in Re: Phil Cauley ( 2014 )

NO. 12-14-00028-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS
IN RE: §
PHIL CAULEY, § ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
RELATOR §
MEMORANDUM OPINION
By petition for writ of mandamus, Phil Cauley challenges the trial court’s order granting
presuit discovery.1 The real party in interest is Efficien Technology, L.L.C. We conditionally
grant the petition.
BACKGROUND
Efficien is the successor in interest to Natural Resource Recovery, Inc. (NRR), and
Cauley is a former employee of NRR. While working at NRR, Cauley helped develop a product
identified as a ―carbonator.‖ Cauley assigned NRR his rights to the intellectual property related
to the carbonator.
Since he left NRR’s employment, Cauley and NRR have had a rather litigious
relationship. The underlying dispute primarily related to whether Cauley had used NRR’s
intellectual property to develop a product similar to a carbonator. In the first of two previous
suits, Cauley agreed to be enjoined from possessing or using any property belonging to NRR,
including intellectual property. NRR agreed that it would not sue Cauley for one year. In the
second previous suit, Cauley and NRR reached a settlement agreement in which NRR released
Cauley from patent infringement claims.
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The respondent is the Honorable Randall L. Rogers, Judge of the County Court at Law No. 2, Smith
County, Texas.
Efficien, who now owns NRR’s intellectual property, sent a private investigator to
Cauley’s new place of business. The investigator took photographs of a product that Efficien
believes is substantially similar to a carbonator. As a result, Efficien is investigating several
potential claims against Cauley, including claims of unfair competition, patent infringement,
breach of fiduciary duty, and trade secret misappropriation.
As part of this investigation, Efficien filed a petition requesting Cauley’s deposition
before suit pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 202. Efficien set out six potential topics to
be addressed in the deposition: (1) construction of the device depicted in the photographs taken
by Efficien’s private investigator; (2) designs, blueprints, schematics, and any other material
providing guidance for the construction of the device; (3) identity of all sources of funding for
the construction of the device; (4) identity of all persons and entities having an interest in the
construction of the device; (5) expected, intended, and planned use of the device; and (6)
Cauley’s possession of, access to, or utilization of any information previously belonging to NRR.
Along with other documents attached to its petition as support for the requested deposition,
Efficien attached affidavits from the private investigator and NRR’s former chief executive
officer. Cauley objected to Efficien’s requested deposition, and argued that he could not respond
to questions on Efficien’s identified topics of inquiry without divulging privileged trade secrets.
The trial court held a hearing on the matter. At the hearing, Efficien presented the
following evidence: (1) two patents related to the carbonator, (2) three assignments executed by
Cauley in which he assigned to NRR any rights to three inventions related to the carbonator, (3)
the temporary injunction issued in the first suit between NRR and Cauley, (4) the settlement
agreement between the parties in that suit, and (5) the confidential settlement agreement in the
second suit involving NRR, Cauley, and several other parties. 2 Cauley presented his own
affidavit in which he claimed that he could not respond to Efficien’s questions regarding its
requested deposition topics without discussing trade secrets.
The trial court voiced concerns regarding the trade secret issue. In response, Efficien
summarized its position as follows:
2
The settlement agreement from this suit was offered subject to a protective order being signed. According
to the documents provided in this proceeding, the trial court never signed the protective order. In this court, Efficien
filed a motion to permit filing the settlement agreement under seal, which was overruled.
2
[W]hether or not we get into the actual technology, that’s really, you know, the icing on
the cake. The real purpose – the motivation here is to make sure that if we have to proceed – if
there is a simple explanation that puts out the fire, give us a chance to hear it.
On the other hand, if there is not and we do have to go to the next level, we want to do it
with the right answers on the floor.
Later in the hearing, Efficien clarified that it ―was not asking for the right to go into their trade
secrets and [was] asking the court to fashion a way to protect them from having to tell me their
trade secrets.‖ The trial court then asked Efficien to submit its proposed questions to opposing
counsel and gave Cauley time to object to the questions.
Efficien submitted its proposed questions to the trial court and also requested
authorization to ask follow up questions. Cauley responded with objections, and Efficien filed
amended proposed questions.
