On July 29, 2022 a Motion,Ex Parte was filed involving a dispute between Ackin, Len, Adjei, Ella, Anderson, Preshas, Belmorris, Joshua, Berry, Ernest, Boozer, Antwuan, Bradix, Dorothy, Brewer, Chautaugua, Brown, Alvin, Brown, Katrina, Brown, Kenneth, Brown, Lauren, Bustillos, Orlando, Carnell, Johnny, Chester, Kjatha, Cisse, Sekou, Cisses, Sekou, Crawford, September, Crosley, Tyler, Davis, Kimberly, Diggs, Jake, Duncan, Ronnie, Elhadi, Jihad Abd, Ferguson, Lily, Fisher, Rudolph, Fisher, Sheila, Fonteno, Bobby, Ii, Gaston, Lastesha, Gates, Rondalus, Green, Ashley, Greene, Pamela, Harris, Jaquan, Harrison, Carol, Harrison, Charles, Harrison, Edward, Harrison, Joyce M., Harrison, Latasha, Harrison, Latoya, Harrison, Sharon, Henry, Donmonique, Howard, Rafael, Issah, Willie, Jackson, Marcus, Johnson, Robert, Johnson, Trenton, Jones, Brandon, Jones, Cedric, Jones, Cheryl, Jones, Edward, Jones, Toshi, Jones, Valencia, Kelley, Mildred, Kelley, Raven, Knight-Trigg, Tamara, Lara, Ephraim, Lard, Lazerick, Lee, Jada, Lee, Laquesha, Lee, Mariah, Lester, Ella, Luckey, Angela, Martinez, Jose, Mccray, Cornelius, Mcpherson, Aaron, Mcqueen, Dominika, Mims, Stacey, Mitchell, Benjamin, Montgomery, Jaqueisha, Mosley, Phyllis, Muoka, Margaret, Nixon, Latoya, Nzioka, Joseph, Oldacre, Donald, Oldacre, Glory, Olivarez, Gloria, Pena, Epifani, Pipkins, Sherry, Porter, Michelle, Purifoy, Wakeisha, Rodriguez, Amber, Rodriguez, Jazun, Ross, Edward, Scott, Benjamin, Scott, Hasani, Shelby, Kenneth, Smith, Jermaine, Smith, Sabrina, Stoker, Lester, Swope, Janice, Talley, Kelvin, The Estate Of Cheryl Jones, Tienda, Alexa, Tittel, Michael, Walker, Latasha, Ware, Addonais, Ware, Tara, Ware, T'Ara, Washington, Eartha, Wells, Kristy, West, Laquita, White, Carolyn, White, Darla, Whitemon, Bobby, Whitemon, Dorothy, White, Quinton, White, Sandra, Williams, Calap, Iii, Williams, Jackie, Jr, Woodard, Vickie, Young, Ariel, Young, Pamela, and Brewer, Chautaugua, Davis, Kimberly, Mars Partners, Ltd, Oncor Electric Delivery Company Llc, Oncor Electric Delivery Company, Llc, Poly-America Gp, Llc, Poly America Inc, Poly-America Inc, Poly-America International Inc., Poly-America Lp, for PROPERTY in the District Court of Dallas County.
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FILED 9/19/2023 3:06 PM FELICIA PITRE DISTRICT CLERK DALLAS CO., TEXAS Cassandra Walker DEPUTY CAUSE NO. DC-22-08610 LEN ACKIN, INDIVHDUALLY, ET AL.; § 1N THE DISTRICT COURT § PLAINTIFFS, § § § V. § 191st JUDICIAL DISTRICT § POLY-AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC; § POLY-AMERICA, INC; POLY-AMERICA § GP, LLC; POLY-AMERICA LP; ONCOR § ELECTRIC DELIVERY COMPANY, LLC; § AND MARS PARTNERS, LTD; § § DEFENDANTS. § DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS DEFENDANT POLY-AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC.’S, POLY-AMERICA GP, LLC’S, POLY-AMERICA LP’S, AND MARS PARTNERS, LTD’S MOTION FOR NO—EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT: Pursuant to Rule 166a(i) of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure DEFENDANTS POLY- AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC., POLY-AMERICA GP, LLC, POLY-AMERICA LP, and MARS PARTNERS, LTD (“POLY-AMERICA” or “DEFENDANTS”) files this their Motion for No-Evidence Summary Judgment, as follows: I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT This is a personal injury and property damage case in which over 100 plaintiffs sued Poly- America as a result of an August 19, 2020 fire (the “Incident”) which they allege caused “a significant quantity of toxic filmes to pour into the air, water, real property, and the surrounding area.” Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amended Petition, 1l 14 at 7. Plaintiffs have yet to designate an expert witness to opine that their alleged personal injuries or property damage were caused by the Incident. DEFENDANTS POLY-AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC.’S, POLY-AMERICA GP, LLC’S, POLY-AIVIERICA LP’ S, AND MARS PARTNERS, LTD’S MOTION FOR NO-EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT - Page 1 Plaintiffs were on notice when they filed this Action that they would be required to come forth with reliable expert testimony linking their alleged injuries to the Incident. Kerr-McGee v. Helton, 133 S.W.3d 245, 259 (Tex. 2004) (“The exacting standards for expert testimony set forth by the United States