants to non-suit Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 . . 5, 11
    CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
    PRAYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
    v
    INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
    CASES
    Ashpole v. Millard, 
    778 S.W.2d 169
    (Tex. App-Houston [1st Dist.]) . . . . . . . . . . 7
    Brainard v. Trinity Universal Ins. Co., 
    216 S.W.3d 809
    (Tex. 2006) . . . . . . . . . . 7
    Couch Mortgage Company v. Roberts, 
    544 S.W.2d 944
    (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.]
    1977) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
    Hjalmarson v. Langley, 
    840 S.W.2d 153
    (Tex. App.-Waco 1992) . . . . . . 7, 10, 11
    Lentino v. Front National Bank, 
    159 S.W.3d 651
    (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.])
    .................................................................. 7
    McClendon v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 
    796 S.W.2d 229
    (Tex. App.-El Paso 1990) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 12
    United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company v. Beuhler, 
    597 S.W.2d 523
    (Tex.
    App.-Beaumont 1980) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
    vi
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE
    Nature of the case. The Plaintiffs/Appellants brought Cause No. D-1-GN-12-
    004077 in the 345th District Court, Travis County, Texas, against both
    Defendants/Appellees, asserting a right to tort and contractual damages relating to
    three automobile claims and two homeowner claims [CR: 4-28].
    Course of proceedings. The Trial Court subsequently signed its Order, on May
    22, 2013, which essentially severed the automobile claims from the homeowner
    claims [CR: 41-43]. The latter remained in Cause No. D-1-GN-12-004077, and the
    former were assigned to a newly created Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, in the 250th
    District Court. Furthermore, that same Order abated all contractual and extra-
    contractual claims in Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724.
    Trial Court Disposition. The Trial Court signed its Order Denying Plaintiffs’
    Motion to Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016, and its preceding Order, signed on
    November 16, 2015, (which Order dismissed Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724,
    following Plaintiffs/Appellants’ Notice of Non-Suit) [CR: 282; 318].
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
    This Defendant/Appellee contends that oral argument, which has been
    requested, would assist this Honorable Appeals Court in determining the issues
    involved in this appeal by the Appellant. Therefore, oral argument should be
    Page 1 of 15
    permitted.
    STATEMENT OF FACTS
    The Plaintiffs/Appellants brought Cause No. D-1-GN-12-004077 in the 345th
    District Court, Travis County, Texas, against both Defendants/Appellees, asserting
    a right to tort and contractual damages relating to three automobile claims and two
    homeowner claims [CR: 4-28].
    The Trial Court subsequently signed its Order, on May 22, 2013, which
    essentially severed the automobile claims from the homeowner claims [CR: 41-43].
    The latter remained in Cause No. D-1-GN-12-004077, and the former were assigned
    to a newly created Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, in the 250th District Court [CR: 41-
    43]. Furthermore, that same Order abated all contractual and extra-contractual claims
    in Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 [CR: 41-43].
    The Trial Court signed its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, on
    January 19, 2016, and signed its preceding Order, on November 16, 2015, (which
    Order dismissed Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, following Plaintiffs/Appellants’
    Notice of Non-Suit) [CR: 318; 282; 280-281].
    Page 2 of 15
    SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
    A. The Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate and the preceding
    Order, dismissing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 are final,
    disposing of all issues in that lawsuit
    When the Trial Court signed its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate,
    and the preceding Order, dismissing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, all causes of
    action in that lawsuit were dismissed, including the previously abated ones.
    B. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to allow venue transfer
    once the previous severance order was granted
    The Trial Court did not err in refusing to allow venue transfer once the
    previous severance order was granted.
    There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court that the
    Plaintiffs/Appellants moved for a transfer of venue after the creation of Cause No. D-
    1-GN-13-001724.
    Furthermore, Travis County was the venue chosen by the Plaintiffs/Appellants
    when this lawsuit was originally commenced. There is no procedural rule permitting
    a plaintiff to move for a transfer of venue after that plaintiff has chosen the venue for
    the lawsuit.