The trial court denied authorization of a number of Efficien’s proposed questions and did
not permit Efficien to ask follow up questions. But the trial court ordered Cauley to provide
written answers, under oath, to the authorized questions propounded by Efficien and to provide a
copy of the lease pertaining to the location where the device was being constructed. Cauley then
filed his petition for writ of mandamus in this court.
AVAILABILITY OF MANDAMUS
Ordinarily, mandamus will issue to correct a clear abuse of discretion where there is no
adequate remedy by appeal. In re Olshan Found. Repair Co., 328 S.W.3d 883, 887 (Tex. 2010)
(orig. proceeding); Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839-40 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding).
The party seeking the writ of mandamus has the burden of satisfying the prerequisites to
mandamus. See In re E. Tex. Med. Ctr. Athens, 154 S.W.3d 933, 935 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2005,
orig. proceeding).
In determining whether the trial court abused its discretion in resolving factual matters
or matters committed to the trial court’s discretion, we may not substitute our judgment for that
of the trial court and may not disturb the trial court’s decision unless it is shown to be arbitrary
and unreasonable. Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 839-40. Therefore, to show an abuse of discretion in
those matters, the relator must establish that the trial court could reasonably have reached only
one decision. Id. at 840.
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Review of a trial court's determination of the legal principles controlling its ruling is
much less deferential because a trial court has no discretion in determining what the law is or
applying the law to the facts. Id. Consequently, a clear failure by the trial court to analyze or
apply the law correctly constitutes an abuse of discretion. Id.
An order allowing a presuit deposition pursuant to Rule 202 is not a final, appealable
order. See In re Hewlett Packard, 212 S.W.3d 356, 360 (Tex. App.–2006, orig. proceeding
[mandamus denied]). Therefore, there is no adequate remedy by appeal, and mandamus is the
proper avenue to challenge the trial court’s order granting Efficien’s petition for Cauley’s presuit
deposition. See id. Consequently, our focus in this proceeding is whether Cauley has shown an
abuse of discretion by the trial court.
TRADE SECRETS
In his first issue, Cauley contends that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to
include in its order the findings required by Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 202. However,
Cauley also argues that the trade secret privilege is an absolute bar to presuit depositions
pursuant to Rule 202. Efficien disagrees that the trade secret privilege is an absolute bar to
presuit depositions, but makes no argument that it is entitled to discovery of Cauley’s privileged
trade secrets. Instead, Efficien asserts that Cauley failed to prove the deposition questions
propounded by Efficien and authorized by the trial court required the disclosure of Cauley’s
privileged trade secrets. We begin our analysis by addressing Efficien’s argument regarding the
sufficiency of Cauley’s proof.
Applicable Law
The party seeking protection of information by a claim of privilege has the burden to
plead and prove the applicable privilege. See In re Nance, 143 S.W.3d 506, 510 (Tex. App.—
Austin 2004, orig. proceeding). When the trade secret privilege is asserted as a basis for
resisting discovery, the trial court must first determine whether the requested information
constitutes a trade secret. In re Union Pac. R.R. Co., 294 S.W.3d 589, 591 (Tex. 2009) (orig.
proceeding). The party resisting discovery has the initial burden to establish that the information
sought is a trade secret. In re PrairieSmarts LLC, 421 S.W.3d 296, 305 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth 2014, orig. proceeding). Once the party resisting discovery meets this burden, the party
seeking the information must ―show reasonable necessity for the requested materials.‖ In re
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Bass, 113 S.W.3d 735, 738 (Tex. 2003) (orig. proceeding). This burden-shifting procedure
applies when a party resists discovery sought by a Rule 202 petition by claiming trade secret
privilege. PrairieSmarts, 421 S.W.3d at 306.
A trade secret is ―any formula, pattern, device or compilation of information which is
used in one’s business and presents an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who
do not know or use it.‖ Bass, 113 S.W.3d at 739. The Texas Rules of Evidence set forth the
trade secret privilege as follows:
A person has a privilege, which may be claimed by the person or the person’s agent or employee,
to refuse to disclose and to prevent other persons from disclosing a trade secret owned by the
person, if the allowance of the privilege will not tend to conceal fraud or otherwise work injustice.
When disclosure is directed, the judge shall take such protective measure as the interests of the
holder of the privilege and of the parties and the furtherance of justice may require.
TEX. R. EVID. 507.
