Martin A. LeBlanc, Christopher J. Russo, Triple RRR Investments LLC, Basket Specialties LLC, Gulf Coast Wireless LLC, Longhorn Bits LLC, Prime 337 LLC, Russo Energy LLC, and Russo Exploration v. Superior Energy Services, Inc., Stabil Drill Specialties, L.L.C., and Sesi, L.L.C. ( 2020 )


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  • Abatement Order filed March 10, 2020
    In The
    Fourteenth Court of Appeals
    ____________
    NO. 14-20-00137-CV
    ____________
    MARTIN A. LEBLANC, CHRISTOPHER J. RUSSO, TRIPLE RRR
    INVESTMENTS LLC, BASKET SPECIALTIES LLC, GULF COAST
    WIRELESS LLC, LONGHORN BITS LLC, PRIME 337 LLC, RUSSO
    ENERGY LLC, AND RUSSO EXPLORATION, Appellants
    V.
    SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC., STABIL DRILL SPECIALTIES,
    L.L.C., AND SESI, L.L.C., Appellees
    On Appeal from the 295th District Court
    Harris County, Texas
    Trial Court Cause No. 2016-24818
    ABATEMENT ORDER
    The court has determined that this case is appropriate for referral to mediation,
    an alternative dispute resolution process. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§
    154.021—.073. Mediation is a forum in which an impartial person, the mediator,
    facilitates communication between parties to promote reconciliation or settlement.
    Id.§ 154.023(a). Any communication relating to the subject matter of the appeal
    made by a participant in the mediation proceeding is confidential. See Tex. Civ. Prac.
    & Rem. Code § 154.053. After mediation, the parties shall advise the court whether
    the case settled, or whether any further negotiation efforts are planned.
    The court ORDERS the appeal ABATED for a period of sixty days and refers
    the underlying dispute to mediation. Any party may file a written objection to this
    order with the clerk of this court within 10 days of the date of this order. See Tex.
    Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 154.022. If this court finds that there is a reasonable basis
    for the objection, the objection shall be sustained and the appeal reinstated on this
    court’s active docket. See 
    id. The court
    ORDERS that the mediation be held within 60 days of the date of
    this order. The court ORDERS that all parties or their representatives with full
    settlement authority shall attend the mediation process, with their counsel of record.
    The court FURTHER ORDERS that within 48 hours of completion of the
    mediation, the parties shall advise the court in writing whether the case settled.
    If mediation fully resolves the issues in the case, the court ORDERS the
    parties to file a motion to dismiss the appeal, other dispositive motion, or a motion
    for additional time to file the dispositive motion, within 10 days of the conclusion
    of the mediation.
    The court ORDERS the appellate timetable in this case suspended for 60 days
    from the date of this order.
    The appeal is ABATED, treated as a closed case, and removed from this
    court’s active docket for a period of sixty days. The appeal will be reinstated on this
    court’s active docket after sixty days. Any party may file a motion stating grounds
    for reinstating the appeal before the end of the sixty-day period.
    Any party may also file a motion to dismiss the appeal or other dispositive
    motion at any time. Any party may file a motion to extend the abatement period for
    completion of mediation or to finalize a settlement.
    PER CURIAM
    Panel consists of Justices Christopher, Wise, and Zimmerer.
    RULES FOR MEDIATION
    i.      Definition of Mediation. Mediation is a process under which an impartial person, the mediator, facilitates
    communication between the parties to promote reconciliation, settlement or understanding among them.
    The mediator may suggest ways of resolving the disputes, but may not impose his own judgment on the
    issues for that of the parties.
    ii.     Agreement of Parties. Whenever the parties have agreed to mediation they shall be deemed to have made
    these rules, as amended and in effect as of the date of the submission of the dispute, a part of their
    agreement to mediate.
    iii.    Consent to Mediator. The parties consent to the appointment of the individual named as mediator in their
    case. The Mediator shall act as an advocate for resolution and shall use his best efforts to assist the parties
    in reaching a mutually acceptable settlement.
    iv.     Conditions Precedent to Serving As Mediator. The mediator shall not serve as a mediator in any dispute
    in which he has any financial or personal interest in the result of the mediation. Prior to accepting an
    appointment, the Mediator shall disclose any circumstances likely to create a presumption of bias or
    prevent a prompt meeting with the parties. In the event that the parties disagree as to whether the Mediator
    shall serve, the Mediator shall not serve.
    v.      Authority of the Mediator. The Mediator does not have the authority to decide any issue for the parties,
    but will attempt to facilitate the voluntary resolution of the dispute by the parties. The Mediator is
    authorized to conduct joint and separate meetings with the parties and to offer suggestions to assist the
    parties achieve settlement. If necessary, the Mediator may also obtain expert advice concerning technical
    aspects of the dispute, provided that the parties agree and assume the expenses of obtaining such advice.
    Arrangements for obtaining such advice shall be made by the Mediator or the parties, as the Mediator
    shall determine.
    vi.     Commitment to Participate in Good Faith. While no one is asked to commit to settle their case in
    advance of mediation, all parties commit to participate in the proceedings in good faith with the intention
    to settle, if at all possible.
    vii.    Parties Responsible for Negotiating Their Own Settlement. The parties understand that the Mediator