Supreme Court in Daubert, Joiner, and Kumho Tire, and by this Court in Robinson, Havner, and Gammill are well-known to Texas litigators.”) (citations omitted). Given the fact that there has been adequate time for discovery, coupled with the absence of any reliable expert testimony satisfying the essential element of causation, Poly-America is entitled to a no-evidence summary judgment. H. GROUNDS FOR MOTION Since filing this lawsuit over one year ago, Plaintiffs have yet to designate any expert witnesses with respect the essential element of causation. Accordingly, Poly-America is entitled to a no-evidence summary judgment. A. There has been adequate time for discovery. A no-evidence summary judgment is warranted where, as here, there has been “adequate time” for discovery. Specialty Retailers, Inc. v. Fuqua, 29 S.W.3d 140, 145 (TeX.App.—Houston [14”] Dist.] 2000, pet. denied) (“The rule does not require that discovery must have been completed, ,3, only that there was ‘adequate time ) (citation omitted). This lawsuit has been on file for over one year, yet Plaintiffs have yet to even designate any expert witnesses to opine with respect to the alleged linkage between the Incident and any personal injuries and/ or property damage. Ordinarily, in a case such as this, plaintiffs would designate experts in (1) air modeling to opine that the air quality was impacted, (2) a medical expert to opine that the decreased air quality resulted in adverse health effects, and (3) a real estate expert to opine that the decreased air quality negatively affected DEFENDANTS POLY-AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC.’S, POLY-AMERICA GP, LLC’S, POLY-AMERICA LP’ S, AND MARS PARTNERS, LTD’S MOTION FOR NO-EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT - Page 2 property values. See, e.g., Canon v. BP Products North America, Inc. , 2013 WL 55 142 84 (S.D. Tex. 2013) (denying class certification in lawsuit alleging that refinery emissions negatively affected property values Where expert real estate economist’s testimony was excluded as unreliable on Daubert grounds; Daubert objections to air modeling expert dismissed as moot). Here, plaintiffs have not designated any such experts. B. Plaintiffs have no evidence of the essential element of causation. Plaintiffs allege a variety of legal theories in support of their claims they suffered personal injuries and that there was permanent damage to their property. Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amended Petition, December 9, 2022. Common to both sets of legal theories is the essential element of causation; i.e., Plaintiffs must present expert testimony that the Incident caused both their personal injuries and the nuisance which negatively impacted their property. Mack Trucks, Inc. v. Tamez, 206 S.W.3d 572, 583 (Tex. 2006) (affirming trial court’s granting of Robinson/Havner objections and no-evidence summary judgment on causation grounds because “[e]xpert testimony is required when an issue involves matters beyond jurors’ common understanding”) (citation omitted); Merrell Dow Pharms., Inc. v. Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706 (Tex. 1997) (rendering judgment where expert testimony was unreliable and therefore legally insufficient to establish causation); DuPont v. Robinson, 923 S.W.2d 549, 560 (Tex. 1995) (affirming judgment rendered by trial court as a result of exclusion of plaintiffs’ causation expert). The alleged link between the Incident and personal injuries and/or property damage is one for which expert testimony is ordinarily required. Id. See also Canon v. BP Products North America, Inc, 2013 WL 5514284 (S.D. Tex. 2013) (denying class certification in lawsuit alleging that refinery emissions negatively affected property values where expert real estate economist’s testimony was excluded as unreliable on Daubert grounds). Pursuant to Rule l66a(i), Poly-America hereby moves for a no-evidence summary judgment on the grounds that Plaintiff has DEFENDANTS POLY-AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC.’S, POLY-AMERICA GP, LLC’S, POLY-AMERICA LP’ S, AND MARS PARTNERS, LTD’S MOTION FOR NO-EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT - Page 3 no admissible evidence of the essential element of causation. III. PRAYER Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, Defendants POLY-AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC., POLY-AMERICA