Cearth Faire v. FMP SA Management Group, LLC D/B/A Food Management Partners, LLC, All Jones, LLC, Allen J. Jones, Individually, Peter Donbavand, Individually, Peter Donbavand, Individually, and Jason Kemp, Individually ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
04-15-00315-CV
FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
5/20/2015 1:28:52 PM
KEITH HOTTLE
CLERK
04-15-00315-CV
NO._____________________________
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR
THE FOURTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SITTING AT SAN ANTONIO
CEARTH FAIRE,
Petitioner,
v.
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC d/b/a
FOOD MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC, ALL JONES, LLC
ALLEN J. JONES, INDIVIDUALLY, PETER DONBAVAND,
INDIVIDUALLY, AND JASON KEMP, INDIVIDUALLY,
Respondents.
Cause No. 2014-CI-16674 from the
150th District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Hon . Antonia Arteaga, presiding
Petition for Leave to File Interlocutory Appeal Pursuant to
Tex. R. App. P. 28.3 and Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 51.014(f)
Olga Brown Jeff Small
State Bar No. 03155500 State Bar No. 00793027
LAW OFFICE OF OLGA BROWN LAW OFFICE OF JEFF SMALL
111 Soledad, Suite 1725 12451 Starcrest, Suite 100
San Antonio, Texas 78205 San Antonio, Texas 78216
210.226.1550/210.226.1884 210.496.0611/f: 210.579.1399
argyle2@sbcglobal.net jdslaw@satx.rr.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
ISSUES PRESENTED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Issue No. 1: Does permitting an interlocutory appeal now serve the
best interests of judicial economy thereby eliminating
the risk of two trials by deciding the propriety of the
trial court’s Rule of Civil Procedure 91a dismissal of
several of Petitioner’s causes of action before the
remaining issues go to trial? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Issue No. 2: Is dismissal under Rule 91a proper when Petitioner’s
causes of action state a recognized cause of action and
her factual pleadings do not show as a matter of law
that she cannot prevail? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
INFORMATION COMPLYING WITH RULE 25.1(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
STATEMENT OF FACTS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
REASONS TO GRANT PERMISSION
FOR AN INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
ARGUMENT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The trial court erred by dismissing Petitioner’s causes of action because
each states a recognized cause of action in Texas and none of her factual
pleadings affirmatively negate her entitlement to relief... . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 91a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. There is “no basis in law” only if the pleading fails to state a
recognized cause of action.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
C. A pleading has “no basis in fact” only if no reasonable
person could believe the facts pleaded.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
ii
CONCLUSION and PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
VERIFICATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
APPENDIX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
iii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly,
550 U.S. 544 (2007).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
City of Keller v. Wilson,
168 S.W.3d 802 (Tex. 2005).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Drake v. Walker,
No. 05-14-0355-CV, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 4732
(Tex. App.— Dallas May 8, 2015, no pet. h.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
GoDaddy.com, LLC v. Hollie Toups ,
429 S.W.3d 752 (Tex. App.— Beaumont 2014, pet. denied) . . . . . . . 8
Gulley v. State Farm Lloyds,
350 S.W.3d 204 (Tex. App.-- San Antonio 2011, no pet.) .. . . . . . . . . 4
Scott v. Gallagher,
209 S.W.3d 262 (Tex. App.— Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).. . . . 7
Wooley v. Schaffer,
447 S.W.3d 71 (Tex. App.— Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, pet. filed).. . 5
Rules
TEX. R. APP. P. 25.1(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
TEX. R. APP. P. 28.3(k). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
TEX. R. CIV. P. 47 (a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 8
TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
iv
TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a, cmt. to 2013 change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Other Authorities
David E. Chamberlain and W. Bradley Parker,
Rule 91a Motions to Dismiss,
in State Bar of Texas Ultimate
Motions Practice Course (2013). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
House Comm. on Civil Practices, Bill Analysis,
Tex. H.B. 978, 77th Leg., R.S. (2001) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
v
ISSUES PRESENTED
Issue No. 1: Does permitting an interlocutory appeal now serve the best
interests of judicial economy thereby eliminating the risk of
two trials by deciding the propriety of the trial court’s Rule
of Civil Procedure 91a dismissal of several of Petitioner’s
causes of action before the remaining issues go to trial?
Issue No. 2: Is dismissal under Rule 91a proper when Petitioner’s causes
of action state a recognized cause of action and her factual
pleadings do not show as a matter of law that she cannot
prevail?
