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CASE NO. 2019
SONIA GONZALEZ IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
RM TRANSPORT, INC. AND JAIME
AMAYA
270TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
DEFENDANT’S AMENDED RESPONSE TO PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL
COMES NOW, JAIME AMAYA Defendant in the above entitled and numbered cause,
and files this Response to Plaintiff Motion to Compel, and for such would respectfully show
unto the Court the following
This matter arises from an auto collision that took place on or around December 7, 2017
Harris County, Texas. On July 23, 2019, the Plaintiffs served their First Request for
Production (“attached as “Exhibit A”) and First set of Interrogatories (“attached as “Exhibit B”)
on the Defendant. On September 9, 2019, the Defendant properly responded to the Plaintiff’s
Requests for Production (attached here as “Exhibit C”), Interrogatories (attached here as “Exhibit
D”), and produced to the Plaintiff most of his non-privileged documents concerning the accident
On January 27, 2021, the Plaintiff sent a “conferral to the Defendant requesting that he
withdraw his objections and provide “full and complete answers” to Plaintiff’s First Request for
Production s. 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42,
43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48, and Plaintiff’s Fist set of Interrogatories s. 3, 4, 13, 16, 18 and 24
(attached as “Exhibit E”) Plaintiff’s letter failed to specify any real substantive issues with any
of the thirty-four (34) discovery responses it raised issue with. The letter simply stated that the
Defendant’s responses to Request for Production “contain inappropriate, blanket objections
and/or incomplete responses” and that the Defendant’s answers to Interrogatories “were
incomplete and contained improper objections.” On January 29, 2021, the Defendant sent a
response letter to the Plaintiff (attached as “Exhibit F”) declining to remove his properly asserted
objections and stating that he prefers to resolve discovery issues outside of court. In response, the
Plaintiff filed their Motion to Compel. On February 9, 2021, the Defendant sent a follow-up
letter to the Plaintiff (attached as “Exhibit G”) stating that the Plaintiff still has not provided
substantive arguments as to why the Defendant’s responses to discovery are insufficient, and
reiterating that it prefers to resolve discovery issues without court intervention. To this date, the
Plaintiff still has not provided substantive arguments as to why they believe the thirty-four (34)
discovery responses it raises issues with are insufficient.
Discovery is limited to matters relevant to the subject matter of a case. See Tex R. Civ.
Proc. 192.3(a); Texaco, Inc. v. Sanderson, 898 S.W.2d 813, 815 (Tex. 1995). Although the scope
of discovery is broad, requests must be narrowly tailored to avoid including tenuous material
while still obtaining necessary and pertinent information. In re CSX Corporation, National
Marine, Inc., and Vectura Group, 124 S.W.3d 149, 152 (Tex. 2003); see also Texaco, Inc. v.
Sanderson, 898 S.W.2d 813, 815 (Tex. 1995). Responding parties are required to make complete
responses to written discovery based on information reasonably available, however, they may
object and refuse to answer if a request is overbroad. In re Harris, 315 S.W.3d 685, 696 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, orig. proceeding); See Loftin v. Martin, 776 S.W.2d 145, 148-
150 (Tex.1989) (orig. proceeding).
Rule 192.4(a) limits discovery if the court determines that it is “obtainable from some
other source that is more convenient, less burdensome, or less expensive.” Tex R. Civ. Proc.
192.4(a). Rule 192.4(b) also limits discovery if “the burden or expense of the proposed discovery
outweighs its likely benefit, taking into account the needs of the case, the amount in controversy,
the parties’ resources, the importance of the issues at stake in the litigation, and the importance
of the proposed discovery in resolving the issues.” Tex R. Civ. Proc. 194(b). See In re Alford
Chevrolet-Geo, 997 S.W.2d 173, 180 (Tex. 1999) (orig. proceeding). In interpreting these rules,
the Texas Supreme Court has held that the scope of discovery is generally within the discretion
of the trial court, but such court must make an effort to impose reasonable limits on discovery
and a court abuses this discretion if it orders discovery exceeding that which is permitted by the
Rules of Procedure. See in Re CSX, 124 S.W.3d at 152; see also Dillard Dep’t Stores, Inc. v.