GP, LLC, POLY-AMERICA LP, and MARS PARTNERS, LTD respectfully urge the Court to grant their Motion for No-Evidence Summary Judgment and enter final summary judgment in favor of Poly-America, and for such other and further relief to which Poly- America may be justly entitled. Respectfully submitted, By: /s/ David P. Herrick DAVID P. HERRICK State Bar No. 00785957 HERRICK & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 901 Main Street, Suite 3500 Dallas, TX 75202 Telephone: (214) 303-1258 Facsimile: (214) 303-1257 DHerrick@HerrickAssociates.com DEHAY & ELLISTON, L.L.P. GARY D. ELLISTON State Bar No. 06584700 PAM WILLIAMS State Bar No. 00791936 3500 Bank of America Plaza 901 Main Street Dallas, TX 75202-3736 Telephone: (214) 210-2400 Facsimile: (214) 210-2500 DESerVice@dehay.com ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS POLY-AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC., POLY—AMERICA GP, LLC, POLY- AMERICA LP, AND MARS PARTNERS, LTD DEFENDANTS POLY-AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC.’S, POLY-AMERICA GP, LLC’S, POLY-AIVIERICA LP’ S, AND MARS PARTNERS, LTD’S MOTION FOR NO-EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT - Page 4 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE The undersigned hereby certifies that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been served on Plaintiffs’ counsel and all known counsel of record Via electronic filing through File & ServeXpress on this the 19th day of September, 2023. /s/ Gary D. Elliston DEFENDANTS POLY-AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC.’S, POLY-AMERICA GP, LLC’S, POLY-ANIERICA LP’ S, AND MARS PARTNERS, LTD’S MOTION FOR NO-EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT - Page 5 Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system. The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules. Cris Page on behalf of Pamela Williams Bar No. 791936 cpage@dehay.com Envelope ID: 79715600 Filing Code Description: Motion - Summary Judgment Filing Description: Poly-America International, lnc.‘s, Poly-America GP, LLC‘s, Poly-America LP's, and MARS Partners Ltd.'s Motion for No Evidence Summary Judgment Status as of 9/20/2023 3:32 PM CST Case Contacts Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status John CStewart john.stewart@oncor.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Angie Ranton angela.ranton@oncor.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Pamela J.Williams pwilliams@dehay.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Cris Page cpage@dehay.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Diane Hallmark diane.hallmark@oncor.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Christine Harvey charvey@dehay.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Adam Bell AdamB@poly-america.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Madison Pyle mpyle@dehay.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Lance Travis LTravis@cobbmartinez.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Ruark Mershon RuarkM@poly-america.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Alexis Quezada alexisq@poly-america.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Anacorina Andrade aandrade@cobbmartinez.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Landon Dutra ldutra@cobbmartinez.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Associated Case Party: LEN ACKIN Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Jennifer Kinder 787837 jkinder@justcallkinder.net 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT ROCIO CASTRO RCASTRO@JUSTCALLKINDER.NET 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Damian Sullivent dsullivent@nesslerlaw.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT FRED NESSLER fwn@nesslerlaw.com 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system. The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules. Cris Page on behalf of Pamela Williams Bar No. 791936 cpage@dehay.com Envelope ID: 79715600 Filing Code Description: Motion - Summary Judgment Filing Description: Poly-America International, lnc.‘s, Poly-America GP, LLC‘s, Poly-America LP's, and MARS Partners Ltd.'s Motion for No Evidence Summary Judgment Status as of 9/20/2023 3:32 PM CST Associated Case Party: LEN ACKIN Griffin MCMiIIin gmcmillin@justcallkinder.net 9/19/2023 3:06:02 PM SENT