INFORMATION COMPLYING WITH RULE 25.1(d)
Plaintiff/Appellant Cearth Faire desires to pursue an interlocutory
appeal in accordance with the provisions of Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure
28.3 and the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 51.014(f). The
order being appealed dated May 6, 2015 (ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ FIRST
AMENDED RULE 91A PARTIAL MOTION TO DISMISS (App’x Tab 1)), overruled Ms.
Faire’s Motion for Reconsideration/New Trial in cause number 2014-CI-
16674, which dismissed certain of Ms. Faire’s causes of action pursuant to
Rule 91a. If the Court grants leave to file an interlocutory appeal pursuant to
TEX. R. APP. P. 28.3(k), that appeal is treated as accelerated in accordance with
Rule 26.1(b).
vi
STATEMENT OF FACTS
The facts stated herein are those as alleged in Plaintiff’s Fourth
Amended Petition (App’x Tab 3).
Defendants/ Appellants FMP SA Management Group, LLC, d/b/a Food
Management Partners, LLC and All Jones, LLC, all of which are owned and
controlled by Defendant Allen Jones, employed Plaintiff/Appellant Faire.
Defendants Peter Donbavand and Jason Kemp are business partners of Allen
Jones. In addition to her employment for the corporate defendants, Ms. Faire
also served as Defendant/Appellant Allen J. Jones personal assistant. As his
personal assistant, Ms. Faire took care of Allen Jones' personal matters. She
lived in the Dominican Republic caring for Jones’ children on a 24/7 basis for
approximately five months, also assisting administratively in his defense in
Jones’ divorce proceedings pending in Bexar County, Texas during 2013 and
2014.
In recognition for her loyal and tireless employment services to him,
Jones gifted Ms. Faire the house at 8647 Timber Place in San Antonio. Jones
negotiated with Defendant Jason Kemp, who works for Jones, and purchased
the home at 8647 Timber Pl, San Antonio, TX 78250, from Kemp’s wife who
was the deeded owner of that property. It was this property that Jones gifted
1
to Ms. Faire. Jones instructed another employee, Peter Donbavand, in his
individual capacity and outside the scope of corporate business, to prepare the
necessary documents so Jones could finalize the gift to Ms. Faire. Jones later
retaliated against Ms. Faire by denying he had gifted the real estate to her.
Both defendants Donbavand and Kemp, while business partners of
Jones and employees and agents of FMP, routinely served Jones as personal
aides, taking and executing orders from Jones outside the course and scope
of their duties with the corporate entities to meet his personal demands
without regard for whether those orders served the corporate interests.
While Donbavand completed the necessary transfer documents, Jones
insisted that Ms. Faire move into the house, which she did in reliance on his
gift of the house to her. She made valuable and permanent improvements to
the house in reliance on Defendant Jones’ promise to her. She also incurred
moving expenses, as well as expenses in making permanent improvements to
the residence to make it habitable.
When Ms. Faire refused Jones’ sexual advances, he fired her despite
having recently promoted her, given her additional duties, and increased her
pay based on meritorious work. Jones then ordered Donbavand and Jason
Kemp to evict Ms. Faire from the house Jones had given her. Jones also
2
reneged on other promises he had made to Ms. Faire.
Ms. Faire sued for sexual harassment, conspiracy, promissory estoppel,
and fraud. Defendants filed a Rule 91a motion and an amended motion to
dismiss (DEFENDANTS’ FIRST AMENDED RULE 91A PARTIAL MOTION TO DISMISS
(App’x Tab 2)). After Defendants filed their amended motion to dismiss, but
before the hearing at which the causes of action were dismissed, Ms. Faire
amended her petition to drop the claim for promissory estoppel and added a
claim for an oral gift of real estate. See PLAINTIFF’S FOURTH AMENDED PETITION
(App’x Tab 3).Defendants filed no further amended pleadings until after the
motion to dismiss had been heard, belatedly asking for the opportunity to
present evidence of reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees.
The trial court overruled Ms. Faire’s motion to reconsider the dismissal
of her causes of action on May 6, 2015. ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ FIRST
AMENDED RULE 91A PARTIAL MOTION TO DISMISS DTD MAY 6, 2015 (App’x Tab
1);ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ FIRST AMENDED RULE 91A PARTIAL MOTION
TO DISMISS dtd April 9, 2015 (App’x Tab 2).