Hall, 909 S.W.2d 491, 492 (Tex. 1995); see also In Re American Optical, 988 S.W.2d 711, 713
(Tex. 1998); see also Sanderson, 898 S.W.2d at 815.
A. Defendant’s Objections and Answers to the Plaintiff’s Interrogatories are proper.
Generally, an interrogatory must be answered in full and the answering party must make
a complete response based on information reasonably available to them. Tex. R. Civ. P. 193.1.
However, a party may assert an objection to an interrogatory if said interrogatory asks for more
information than the rules permit. An Interrogatory is improper if it requires a party to marshal
all of its available proof or proof the party intends to offer at trial. Tex. R. Civ. P. 197.1; see also
In re Ochoa, No. 12-04-00163, 2004 WL 1192444, at *2 (Tex. App.—Tyler May 28, 2004, orig.
proceedings). Although inquiries into the general legal theories of a party are usually permitted,
an interrogatory cannot be used to require a party to state all of its factual and legal assertions.
Here, Plaintiff’s Interrogatories 3, 4, 13, and 18 are clearly overbroad and impermissible
questions as they require the Defendant to marshal his evidence and all of his legal and factual
assertions. Additionally, Defendant’s responses refer the Plaintiff to his live pleadings for his
latest contentions, providing an adequate response to the Plaintiff’s inquiries.
Defendant has provided complete responses to Interrogatories 16 and 24 and has not
asserted any objections. It is unclear from the Plaintiff’s motion why they are asserting that the
Defendant’s responses to these Interrogatories are “incomplete,” as they have not provided any
substantive argument or reasoning as to why.
Accordingly, Defendant has provided complete answers and/or asserted proper objections
to all of Plaintiff’s Interrogatories.
B. Defendant’s Objections and Responses to the Plaintiff’s Requests for Production are
proper.
Requests for Production must be reasonably tailored to include only matters relevant to
the case. In re Alford Chevrolet-Geo, 997 S.W.2d at 180; In Re American Optical, 988 S.W.2d at
713; see in re Memorial Herman Health System, 607 S.W.3d 913, 918 (Tex. App. —Houston
[14th Dist.] 2020, orig. proceeding). Explicitly, Requests for Production “…must specify the
items to be produced or inspected, either by individual item or by category, and describe with
reasonable particularity each item and category.” Tex R. Civ. Proc. 196.1(b).
Additionally, Texas Law bars the discovery of an attorney’s work product, which
includes an attorney’s documents, reports, communications, memoranda, mental impressions,
conclusions, opinions, or legal theories. In re Baytown Nissan, Inc., 451 S.W.3d 140, 148 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, orig. proceeding); See In re Fairway Methanol LLC, 515
S.W.3d 480, 489 (Tex. App. —Houston [14th Dist.] 2017, orig. proceeding). This privilege
extends to all materials and all communications made by a party’s employees and representatives
in anticipation of litigation. See In re Fairway Methanol at 489. Texas law also bars the
discovery of attorney-client communications. Tex. R. Civ. Evid. 503(b); In re XL Specialty Ins.
Co., 373 S.W.3d 46, 49–50 (Tex. 2012). This privilege not only protects confidential
communication between the lawyer and the client, but also the discourse among their
representatives. Id.
The Plaintiff’s motion assets that the Defendant’s responses to Request Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10,
16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48
“contain inappropriate, blanket objections and/or incomplete responses.” To support this
assertion, the Plaintiff only states vaguely that their discovery requests “…are reasonably
calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence and are within the scope of discovery
permitted by Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 192.3.” The Plaintiff’s motion provides no further
context or substantive argument as to why they believe twenty-eight (28) of the Defendant’s
Responses to Request for Production to be insufficient. For this reason, the Defendant finds it
difficult to respond directly to the Plaintiff’s motion. However, the Defendant would show this
Court, based on the case law and rules presented above, that he has provided complete responses
and/or asserted proper objections to the Plaintiff’s Requests for Production.