    Page 3 of 15
    C. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Vacating Prior
    “Order” & Order on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Sanctions,
    Motion to Compel, and Motion for Continuance
    The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Vacating Prior “Order” & Order
    on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Sanctions, Motion to Compel, and Motion for Continuance,
    signed on July 15, 2015.
    The Trial Court, by signing that order, was modifying its previously signed
    order (regarding those issues), which was signed on July 9, 2014.
    Furthermore, this issue is completely irrelevant to the issues before this Court,
    regarding the finality of the Trial Court’s subsequent dismissal order following the
    non-suit by Plaintiffs/Appellants.
    D. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to grant a
    continuance in Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724
    on November 16, 2015
    There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court regarding a Motion
    for Continuance presented by the plaintiffs before the commencement of jury trial on
    November 16, 2015, and there is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court
    regarding any rulings by the Trial Court regarding any request for any continuance.
    Page 4 of 15
    E. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order
    Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate
    The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to
    Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016.
    It is within the sound discretion of the Trial Court to deny that Motion, because
    the Plaintiffs/Appellants did not present sufficient grounds to the Trial Court to
    support reinstatement of Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724.
    F. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Sustaining
    Contest to Affidavit of Indigence Inability to
    Pay Fees and Related Costs of Appeal
    The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Sustaining Contest to Affidavit
    of Indigence Inability to Pay Fees and Related Costs of Appeal, signed on March 8,
    2016, because sufficient grounds were presented to the Trial Court to support that
    Contest. This Honorable Appellate Court has already resolved this issue, by previous
    Order in this appeal.
    G. There is nothing in the record before this Honorable Appellate
    Court to demonstrate that the Court made any “determination
    of mistake” that allegedly forced Plaintiffs/Appellants to
    non-suit Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724
    There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court regarding any
    “determination of mistake” by the Trial Court which allegedly forced
    Plaintiffs/Appellants to non-suit Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724.
    Page 5 of 15
    ARGUMENT
    A. The Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate and the preceding
    Order, dismissing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724 are final,
    disposing of all issues in that lawsuit
    When the Trial Court signed its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate,
    and the preceding Order, dismissing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, all causes of
    action in that lawsuit were dismissed, including the previously abated ones.
    The underlying lawsuit originally bore Cause No. D-1-GN-12-004077, filed
    in the 345th District Court, Travis County, Texas [CR: 4-28]. That lawsuit contained
    causes of action for damages relating to three different automobile claims and two
    different homeowner claims [CR: 4-28]. Thereafter, the Trial Court considered the
    Motion to Sever and Abate Plaintiffs’ Extra-Contractual Claims, filed by
    Defendant/Appellee, State Farm. On May 22, 2013, the Court signed its Order, which
    granted that Motion [CR: 41-43]. That Order specified that the automobile claims
    were to be severed from the homeowner claims, and assigned Cause No. D-1-GN-13-
    001724 [CR: 41-43]. That is the lawsuit underlying this appeal. Furthermore, since
    the automobile claims included one claim for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists
    insurance benefits, two claims for personal automobile insurance benefits, and also
    included claims for extra-contractual damages by the plaintiffs, the Court, by that
    Order, properly abated the contractual and extra-contractual automobile claims until
    Page 6 of 15
    the resolution of the negligence claims being made against this Defendant/Appellee,
    Krouse. See, Brainard v. Trinity Universal Ins. Co., 
    216 S.W.3d 809
    (Tex. 2006);
    [CR: 41-43].
    When this lawsuit was reached for jury trial, the Plaintiffs voluntary filed their
    Notice of Non-Suit [CR: 280-281]. In that Notice of Non-Suit, the Plaintiffs made
    no attempt to reserve the abated contractual and extra-contractual causes of action
    [CR: 280-281]. Therefore, the entire lawsuit bearing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724
    was dismissed by the Trial Court’s Order, signed on November 16, 2015, which
    Order stated “...this case is DISMISSED” [CR: 282].
    The Plaintiffs thereafter presented their Amended Motion to Reinstate Cause
    [CR: 292-317]. On January 19, 2016, the Trial Court signed its Order Denying
    Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate [CR: 318]. Accordingly, the entire lawsuit bearing
    Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, including the abated issues therein, was dismissed.