3
REASONS TO GRANT PERMISSION
FOR AN INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL
This Court should grant leave for an interlocutory appeal because Rule
91a is relatively new1 and, thus, there is not a great deal of case law to guide its
interpretation. Permitting an interlocutory appeal at this point in the case will
serve the interests of judicial economy and advance the ultimate termination
of the litigation in that the question at hand involves a controlling question of
law. This is so because an appeal at this juncture will eliminate the potential
for two trials if the trial court’s Rule 91a dismissal of several of
Plaintiff/Appellant’s causes of action was, indeed, erroneous. See Gulley v.
State Farm Lloyds, 350 S.W.3d 204, 207-08 (Tex. App.— San Antonio 2011,
no pet.) (citing House Comm. on Civil Practices, Bill Analysis, Tex. H.B. 978,
77th Leg., R.S. (2001) (explaining that the addition of subsection (d) would
promote judicial efficiency by “allowing the trial court to certify a question for
appeal” when “the trial court rules on an issue that is pivotal in a case but
about which there is legitimate disagreement”)).
1
Adopted by the Supreme Court of Texas February 12, 2013.
See TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a, cmt. to 2013 change
4
ARGUMENT
The trial court erred by dismissing Petitioner’s causes of action
because each states a recognized cause of action in Texas and none
of her factual pleadings affirmatively negate her entitlement to
relief.
A. Standard of Review
A trial court’s ruling on a Rule 91a motion to dismiss — whether there
is a basis in law and a basis in fact — is reviewed de novo; the pleadings are
construed liberally in favor of the plaintiff, looking to the pleader’s intent; and
the factual allegations in the pleadings are accepted as true. Wooley v.
Schaffer, 447 S.W.3d 71, 74 (Tex. App.— Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, pet. filed)
(analogizing 91a dismissal motion to plea to the jurisdiction); see Drake v.
Walker, No. 05-14-0355-CV, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 4732, at *7 (Tex. App.—
Dallas May 8, 2015, no pet. h.).
A. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 91a
Rule 91a permits the dismissal of only those causes of action that have
“no basis in law or fact.” TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.1. “A cause of action has no basis
in law if the allegations, taken as true, together with the inferences reasonably
drawn from them, do not entitle the claimant to the relief sought. A cause of
action has no basis in fact if no reasonable person could believe the facts
pleaded.” TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.1.
5
Rule 91a specifically requires that a motion to dismiss address each
challenged cause of action and must state specifically the reason the cause of
action has no basis in law, no basis in fact, or both. TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.2. The
court may not rule on a cause of action that has been non-suited or is not
included in the plaintiff's latest amended petition. TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.2, 91a.5.
Further, the rule explicitly states that in determining a Rule 91a motion the
trial court is to consider only the pleadings and may NOT consider evidence.
TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.6.
The trial court’s dismissal here violates each of those tenets. Compare
DEFENDANTS’ FIRST AMENDED RULE 91A PARTIAL MOTION TO DISMISS (App’x
Tab 2), with PLAINTIFF’S FOURTH AMENDED ORIGINAL PETITION (App’x Tab 3).
Because the trial court dismissed issues already amended out of the pleadings
at the time of the hearing and Defendants orally requested and were granted
dismissal of a cause of action not addressed in their amended motion (See
App’x Tab 1 & App’x Tab 2) , there is a legitimate question in this case whether
the trial court's dismissal of Petitioner’s causes of action was proper. Thus,
this Court should grant permission for an interlocutory appeal of that
dismissal.
6
B. There is “no basis in law” only if the pleading fails to
state a recognized cause of action.
Texas “[c]ourts are likely to dismiss causes of action under Rule 91a in
three circumstances: (1) when a cause of action is not recognized by Texas law;
(2) when the pleading alleges facts that negate a cause of action; and (3) when
pleading exhibits, attached pursuant to Rule 59, demonstrate that claimant is
not entitled to the relief sought as a matter of law.” David E. Chamberlain and
W. Bradley Parker, Rule 91a Motions to Dismiss, in STATE BAR OF TEXAS
ULTIMATE MOTIONS PRACTICE COURSE, at § II B.1., at 4 (2013) (App’x Tab 4).
The question presented by Rule 91a is “relatively straightforward” — Do
the pleadings state a cause of action that would entitle the plaintiff to relief?