We consider six factors to determine whether information is a trade secret: (1) the extent
to which the information is known outside of the business; (2) the extent to which it is known by
employees and others involved in the business; (3) the extent of measures taken to guard the
secrecy of the information; (4) the value of the information to the business and to its competitors;
(5) the amount of effort or money expended in developing the information; and (6) the ease or
difficulty with which the information could be properly acquired or duplicated by others. Union
Pac., 294 S.W.3d at 592. A party asserting a trade secret privilege need not establish that all six
factors support finding the information a trade secret because trade secrets do not always fit
neatly into each factor and because other factors may be relevant based on the circumstances of a
particular case. PrairieSmarts, 421 S.W.3d at 304.
Conclusory affidavits are no evidence of the assertions contained within them. See
Ryland Group v. Hood, 924 S.W.2d 120, 122 (Tex. 1996) (holding that conclusory affidavit
does not raise fact issue to defeat summary judgment). An affidavit is conclusory if it contains
bare, baseless opinions. See Elizondo v. Krist, 415 S.W.3d 259, 264 (Tex. 2013). Stated another
way, ―[a] conclusory statement is one that does not provide the underlying facts to support the
conclusion.‖ Haynes v. City of Beaumont, 35 S.W.3d 166, 178 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2000,
no pet.).
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Application
Here, Cauley relied on his own affidavit to establish the trade secret privilege. He filed
his affidavit after Efficien identified the six general topics it sought to cover in Cauley’s
deposition, but before Efficien submitted its proposed questions to the trial court. In his
affidavit, Cauley does not specifically address any of the six factors that we review to determine
whether information is a trade secret. Instead, Cauley merely recites the definition for ―trade
secret‖ under Texas law and asserts that Efficien’s proposed deposition topics would require
Cauley ―to divulge confidential information and trade secrets.‖
Efficien argues that the discovery authorized by the trial court does not inquire into
information that is a trade secret. For instance, at the hearing on presuit discovery before the
trial court, Efficien countered that the identity of all sources of funding is not a trade secret
because the identity of one’s funding source can hardly give one a competitive advantage over
one’s competitors. However, a compilation of individuals interested enough in a potential
business to invest in it can be a ―compilation of information which is used in one’s business and
presents an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not know or use it.‖ See
Bass, 113 S.W.3d at 738. Thus, we agree with Cauley that the information sought by Efficien
could possibly infringe upon trade secrets.
But Efficien also argues that Cauley failed to satisfy his burden to show that the
authorized discovery actually would infringe upon trade secrets because Cauley’s affidavit is
conclusory. With this argument, we agree. For the information to be given protection, Cauley,
as the party resisting the discovery, must provide evidence that it is a trade secret. Cauley’s
affidavit states his bare, baseless opinion that he would be required to divulge trade secrets. He
does not provide a factual basis for this conclusion. We can envision how the authorized
questions could elicit information that would meet the definition of a trade secret, but that is not
proof. Cauley’s conclusory affidavit does not satisfy his burden. Therefore, the trial court
properly could have determined that the questions that it authorized Efficien to ask Cauley did
not require the disclosure of information protected by the trade secret privilege.
PRESUIT DEPOSITIONS
Even though we have concluded that Cauley failed to prove the information sought by
Efficien’s questions required the disclosure of trade secrets, this does not end our inquiry. We
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must still decide whether the trial court’s authorization of presuit discovery was an abuse of
discretion.
Applicable Law
Presuit discovery is not intended for routine use. In re Jorden, 249 S.W.3d 416, 423
(Tex. 2008) (orig. proceeding). Presuit discovery creates practical and due process problems
because discovery demands are made of individuals or entities before they are told what the
issues are. Id. ―Courts must strictly limit and carefully supervise presuit discovery . . . .‖ In re
Wolfe, 341 S.W.3d 932, 933 (Tex. 2011) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam).
In recognition of these concerns, presuit discovery under Rule 202 is available only if the
trial court makes one of two findings: (1) allowing the petitioner the requested discovery may
prevent a failure or delay of justice in an anticipated suit; or (2) the likely benefit of allowing the
petitioner to take the requested discovery to investigate a potential claim outweighs the burden or
expense of the procedure. TEX. R. CIV. P. 202.4; Jorden, 249 S.W.3d at 423. When, as here, the
petitioner requests a deposition to investigate a potential claim, the trial court must find that the
likely benefit of allowing the petitioner to take the requested deposition to investigate a potential
claim outweighs the burden or expense of the procedure before it can authorize such discovery.
