On July 09, 2019 a Hearing was filed involving a dispute between American Bankers Insurance Company Of Florida, Avila, Dr. Nathaniel, Bruning, Trey, Central Mutual Insurance A S O Amanda Thier, Crawford, Maxine, Dallas Tattoo Llc, Daniels, Brenesha, Dyer, Spencer, Fahmy, Dylan, Fahmy, Kahlil, Finch, Jeremy, Flores, Mason, Garrison Insurance Company, Gomez, Joshua, Goulbourne, Devaughn, Griffin, Antonio, Hall, Stephanie, Hamamci, Edis, Hurst, Joseph, James, Chelsey, Janes, Chesea, Kearney, Shawn, Kerlee, Kacie, Kirkland, Patrick, Kirkland, Teresa, Lee, Tyra, Le, Vykim, Marshall, Tonian, Martinelli, Elena, Miller, Laura, Muirhead, Clay, Page, Brijanae, Peacock, Cody, Pittman, Justin, Ranchers And Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, Rattler, Tierney, Roberts, Abbey, Sawatski, Rebecca, Smith, Mikos, Stoll, Amanda, United Services Automobile Association, Usaa General Indemnity Company, Washington, Ebony, Watson, Trevor, Williams, Michele, Wint, Oraine, and Bigge Crane And Rigging, Co., Crocker Crane Rentals, L.P,, Elan Dallas City Lights Gp, Llc, Elan Dallas City Lights Owner, Lp, Gabriella Nationwide Llc, Gabriella Tower Contractor Series, Gabriella Tower, Llc, Greystar Development And Construction, Lp, Greystar Development & Construction, Lp, Greystar Development & Construction, L.P. - Gabriella Tower Contractor Series, Gru Comedil, S.R.L., Gru Comedil, S.R.L, Hilty, Casey "Robert", Housley Communications, Inc. D B A The Housley Group, Meeks+Partners, Co., Meeks + Partners, Co., Rcd Equipment, L.L.C. D B A Crocker Crane, Rcd Equipment, Llc D B A Crocker Crane, Terex Corporation, Terex Usa, Llc, Ultimate Crane Services, Llc, for DAMAGES (NON COLLISION) in the District Court of Dallas County.
For full print and download access, please subscribe at https://www.trellis.law/.
Please wait a moment while we load this page.
Preview
FILED 10/20/2022 4:23 PM JOHN F. WARREN COUNTY CLERK DALLAS COUNTY CAUSE NO. CC-19-04006-B MASON FLORES, IN THE COUNTY COURT §§§§§§§§§§ et a1, Plaintiffs, AT LAW NO. 2 vs. BIGGE CRANE AND RIGGING, Co. et a1. Defendants. DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO SET DEFENDANT’S RULE 166(G) MOTION FOR HEARING Defendant Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. (“Bigge”) submits the following Motion for Leave to set its pending Motion to Dismiss all of the remaining Plaintiffs’ Negligence and Gross Negligence claims under Rule 166(g). In support, Defendant respectfully shows as follows. I. Introduction In advance of the parties’ upcoming November 29, 2022 jury trial on the claims of Michelle Williams and James Kirkwood, Bigge filed a Rule 166(g) motion asking this Court to consider and rule on the legal issue of whether Bigge is vicariously liable for the alleged acts and omissions of Robert Hilty. The Court’s ruling on this issue will affect the potential liability of Bigge for the claims of all Plaintiffs in this case—not just those presently set for trial—and will affect the legal posture of all of the parties as they prepare for the upcoming trial. Accordingly, the Court’s expeditious consideration of and ruling on this issue would be beneficial and give some clarity to all parties concerning the issues that will be submitted to the jury.1 Moreover, as discussed below, Rule 166(g) motions are proper procedural vehicles for parties to present such legal issues for consideration before trial, as confirmed by the Texas Supreme Court. This Court’s staff has previously informed the parties that it may have some availability on November 9th or November l 1th (this last date currently more than 21 days away). Bigge’s counsel Will make itself available on either of those dates (or other dates) that are convenient for this Court. Bigge respectfully requests that this Court exercise its discretion to grant leave to conduct a brief oral hearing on Bigge’s pending motion—itself a mere 12 pages long—that should take no more than 20 minutes. II. The rules and controlling case law grant this Court discretion to take up the issues raised in Bigge’s pending motion before trial. Rule 166 governs pre-trial conferences and serves “to assist in the disposition of the case without undue expense or burden to the parties. . . .” TEX. R. CIV. P. 166(g). Subsection (g) provides that the trial court may consider “[t]he identification of legal matters to be ruled on or decided by the court.” Id. The Texas Supreme Court has held that “Rule 166(g) authorizes trial courts to decide matters that, though ordinarily fact questions, have become questions of law because ‘reasonable minds cannot differ on the outcome.”’ JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Orca Assets G.P., L.L.C., 546 S.W.3d 648, 653 (Tex. 2018) (emphasis added). Bigge will not repeat here the merits of its pending motion—but as set forth therein, it involves matters about which reasonable minds cannot differ. Only one party (Greystar) opposes this Court hearing Bigge’s pending motion prior to the scheduled pre-trial conference on November 29, 2022. In its counsel’s October 13th correspondence to this Court, however, defendants Greystar Development and Construction, LP, Gabriella Tower, LLC, and Gabriella Nationwide, LLC (collectively, Greystar) erroneously claim that Bigge’s pending motion “rehash[es]” a prior motion. This claim is incorrect. Bigge has not previously presented this motion or these arguments to this Court. Though similar, Rule 166 is not governed by Rule l66a’s notice and time constraints because Rule 166 motions are heard before trial, when both parties are presumed ready and familiar with the case. Walden v. Affiliated Computer Servs., Ina, 97 S.W.3d 303, 323 (Tex. App—Houston [14th Dist] 2003, pet. denied). In affirming a trial court’s pretrial matter-of-law rulings under