Scott v. Gallagher, 209 S.W.3d 262, 267 (Tex. App.— Houston [1st Dist.]
2006, no pet.) (“no arguable basis in law” under Civil Practice and Remedies
Code Chapter 14 means a claim that is “indisputably meritless”). Putting it
differently, the question is “whether, as a matter of law, [the petition] state[s]
a cause of action that would authorize relief.” Id. Thus, giving the pleader the
benefit of the doubt, if a plaintiff’s petition arguably states a cause of action
recognized in the state of Texas, dismissing it under Rule 91a is error. Id.
7
C. A pleading has “no basis in fact” only if no reasonable
person could believe the facts pleaded.
When analyzing a plaintiff’s petition as to whether it has a basis in fact,
a court may go no further than ascertaining whether a “reasonable person
could believe the facts pleaded.” TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.1. A claim may be
dismissed for having “no basis in fact” when, taken as true as the pleaded facts
must be, they are legally insufficient to support plaintiff’s claim. See City of
Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 811- 17 (Tex. 2005). If the facts pleaded
satisfy Texas’s notice pleading requirements, the claim is not subject to
dismissal under Rule 91a. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 47 (a) (pleading satisfies notice
pleading requirements if it gives “fair notice of the claim involved”).
Using the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for guidance, the
Beaumont Court of Appeals observed that a claim will survive dismissal if the
pleader alleges “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its
face.” GoDaddy.com, LLC v. Hollie Toups , 429 S.W.3d 752, 754 (Tex. App.—
Beaumont 2014, pet. denied) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S.
544, 570 (2007).
CONCLUSION and PRAYER
Judicial efficiency will be served here by granting leave for an
interlocutory appeal rather than permitting a trial to go forward on the
8
remaining issues in this cause only to have the issue of the propriety of the 91a
dismissal then come before this court and be remanded back for another trial
if the 91a dismissal is determined to be erroneous. The interests of all
concerned would be better served by abating the trial court proceedings,
permitting the interlocutory appeal to go forward, and then reinstating the
trial court proceedings after a determination has been made by this Court on
the 91a issue.
The trial court dismissed a cause of action that had been amended out
of Petitioner’s pleadings before the hearing on the motion to dismiss;
dismissed a cause of action not addressed in Respondents’ Amended Motion
to Dismiss, and delved into evidentiary details rather than ruling strictly on
the pleadings as required by Rule 91a. All of these actions are error requiring
reversal of the trial court’s dismissal. It is better that the reversal come now
rather than after a trial on the remaining issues and then a remand for another
trial.
Accordingly, Petitioner respectfully requests that she be permitted to
pursue an interlocutory appeal of the trial court’s dismissal of her causes of
action.
9
-------------------------·--------------------------------````-~-,
Respectfully submitted,
1s1JeffS~
Olga Brown Jeff Small
State Bar No, 03155500 State Bar No. 00793027
LAW OFFICE OF OLGA BROWN Law Office of Jeff Small
111 Soledad, Suite 1725 12451 Starcrest Dr., Suite 103
San Antonio, Texas 78205 San Antonio, TX 78216.2988
210 .,226.1550/ 210,,226,,1884 210.496.0611/F: 210 579.1399
argyle2@sbcglobal.net jdslaw@satx.rr.com
Counsel for Petitioner Cearth Faire
VERIFICATION
Before me, the undersigned notary, on this day personally appeared
Olga Brown, the affiant, a person whose identity is known to me. After I
administered an oath, affiant testified as follows:
L "My name is Olga Brown,, I am over 18 years of age, of sound mind,
and capable of making this verification. the facts in this verification are within
my personal knowledge and are true and correct
2. I am one of the attorneys for petitioner. All the documents
included with this petition for permission to file an interlocutory appeal are
true copies."
.``;~''f'f::•,
{R?.:Ji::J~•\
;``~·.·~i
RAMONA .J, FLORES
Notary Public, State of Texas
My Commission Expires
~ ``
fu
~,``'Of\\~ August 16, 2016
'"" Olga Bro
Sworn to and subscribed to before me by Olga Brown on MayJOtf;2015,
Notary ublic, State of Texas
JO
r
I
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
In compliance with Tex R. App. P 9.4(i)(3), I certify that the number of
words in this document, excluding those matters list in Rule 9.4(i)(1), which
was prepared in WordPerfect X6 using 14-point Book Antiqua, is 1893 words.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Petition for Leave
to File Interlocutory Appeal Pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 28.3 and Tex. Civ.