C. Defendant’s Objections and Responses to the Plaintiff’s Requests for Admissions are
proper.
On July 23, 2019, the Plaintiff served their First Set of Requests for Admissions on the
Defendant. The Defendant responded fully and properly on July 21, 2019 (attached as “Exhibit
H”). The Plaintiff served a second set of Request for Admissions and Production addressed to
both Defendants in this matter on June 24, 2020. The Defendant again responded full and
properly on July 7, 2020 (attached here as “Exhibit I”). On January 27, 2021, the Plaintiff sent a
“conferral letter” to the Defendant stating that the Defendant asserted “incomplete answers” and
“improper objections” to Requests for Admission Nos. 2, 6, 7, and 8. The Plaintiff erroneously
asserts in their motion that the Defendant “provided inappropriate, boilerplate, vague, baseless
objections and repeatedly, flagrantly ignore the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure in their
responses.” The Defendant contends that he has provided complete responses and/or asserted
correct objections to all of the Plaintiff’s Requests for Admissions. Defendant’s responses to the
Plaintiff’s Requests for Admissions specifically deny or admit all of the Plaintiff’s requests as
required by the Texas Rules of Production. Tex. R. Civ. P. 198.2(c). Additionally, the Defendant
qualifies his responses as allowed by the rules. It is unclear why the Plaintiff asserts that the
Defendant’s responses are not timely, as shown above, all of the Defendant’s responses were
served on the Plaintiff within thirty (30) days.
D. Defendant has provided the Plaintiff all of its non-privileged documents concerning
the accident.
As Defendant stated in his February 9, 2021 letter to the Plaintiff (attached as “Exhibit
G”), all non-privileged documents in the Defendants’ possession or control concerning the
accident have previously been produced to the Plaintiff.
Accordingly, the Plaintiffs’ request that the Defendant be compelled to respond to
discovery requests that he has already wholly and accurately responded or asserted a proper
objection to is unduly burdensome and abusive. The Plaintiffs motion should be denied.
E. The purpose of the Plaintiff’s motion is to cause delay, burden, and expense to the
Defendant.
The Plaintiff’s motion is clearly designed to cause undue burden, delay, and expense on
the Defendant. The Plaintiff’s motion raises issues with thirty-four (34) separate discovery
responses, but fails to make any particular argument as to why any specific response is
insufficient. Finally, the Defendant has informed the Plaintiff in letters and emails that he has
produced to them all non-privileged documents in his possession or control concerning the
accident. It is unclear what Plaintiff wishes to gain from their motion other than to cause delay,
burden and expense on the Defendant.
WHEREFORE PREMISES CONSIDERED, Defendant, JAIME AMAYA, prays that
this Court deny Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel, in its entirety or in part, and for such other and
further relief, both general and special, legal and equitable, to which it may be justly entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
TAYLOR, BOOK, ALLEN & MORRIS, LLP
______________________________
GREGORY A. HOLLOWAY
State Bar No. 24000502
gholloway@taylorbook.com
WILLIAM A. WORTHINGTON
State Bar No. 22010300
bworthington@taylorbook.com
MARSHALL W. HALEY
State Bar No. 24109969
mhaley@taylorbook.com
1221 McKinney, Suite 4300
Houston, Texas 77010
Tel: (713) 222-9542
Fax: (713) 655-7727
ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing instrument was served in
accordance with Rule 21a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure to the following counsel of
records on this the 29th day of January, 2021.
VIA E-SERVICE: gtitpton@thomasjhenrylaw.com
Gwen W. Tipton
THE LAW OFFICE OF THOMAS J. HENRY
5711 University Heights Blvd., Suite 101
San Antonio, Texas 78249
ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIF
______________________________
GREGORY A. HOLLOWAY
WILLIAM A. WORTHINGTON
MARSHALL W. HALEY