Rule 166(g), one court of appeals explained as follows: Because Rule 166 expressly authorizes the trial court to rule on legal issues before trial, we find no error in the trial court’s procedure for disposing of various claims and defenses as a matter of law. Id. at 326. This Court certainly has the authority and discretion to do take up legal issues before trial, just as the courts in the authorities cited above, and Bigge respectfully requests that it do so. In any event, this Court may set Bigge’s motion for a brief oral hearing well in advance of the scheduled November 29th trial and still provide all parties with well-more than 21 days’ notice. III. Prayer For the foregoing reasons, Defendant Bigge Crane and Rigging Co., respectfully requests that this Court grant leave to consider its pending Rule 166(g) motion and set it for a hearing at the Court’s convenience, with notice to all parties. Defendant filrther requests all such other relief to which it has shown itself justly entitled. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Darrell Burger Lead Trial Counsel: Darrell L. Barger Texas Bar No. 01733800 dbarger@hartlinebarger.com HARTLINE BARGER LLP 1980 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1800 Houston, Texas 77056 (713) 759-1990 (713) 652-2419 facsimile And Brian Rawson State Bar No. 24041754 brawson@hartlinebarger.com Clayton J. Callen State Bar No. 24086068 ccallen@hartlinebarger.com HARTLINE BARGER LLP 8750 N. Central Expy., Suite 1600 Dallas, Texas 75231 Telephone: (214) 369-2 100 Facsimile: (214) 369-21 18 Co—Counsel: Jessica Z. Barger State Bar No. 2403270 R. Russell Hollenbeck State Bar No. 00790901 WRIGHT CLOSE & BARGER, LLP One Riverway, Suite 2200 Houston, Texas 77056 Telephone: 713-572-4321 Facsimile: 713-572-4320 hollenbeck@wrightclosebarger.com ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT, BIGGE CRANE AND RIGGING CO. CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE Bigge’s counsel conferred with counsel for Plaintiffs Michelle Williams and James Kirkwood regarding the relief requested in this motion, and Plaintiffs do not oppose the motion. Bigge’s counsel also sent an email on October 20, 2022 to Greystar’s counsel to determine if Greystar opposes this motion. At the time of filing, Greystar’s counsel has not responded With its position. /s/ Clayton J. Callen CLAYTON J. CALLEN CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on the 20th day of October, 2022, a true and correct copy of the foregoing instrument was electronically filed with the County Court at Law No. 2, Dallas County, Texas, using the electronic case filing system of the court. The electronic case filing system sent a “Notice of Electronic Filing” to all attorneys of records. /s/ Clayton J. Callen CLAYTON J. CALLEN 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. REGINA RAMLALL on behalf of Clayton Callen Bar No. 24086068 gramlall@hartlinebarger.com Envelope ID: 69429039 Status as of 10/21/2022 8:14 AM CST Associated Case Party: BIGGE CRANE AND RIGGING, CO. Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Darrell L.Barger dbarger@hartlinebarger.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Brian Rawson brawson@hartlinebargercom 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Clayton J.Callen ccallen@hartlinebarger.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Judy Vice jvice@hartlinebarger.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Courtney M.Kenisky ckenisky@hartlinebarger.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Jessica Z.Barger barger@wrightclosebarger.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT R. Russell Hollenbeck hollenbeck@wrightclosebarger.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Michael Adams-Hurta hurta@wrightclosebarger.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Case Contacts Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Matt Last mlast@cobbmartinez.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Jeff |.Nicodemus jnicodemus@cobbmartinez.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Justin Roy jroy@cobbmartinez.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Christopher J.Simmons csimmons@lyons-simmons.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Clifford Harrison charrison@munsch.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Debbie Munoz DMunoz@munsch.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Justin KRatley jratley@munsch.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Nathan Vrazel nvrazel@munsch.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT L. DarleneMitchell dmitchell@bbarr.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Ruth Fields rfields@bbarr.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Katherine Compton 4652100 katherine.compton@lewisbrisbois.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Fernando P.Arias fred.arias@fletcherfarley.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 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. REGINA RAMLALL on behalf of Clayton Callen Bar No. 24086068 gramlall@hartlinebarger.com Envelope ID: 69429039 Status as of 10/21/2022 8:14 AM CST Case Contacts Jeffrey MTillotson jtillotson@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Jonathan RPatton jpatton@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Joseph Alrrobali airrobali@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Mark D.Hardy, Jr. dj.hardy@fletcherfarley.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Deborah Stick deborah.stick@fletcherfarley.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Abby Golman abby.golman@fletcherfarley.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Michael Lilley michael.lilley@lewisbrisbois.