Prac. & Rem. Code 51.014(f) has been served on counsel of record/interested
parties as shown below in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure on
May 20, 2015.
Justin Barbour
StateBarNo. 24055142
SCHMOYER REINHARD LLP
17806 IH 10 West, Suite 400
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Phone: (210) 447-8033
Fax: (210) 447-8036
jbarbour@sr-llp.com
/S/ Jeff Small
11
APPENDIX
Order Granting Defendants’ First Amended Rule 91a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tab 1
Partial Motion to dismiss dtd May 6, 2015
(overruling Mtn for New Trial/Reconsideration)
Order Granting Defendants’ First Amended Rule 91a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tab 2
Partial Motion to Dismiss dtd April 9, 2015
Defendants’ First Amended Rule 91a Partial Motion to Dismiss. . . . . . Tab 3
Plaintiff’s Fourth Amended Original Petition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tab 4
Plaintiff’s Motion for New Trial/Reconsideration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tab 5
Article, David E. Chamberlain and W. Bradley Parker, . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tab 6
Rule 91a Motions to Dismiss,
in STATE BAR OF TEXAS ULTIMATE
MOTIONS PRACTICE COURSE (2013)
Reporter’s Record from April 9, 2015 Dismissal Hearing. . . . . . . . . . . . Tab 7
Reporter’s Record from May 6, 2015 Reconsideration Hearing.. . . . . . Tab 8
12
Tab 1
CAUSE NO. 2014-CI-16674
CEARTH FAIRE, § IN IHEDISTRICTCOURI
§
Plaintiff, §
§
v. §
§
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC § lSOIH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
d/b/a FOOD MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, §
LLC, ALL JONES, LLC, ALLEN J.. JONES §
INDIVIDUALLY, AND PETER §
DONBAV AND, INDIVIDUALLY §
§
Defendants.. § BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
ORDER GRANTlNG DEFENDANTS' FIRST AMENDED
RULE 9la PaRTIAL MOTION TO DISMISS
On this date, the Co1Ut considered Plaintiff's Motion for Reconsideration/New Trial.
After cal'eful consideration of the Motion, the response thereto, arguments of cowisel, and the
relevant law, the CoUit is of the opinion that the Motion should be DENIED.
II IS IHEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for Reconsideration/New Idal is
DENIED .
.. SIGNED on this Q,-t{?. . . day of....Jll```` 2015
- ,k,~C2
PRESIDINGJUDGE
AGREED AS IO FORM:
Counsel for Plaintiff Counsel for Defendant
Received Time May 6 4:48PM
Tab 2
CAUSE NO . 2014-CI·-16674
CEARTH FAIRE, § IN THE DISTRICT COURT
§
Plaintiff, §
§
v. §
§
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC § 150TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
d/b/a FOOD MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, §
LLC, ALL JONES, LLC, ALLEN J. JONES §
INDIVIDUALLY, AND PETER §
DONBAVAND, INDIVIDUALLY §
§
Defendants.. § BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' FIRST AMENDED
RULE 9Ia PARTIAL MOTION TO DISMISS
On this date, the Court considered Defendants' First Amended Rule 9la Partial Motion to
Dismiss After careful consideration of the Motion, the response thereto, arguments of counsel,
and the relevant law, the Court is of the opinion that the Motion should be GRANTED
II IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendants' First Amended Rule 9la Partial Motion
to Dismiss is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that Plain~ifrs claims for promissory
estoppel, "oral gift" of real estate, and conspiracy are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, and ~'\
'ficfc11dmits arc awmded tlteir 1easmrabte and necessary attorney's tees incurred With respect t(J' ~
AGREED AS IO FORM:
Counsel for Plaintiff Counsel for Defendant
1
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' FIRST A.MENDED
RULE 91a PARTIAL MOTION IO DISMtss
'
Tab3
Feb. 3 2015 9:47AM No 7814 P. 3
CAUSE NO. 2014-CI-16674
CEARIH FAIRE, § IN THE DISTRICI COURT
§
Plaintiff, §
§
~ §
§
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC § 150IHJUDICIALDISTRICT
d/b/aFOOD MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, §
LLC, ALL JONES, LLC, Al,LEN J. JONES §
INDIVIDUAlLY, AND PEIER §
DONBAVAND, INDIVIDUALLY §
§
Defendants.. § BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
____ _________
,..._.,..,
DEFENDANTS' FIRST A.M}i;NDED RULE 91a PARIIAL MOTION TO DISMISS
For their First Amended Partial Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil
Procedure 9la, Defendants FMP SA Management G:roup, LLC d/b/aFood Management Partners,
All Jones, LLC, Allen J Jones, and Peter Donbavand respectfully show the following:
I. INTRODUCTION & FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff Cearth Faire filed her 01iginal Petition in the 150th District Comt,
Bexar County, Texas, on October 21, 2014.. Ex . I, PL's Orig. Pet.. Defendants FMP SA
Mmagement Group, LLC d/b/a FMP Partners ("FMP"), All Jones, LLC ("All Jones"), and Peter
Donbavand ("Donbavand") were served with the Original P~tition on November 7, 2014
Defendant Allen J . Jones ("Jones") was served on November 20, 2014.. All Defendants timely
filed their General Denial and Defenses on November 26, 2014.. Ex., 2, Def's Answer &
Defenses., Plaintiff filed her First Amended Petition on December S, 2014 . Ex., 3, PL's lstAm .