    Lentino v. Front National Bank, 
    159 S.W.3d 651
    (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.]);
    Hjalmarson v. Langley, 
    840 S.W.2d 153
    (Tex. App.-Waco 1992); Ashpole v. Millard,
    
    778 S.W.2d 169
    (Tex. App-Houston [1st Dist.]), and United States Fidelity and
    Guaranty Company v. Beuhler, 
    597 S.W.2d 523
    (Tex. App.-Beaumont 1980).
    Page 7 of 15
    Therefore, neither the Trial Court’s Order dismissing Cause No. D-1-GN-13-
    001724 nor the Trial Court’s subsequent Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to
    Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016, were in any way interlocutory [CR: 282; 318].
    B. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to allow venue transfer
    once the previous severance order was granted
    The Trial Court did not err in refusing to allow venue transfer once the
    previous severance order was granted.
    There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court that the
    Plaintiffs/Appellants moved for a transfer of venue after the creation of Cause No. D-
    1-GN-13-001724.
    Furthermore, Travis County was the venue chosen by the Plaintiffs/Appellants
    when this lawsuit was originally commenced, under Cause No. D-1-GN-12-004077
    [CR: 428]. There is no procedural rule permitting a plaintiff to move for a transfer
    of venue after that plaintiff has chosen the venue for the lawsuit.
    C. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Vacating Prior
    “Order” & Order on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Sanctions,
    Motion to Compel, and Motion for Continuance
    The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Vacating Prior “Order” & Order
    on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Sanctions, Motion to Compel, and Motion for Continuance,
    signed on July 15, 2015 [CR: 96].
    Page 8 of 15
    The Trial Court, by signing that order, was simply modifying its previously
    signed order (regarding those issues), which previous order was signed on July 9,
    2014 [CR: 94-95].
    The Plaintiffs/Appellants rely incorrectly on Couch Mortgage Company v.
    Roberts, 
    544 S.W.2d 944
    (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1977). In Couch Mortgage
    Company, that appellate court was dealing with a final court order adjudicating the
    merits of the cause of action, as would a judgment. Couch Mortgage 
    Company, supra
    . Here, the Trial Court was resolving pre-trial issues relating to Plaintiffs’
    Motion for Sanctions, Motion to Compel, and Motion for Continuance [CR: 94-96].
    Furthermore, this issue is completely irrelevant to the issues before this Court,
    regarding the finality of the Trial Court’s subsequent dismissal order following the
    non-suit by Plaintiffs/Appellants.
    D. The Trial Court did not err in refusing to grant a
    continuance in Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724
    on November 16, 2015
    There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court regarding a Motion
    for Continuance presented by the Plaintiffs/Appellants before the commencement of
    jury trial on November 16, 2015, and there is no record before this Honorable
    Appellate Court regarding any rulings by the Trial Court regarding any request for
    any continuance.
    Page 9 of 15
    E. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order
    Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate
    The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to
    Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016 [CR: 318].
    It is within the sound discretion of the Trial Court to deny that Motion, because
    the Plaintiffs/Appellants did not present sufficient grounds to the Trial Court to
    support reinstatement of Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724. Hjalmarson v. Langley, 
    840 S.W.2d 153
    (Tex. App.-Waco 1992), and McClendon v. State Farm Mutual
    Automobile Insurance Company, 
    796 S.W.2d 229
    (Tex. App.-El Paso 1990).
    F. The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Sustaining
    Contest to Affidavit of Indigence Inability to
    Pay Fees and Related Costs of Appeal
    The Trial Court did not err in signing its Order Sustaining Contest to Affidavit
    of Indigence Inability to Pay Fees and Related Costs of Appeal, signed on March 8,
    2016, because sufficient grounds were presented to the Trial Court to support that
    Contest [SCR: 32].
    After the Plaintiff/Appellant, Veronica L. Davis, dropped her claim for
    indigency status, the other Plaintiff/Appellant, James A. Davis, filed a motion
    challenging the Trial Court’s order sustaining the contests to his indigency before this
    Page 10 of 15
    Honorable Appellate Court. By Order dated March 31, 2016, this Honorable
    Appellate Court denied that motion. Therefore, this issue has already been resolved
    by this Honorable Appellate Court.