    will not and cannot impose a settlement in their case and agree that they are responsible for negotiating a
    settlement acceptable to them. The Mediator, as an advocate for settlement, will use every effort to
    facilitate the negotiations of the parties. The Mediator does not warrant or represent that settlement will
    result from the mediation process.
    viii.   Authority of Representatives. PARTY REPRESENTATIVES MUST HAVE AUTHORITY TO
    SETTLE AND ALL PERSONS NECESSARY TO THE DECISION TO SETTLE SHALL BE
    PRESENT. The names and addresses of such persons shall be communicated in writing to all parties and
    to the Mediator prior to the mediation.
    ix.     Time and Place of Mediation. The Mediator shall fix the time of each mediation session. The mediation
    shall be held at the office of the Mediator, or at any other convenient location agreeable to the Mediator
    and the parties, as the Mediator shall determine.
    x.      Identification of Matters in Dispute. Prior to the first scheduled mediation session, each party shall
    provide the Mediator with confidential information in the form requested by the Mediator setting forth its
    position with regard to the issues that need to be resolved.
    At or before the first session, the parties will be expected to produce all information reasonably required
    for the Mediator to understand the issues presented. The Mediator may require any party to supplement
    such information.
    xi.     Privacy. Mediation sessions are private. The parties and their representatives may attend mediation
    sessions. Other persons may attend only with the permission of the parties and with the consent of the
    Mediator.
    xii.    Confidentiality. Confidential information disclosed to a Mediator by the parties or by witnesses in the
    course of the mediation shall not be divulged by the Mediator. All records, reports or other documents
    received by a mediator while serving in that capacity shall be confidential. The Mediator shall not be
    compelled to divulge such records or to testify in regard to the mediation in any adversary proceeding or
    judicial forum. Any party that violates this agreement shall pay all fees and expenses of the Mediator and
    other parties, including reasonable attorney's fees incurred in opposing the efforts to compel testimony or
    records from the Mediator.
    The parties shall maintain the confidentiality of the mediation and shall not relay on, or introduce as
    evidence in any arbitral, judicial, or other proceeding: a) views expressed or suggestions made by another
    party with respect to a possible settlement of the dispute; b) admissions made by another party in the
    course of the mediation proceedings; c) proposals made or views expressed by the Mediator; or d) the fact
    that another party had or had not indicated willingness to accept a proposal for settlement made by the
    Mediator.
    xiii.   No Stenographic Record. There shall be no stenographic record made of the mediation process.
    xiv.    No Service of Process at or near the Site of the Mediation Session. No subpoenas, summons,
    complaints, citations, writs or other process may be served upon any person at or near the site of any
    mediation session upon any person entering, attending or leaving the session.
    xv.     Termination of Mediation. The mediation shall be terminated: a) by the execution of a settlement
    agreement by the parties; b) by declaration of the Mediator to the effect that further efforts at mediation
    are no longer worthwhile; or c) after the completion of one full mediation session, by a written declaration
    of a party or parties to the effect that the mediation proceedings are terminated.
    xvi.    Exclusion of Liability. The Mediator is not a necessary or proper party in judicial proceedings relating to
    the mediation. Neither Mediator nor any law firm employing Mediator shall be liable to any party for any
    act or omission in connection with any mediation conducted under these rules.
    xvii.   Interpretation and Application of Rules. The Mediator shall interpret and apply these rules.
    xviii. Fees and Expenses. The Mediator's daily fee shall be agreed upon prior to mediation and shall be paid in
    advance of each mediation day. The expenses of witnesses for either side shall be paid by the party
    producing such witnesses. All other expenses of the mediation, including fees and expenses of the
    Mediator, and the expenses of any witness and the cost of any proofs or expert advice produced at the
    direct request of the Mediator, shall be borne equally by the parties unless they agree otherwise.
    Fourteenth Court of Appeals
    MEDIATORS REPORT
    Date: ____________________________
    Christopher A. Prine, Clerk
    301 Fannin, Room 245
    Houston, TX 77002
    Re:    Appellate number:
    Case style:
    In compliance with this court’s order dated ________________________________, I conducted a mediation
    proceeding in this case on _____________________________.
    The mediation [ did / did not ] result in a [ full / partial ] resolution of the matters in dispute. To my
    knowledge, further negotiation efforts [ are / are not ] planned.
    The parties and mediator have agreed that the mediator shall be paid as follows:
    $_______________________        paid by ______________________
    $_______________________        paid by ______________________
    $_______________________        paid by ______________________
    $_______________________        paid by ______________________
    Mediator:
    Address:
    Telephone
    E-Mail Address
    Return immediately after mediation to:
    14th Court of Appeals; 301 Fannin, Room 245, Houston, Texas 77002
    (713) 274-2800
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 14-20-00137-CV

Filed Date: 3/10/2020

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 3/10/2020