Pet. Plaintiff's First Amended Petition alleged three claims for relief: (!)promissory estoppel
regarding an alleged promise to purchase a home for her, (2) "wrongful termination," and
(3) conversion of certain property allegedly belonging to her,
1
Received Time Feb. 3. 9:44AM
Feo 3 2015 9:48AM No 7814 P. 4
On December 22, 2015-well within the 60 day pe!iod prescribed by Rule 9la.3(a)-
Defendants filed their Rule 91 a Motion to Dismiss. Through that Motion to Dismiss, Defendants
asked the Cowt to dismiss (1) Plaintiff's wrongful termination claim as to all Defendants,
(2) Plaintiff's promissory estoppel claim as to all Defendants, (3) all remaining claims against
Defendant Donbavand and (4) the conversion and wrongful termination claims against
Defendant Jones .
In response to Defendants' Rule 9la Partial Motion to Dismiss, Plaintiff filed her Second
and Third Amended Petitions on fanuary 28 and 30, 2015, respectively.. Ex . 4, 2d Am. Pet;
Ex. 5, 3d Am . Pet Through these pleading amendments, Plaintiff has substantially revised the
allegations pertaining to her promissory estoppel claim, while dropping her claims of "wrongful
termination" and conversion Meanwhile, Plaintiff's Third Amended Petition has added new,
previously unasserted claims of sexual harassment, conspiracy, and fraud .
Defendants' Rule 9la Piutial Motion to Dismiss is presently set fox heiuing on
Februiuy 4, 2015. In light of Plaintiff's Third Amended Petition, which amends Plaintiff's
promissory estoppel claim, previously challenged by Defendants, and adds new claims of sexual
harassment, conspiracy, and fraud, Defendants now file their Amended Motion to Dismiss
pursuant to Rule 91a.5(b}. Defendants specifically move to dismiss Plaintiff's claim for
promissory estoppel, as her amended pleadings do not establish a legal exception to the statute of
frauds, which bars this claim as a matter of law:. Defendants ftuther move to dismiss Plaintiff's
claim of conspiracy, which is barred by Plaintiff's Chapter 21 's exclusive remedial framework
II. SrANDARD OF REVIEW
A. Rule 91a Standard ofDismissal
Texas Rule of Civil Procedwe 9la requires dismissal of claims that have "no basis in law
or fact" TEX. R. Crv. P 91a.J. A cause of action has no basis in law "if the allegations, taken as r
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true, together with inferences reasonably drawn from them, do not entitle the claimant to the
relief sought. " Id. Meanwhile, a cause of action has no basis in fact "if no reasonable person
could believe the facts pleaded." Id
ill.. ARGUMENT &AUJHORUIES
A. P/a1iztijj Fails to Show Exception to Statute of Frauds, Requiring Dismissal of
Promissory Estoppel Claim.
Faire asserts a claim for prnmissory estoppel based on Defendant Jones's allegedly
"promis[ing] Plaintiflthat he would buy a home and transfer ownership to" her. Ex. 5, PL's 3d
Am Pet at ~ 1L Defendant's First Rule 91 a Partial Motion to Dismiss generally outlines the
manner in which the statute of frauds bars this promissory estoppel claim; however; in brief; a
contract for the sale or purchase of real property, 01 one affecting an interest in real propexty, is
subject to the statute of frauds. Old Tzn RoofSteakhouse, LLC v. Haskett, No . 04-12-00363, 2013
WL 1148921, at *7 (Tex . App . -San Antonio, Mar. 20, 2013, no pet) (mem. op) (citing Tex.