    In the Appellant’s Brief, regarding this issue, the Plaintiffs/Appellants
    reference documents that are not part of the record that is before this Honorable
    Appellate Court, and, therefore, should not be considered (See, e.g., Appellant’s
    Brief, pp. 18, 20).
    G. There is nothing in the record before this Honorable Appellate
    Court to demonstrate that the Court made any “determination
    of mistake” that allegedly forced Plaintiffs/Appellants to
    non-suit Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724
    There is no record before this Honorable Appellate Court regarding any
    “determination of mistake” by the Trial Court which allegedly forced
    Plaintiffs/Appellants to non-suit Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, other than the
    matters asserted in the Motion to Reinstate Cause and Amended Motion to Reinstate
    Cause filed by the Plaintiffs/Appellants [CR: 292-317]. However, the allegations and
    attestations by the Plaintiffs/Appellants regarding this issue in those motions are
    vague, ambiguous, and factually in error [CR: 292-317].
    As stated above, the issue of reinstatement was addressed to the sound
    discretion of the Trial Court. Hjalmarson v. Langley, 
    840 S.W.2d 153
    (Tex. App.-
    Page 11 of 15
    Waco 1992), and McClendon v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company,
    
    796 S.W.2d 229
    (Tex. App.-El Paso 1990).
    The Trial Court denied reinstatement, in its Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion
    to Reinstate, signed on January 19, 2016 [CR: 318].
    CONCLUSION
    The orders of the Trial Court pertaining to dismissal of Cause No. D-1-GN-13-
    001724 after the non-suit by the Plaintiffs/Appellants, and pertaining to denying
    reinstatement of that lawsuit, were proper, and were within the sound discretion of
    the Trial Court.
    The Plaintiffs/Appellants have not presented a record before this Honorable
    Appellate Court relating to venue transfer, court order modification, continuance,
    contest to indigence, or “determination of mistake”, such that there is no basis for the
    Plaintiffs/Appellants to seek any remedy from this Honorable Appellate Court
    regarding those issues.
    Furthermore, this Honorable Appellate Court has already ruled upon the
    indigency issue herein, previously asserted by the Plaintiffs/Appellants in this appeal.
    PRAYER
    WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellee, GERALD KROUSE,
    respectfully prays the Order Denying Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reinstate, signed on
    Page 12 of 15
    January 19, 2016, by the 345th District Court, Travis County, Texas, and the
    preceding Order, signed on November 16, 2015, by that same District Court (which
    Order dismissed Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001724, following Plaintiffs/Appellants
    Notice of Non-Suit), be in all things affirmed, that Plaintiffs/Appellants take nothing
    against this Appellee, that this Appellee recover his costs, and for any and all other
    relief to which he may show himself justly entitled, at law or in equity.
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
    Defendant/Appellee, Gerald Krouse, pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure
    9.4, certifies that this document is in 14-point font or larger, and, according to the
    word count feature on WordPerfect, this document is 3,328.
    /S/ Gregory A. Whigham
    ________________________________
    Gregory A. Whigham
    Page 13 of 15
    Respectfully submitted,
    MacINNES, WHIGHAM & SIEFKEN, L.L.P.
    3305 Northland Drive, Suite 205
    Austin, TX 78731
    512-477-6813 Telephone
    512-477-7573 Facsimile
    /S/ Gregory A. Whigham
    By:_______________________________
    Gregory A. Whigham
    State Bar No. 21266800
    gwhigham@mwstx.com
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE,
    GERALD KROUSE
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
    I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Brief of Appellee,
    Gerald Krouse was served on the parties listed below by the method indicated on this
    6th day of October, 2016.
    /S/ Gregory A. Whigham
    ________________________________
    Gregory A. Whigham
    Page 14 of 15
    By Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested and Facsimile:
    Ms. Veronica L. Davis
    Law Office of Veronica L. Davis
    226 N. Mattson
    West Columbia, Texas 77486
    Mr. Edward F. Kaye
    Skelton & Woody
    248 Addie Roy Rd., Ste. B-302
    Austin, Texas 78746
    Page 15 of 15