Document for SCHRAM ET AL V VENTAS ET AL

• 
• 
• 
• 

						
                                
Preview
                                3/4/2015 10:19:37 AM
Velva L. Price
District Clerk
Travis County

CAUSE NO. D-1-GN-14-005444 D-1-GN-14-005444

SCHRAM MCDONNELL, LLC DBA IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
AUSTIN ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALISTS;
RICHARD SCHRAM, MD, PA; RICHARD
SCHRAM, MD, INDIVIDUALLY;
GEORGE MUNDANTHANAM, MD, PA;
GEORGE MUNDANTHANAM, MD,
INDIVIDUALLY; JOSH CRUM, MD, PA;
JOSH CRUM, MD, INDIVIDUALLY;
MARK MCDONNELL, DPM, PA; MARK
MCDONNELL DPM, INDIVIDUALLY;
SOUTH OAKS FAMILY MEDICINE, PA;
GEOFFREY COX, MD, INDIVIDUALLY;
AND ASHLEY STEIGLER, MD,
INDIVIDUALLY

TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS

345" JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Vs.

:
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
PLAINTIFFS, §
§
§
§
VENTAS, INC.; LILLIBRIDGE §
HEALTHCARE REAL ESTATE TRUST, $
LP; LHRET ASCENSION AUSTIN §
PARTNER GP, LLC; LHRET ASCENSION §
AUSTIN PARTNER II GP, LLC; LHRET :
ASCENSION AUSTIN, LP; LHRET 8
ASCENSION AUSTIN II, LP; THL 191 JV, §
LLC; LHRET 191, LLC; LILLIBRIDGE
HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC.; AND
DAN METEVIER §

§

§

DEFENDANTS.

DEFENDANTS’ ORIGINAL ANSWER

TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT:

COME NOW, VENTAS, INC.; LILLIBRIDGE HEALTHCARE REAL ESTATE
TRUST, LP; LHRET ASCENSION AUSTIN PARTNER GP, LLC; LHRET ASCENSION
AUSTIN PARTNER II GP, LLC; LHRET ASCENSION AUSTIN, LP; LHRET ASCENSION

AUSTIN II, LP; THL 191 JV, LLC; LHRET 191, LLC; LILLIBRIDGE HEALTHCARESERVICES, INC.; AND DAN METEVIER (hereinafter collectively “Defendants”), Defendants
in the above-entitled and numbered cause, and files this Original Answer and would respectfully
show the Court the following:
General Denial

Pursuant to Rule 92 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Defendants generally deny
each and every of Plaintiffs’ material allegations contained in Plaintiffs’ Original Petition, and
demand strict proof thereof by preponderance of the good and credible evidence.

Affirmative Defenses
In the alternative and without waiving the foregoing general denial, Defendants assert the

following Affirmative Defenses:

1. Plaintiffs’ claims are barred by the Statute of Frauds.

2. Plaintiffs’ claims, in whole or in part, are barred by applicable statute of
limitations.

3. Plaintiffs have failed to take reasonable steps to mitigate their damages.

4. Plaintiffs’ own conduct is the sole or a proximate cause of damages sustained, if

any, and as such Plaintiffs’ claims are barred, in whole or in part, due to Plaintiffs’ own
negligence.

5. Plaintiffs are estopped from making the claims that form the basis of Plaintiffs’
petition by the terms of the contract on which they base their allegations.

6. Defendants reserve the right to amend their Original Answer and assert additional
affirmative defenses as the claims of Plaintiffs are more fully disclosed in the court of discovery

in this litigation.

Defendant's Original Answer Page 2WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Defendants VENTAS,  INC.;
LILLIBRIDGE HEALTHCARE REAL ESTATE TRUST, LP; LHRET ASCENSION AUSTIN
PARTNER GP, LLC; LHRET ASCENSION AUSTIN PARTNER II GP, LLC; LHRET
ASCENSION AUSTIN, LP; LHRET ASCENSION AUSTIN II, LP; THL 191 JV, LLC;
LHRET 191, LLC; LILLIBRIDGE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC.; AND DAN METEVIER
pray that upon final hearing Plaintiffs take nothing, and that Defendants be awarded their costs
and such other and further relief to which Defendants may show themselves to be justly entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Lloyd E. Ferguson

LLOYD E. FERGUSON

STATE BAR NO. 06918150
Buddy.Ferguson@strasburger.com
STRASBURGER & PRICE, LLP
720 BRAZOS STREET, SUITE 700
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701-2974
(512) 499-3600

(512) 499-3660 Fax

ROGER H. STETSON (pro hac vice pending)
MATTHEW F. SINGER (pro hac vice pending)
roger.stetson@bfkn.com
matthew.singer@bfkn.com

BARACK FERRAZZANO KIRSCHBAUM &
NAGELBERG LLP

200 W. MADISON ST., SUITE 3900

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606

(312) 984-3100

(312) 984-3150 Fax

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS

Defendant's Original Answer Page 3CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on this the 4th day of March, 2015, the foregoing Original Answer,
General Denial, and Affirmative Defenses has been served upon the following counsel of record,
via electronic service pursuant to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure:

Donald R. Taylor

Isabelle M. Antongiorgi

TAYLOR DUNHAM AND RODRIGUEZ LLP
301 Congress Avenue

Suite 1050

Austin, Texas 78701
dtaylor@taylordunham.com

ima@taylordunham.com
ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFFS

/s/ Lloyd E. Ferguson
LLOYD E. FERGUSON

Defendant’s Original Answer Page 4
1621499.1/SPA/37253/0101/030415