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Jason A. ltkin jaiteam@arnolditkin.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT JASON A.|TK|N e-service@arnolditkin.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT JASON A.|TK|N jitkin@arnolditkin.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT JASON A.|TK|N jitkin@arnolditkin.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT JOHNATHAN CCLARK efile.jon.clark@gvilaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Melody Johnson mjohnson@rameylawfirm.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Hardin Ramey hramey@rameylawfirm.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Susie Wade swade@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Michael P.Lyons mlyons@lyons-simmons.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Zach Mayer zmayer@mayerllp.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Edward Johnson ejohnson@mayerllp.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Kira Lytle klytle@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Irma Prado lrma.P@glasheenlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT RYAN MPARKS rparks@lafitteparks.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT PATTI KILGORE pkilgore@fo|ey.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT JASON A.|TK|N jaiteam@arnolditkin.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Jonathan H.Cox jhc@coxpradialaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Troy J.Pradia tjp@coxpradialaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 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. REGINA RAMLALL on behalf of Clayton Callen Bar No. 24086068 gramlall@hartlinebarger.com Envelope ID: 69429039 Status as of 10/21/2022 8:14 AM CST Case Contacts Jeremy Mckey eservicejmckeylawfirm@gmail.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Craig Thomas Craig@mckeylawfirm.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Aaron Morin Aaron@mckeylawfirm.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Winston B.Line winston@|inelawfirm.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Wesley Nute wesley@nutelaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Paul B.Hines phines@dt—law.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Hardin R.Ramey hramey@rameylawfirm.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Steve Eason steve@tuckerlawcenter.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Glenn Tucker glenn@tuckerlawcenter.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Teresa Valcoviak Teresa.Valcoviak@fletcherfarley.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT CHARLES WATERBURY charles@waterburylawpc.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Yajaira Ramirez yramirez@bbarr.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Jeanne Thompson jeanne@atwoodmccall.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Doug Heuvel dheuvel@cstriallaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Cory l.ltkin jaiteam@arnolditkin.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Marie Cheung-Truslow marie@cheungtruslowlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Clint McCord clint@cheungtruslowlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT John Vanover john.vanover@lewisbrisbois.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Ryan S.MacLeod rmacleod@arnolditkin.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM ERROR Enrique Ramirez eramirez@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Benjamin LNabors bnabors@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Christopher C.White chris.white@lewisbrisbois.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Jeanette Adams jeanette.adams@lewisbrisbois.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Yolanda White yolanda.white@lewisbrisbois.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT wendy swartzell wendy.swartzell@fletcherfarley.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 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. REGINA RAMLALL on behalf of Clayton Callen Bar No. 24086068 gramlall@hartlinebarger.com Envelope ID: 69429039 Status as of 10/21/2022 8:14 AM CST Case Contacts Carolyn SBurton carolyn@anderson-cummings.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Mark Pickering mpickering@donatobrown.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Michael Campbell michael@linelawfirm.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Michael Marx mmarx@dt-law.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Davette Seldon dseldon@dt—law.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Aaron M.Pool apool@donatobrown.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Anita Malone records@lexitaslegal.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Anita Malone records@lexitaslegal.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Anita Malone records@lexitaslegal.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Charles Rice crice@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Lorie Taylor ltaylor@mayerllp.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Nathaniel Buchheit nbuchheit@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Anne Johnson ajohnson@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Suzanne Le Blanc sleblanc@lyons-simmons.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Kelli Bills kbills@tillotsonlaw.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Seth MAnderson seth@anderson—cummings.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Mary ChristianBarr mcbarr@bbarr.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT John HolmanBarr jbarr@bbarr.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT Carol Chambers cchambers@bbarr.com 10/20/2022 4:23:04 PM SENT