Patton Boggs, L.L.P. v. Moseley, 394 S.W.3d 565, 570 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, orig.
proceeding).
Presuit discovery under Rule 202 expressly requires that discovery be ordered ―only if‖
the required findings are made. In re Does, 337 S.W.3d 862, 865 (Tex. 2011) (orig. proceeding)
(per curiam). Thus, we are not permitted to deem the findings implied from support in the
record. Id. The trial court has no discretion to order presuit discovery without the required
finding and abuses its discretion when it does so. Patton Boggs, 394 S.W.3d at 571.
Analysis
Here, the trial court ordered presuit discovery but did not make the required finding.
Efficien argues two bases for excusing the trial court’s failure.
First, Efficien argues that we should ignore the guidance provided by the Texas Supreme
Court in In re Does and imply the necessary finding by the trial court based on the record. We
decline Efficien’s invitation. An explicit finding by the trial court is required for presuit
discovery. In re Does, 337 S.W.3d at 865.
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Second, Efficien argues that Cauley waived the trial court’s error when Cauley’s counsel
―approved as to form only‖ the trial court’s order. But it is well settled that a party’s approval of
an order as to form is not consent to the substance of the order. See Bion Constr., Inc. v.
Grande Valley Homes, L.L.C., Cause No. 04-09-00060-CV, 2009 WL 4669844, at *4 (Tex.
App.—San Antonio 2009, no pet.) (mem. op.). Instead, by approving an order as to form, the
party merely indicates that the order accurately sets forth the trial court’s ruling. Bexar Cnty.
Criminal District Attorney v. Mayo, 773 S.W.2d 642, 644 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1989, no
writ). A party who approves an order as to form ―waives no error which may be assigned against
the proceedings prior to or incident to the judgment.‖ Sigma Sys. Corp. v. Elec. Data Sys.
Corp., 467 S.W.2d 675, 677 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1971, no writ) (quoting McDonald, Texas Civil
Practice, § 17.10, p. 1336). Cauley did not waive his argument that the trial court failed to make
the required finding when his attorney approved the trial court’s order as to form only.
Efficien has not shown that the trial court’s failure to make the required finding can be
excused. Therefore, we hold that the trial court abused its discretion when it ordered presuit
discovery without the required finding that the likely benefit of allowing the petitioner to take the
requested deposition to investigate a potential claim outweighs the burden or expense of the
procedure. See Patton Boggs, 394 S.W.3d at 571.
DISPOSITION
For the reasons set forth above, we have concluded that the trial court abused its
discretion in authorizing the presuit deposition in this case. Accordingly, we conditionally grant
Cauley’s petition for writ of mandamus and direct the trial court to vacate its order granting
Efficien’s presuit deposition on written questions to Cauley. We trust that the trial court will
promptly comply with this opinion and order. The writ will issue only if the trial court fails to do
so within ten days after the date of the opinion and order. The trial court shall furnish this
court, within the time for compliance with this court’s opinion and order, a certified copy of its
order evidencing compliance.
BRIAN HOYLE
Justice
Opinion delivered July 23, 2014.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.
(PUBLISH)
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COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
JUDGMENT
JULY 23, 2014
NO. 12-14-00028-CV
PHIL CAULEY,
Relator
V.
HON. RANDALL L. ROGERS,
Respondent
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
ON THIS DAY came to be heard the petition for writ of mandamus filed
by PHIL CAULEY, who is the relator in Cause No. 62,356-A, pending on the docket of the
County Court at Law #2 of Smith County, Texas. Said petition for writ of mandamus having
been filed herein on January 23, 2014, and the same having been duly considered, because it is
the opinion of this Court that the petition is meritorious, it is therefore CONSIDERED,
ADJUDGED and ORDERED that the said petition for writ of mandamus be, and the same is,
conditionally granted.
And because it is further the opinion of this Court that the trial judge will
act promptly and issue an order vacating its order granting presuit discovery, the writ will not
issue unless the Honorable Randall L. Rogers, Judge of the County Court at Law #2 of Smith
County, Texas, fails to do so within ten (10) days from the date of this order.
It is further ORDERED that EFFICIEN TECHNOLOGY, LLC, pay all
costs incurred by reason of this proceeding.
Brian Hoyle, Justice.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.