Bus . & Comm . Code§ 26.0l(a)(4)). As such, any alleged promise to purchase, sell, or iransfer a
real property interest, such as a promise to transfer home owne1ship in this case, must satisfy the
statuto1y prerequisites of the statute of frauds.. See, e.g, Fontenot v.. Ham.IJ; No . 11-10-00016, at
*3 (Tex. App . -Eastland Aug. 31, 2011, pet. denied) ("agreement is su~ject to the Statute of
Frauds because it relates to the conveyance of real property interests ......"). In such cases, Texas
law specifically requires that:
A promise or agreement [su~ject to the statute of frauds] is not
enforceable unless the promise or agreement, or a memorandum of
it, is (1) in wxiting and (2) signed by the person to be charged with
the promise or agreement or by someone lawfully authorized to
sign for him.
TEx. Bus . &COMM. CODE§ 26.0l(a)..
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fo this case, Plafutiff's First Amended Petition conceded that Defendant .Jones's alleged
promise to "buy her a house" was made 01ally and, thus, could be subject to the statute of frauds
See Ex. 3, Pl.'s 1st Am. Pet. at if 28. To avoid dismissal of her promissoxy estoppel claim,
Plaintiff has now amended her pleading to allege that the statute of frauds is inapplicable because
"Defendant Jones promised he would sign the necessary documents to give Plaintiff full and
complete ownership of the home . .,," Id. at if 24 .
Plaintiff's amended promissory estoppel claim is nonetheless deficient, as a matter of
law, and shouid be dismissed. ~laintiffbaldly alleges "Defendant Jones promised he would sign
the necessary documents to give" Plaintiff ownership of the home . Ex. 5, PL's 3d Am . Pet. at if
24. However, promissory estoppel claims only avoid "the traditional Statute of Frauds when the
alleged 01al promise is to sign an existing document that satisfies with the Statute of Frauds."
Bank of Tex, NA. v. Gaubert, 286 S W..3d 546, 553 (Tex . App . -Dal!as 2009, pet denied)
(emphasis in original). Thus, even if Plaintift's allegations were accepted as true, she has failed
to allege Defondant Jones promised to sign existing documents capable of transferdng owuexship
of the property at issue, nor does she specifically allege that such documents had in fact in been
drafted at the time the promise was allegedly made.. In cases with facts and allegations like this
one, courts have held the promissory estoppel exception to the statute of frauds is inapplicable
and dismissed such claims with prejudice.. See id., see also Coastal Corp.. v. Atl Richfield Co,
852 S.W.2d 714, 718 (Tex. App.-Co1pus Christi, no writ) ("Promissory estoppel is applied
when a party promises to sign an existing written contract that would satisfy the statute of frauds,
but for the lack of a signature.. When a document remains to be prepared, as in this case, all of
the te1ms must ultimately be agreed to in writing") (emphasis in original).. Because Plaintiff's
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promisso1y estoppel allegations, accepted as true, do not establish this exception to the stature of
frauds, Plaintiff's claim must be dismissed with prejudice,,
B, Plaintiff's Conspiracy Claim Barred by Intra-Corporate Immunity Doctrine.,
l'laintiffs Second and Third Amended Petitions allege, for the first time in this matter, a
conspiracy claim against Defendant Donbavand and Jones, This claim specifically alleges
Donbavand "acted with intent to assist" other Defendants in "wrongful acts toward Plaintiff;
including the discriminatory practices perpetrated,'' Ex, 5, 3d Am, Pet at mf 35c37, Plaintiff's
live pleading concedes that Donbavand is "a business partner of Defendant Jones," and that
DefondantJones is President & CEO ofDefendantFMP, Id. at mf 16, 27,
Plaintiff's conspiiacy claim is barred, as a matter of law, because it is alleged against
Defendants Donbavand and Jones, who are both agents of Defendant FMP Indeed, by naming
FMP as a Defendant in this lawsuit, Plaintiff has herself alleged that Ponbavand's and Jones's
alleged acts were not made in their individual capacities but, instead, committed in the comse
and scope of their agency with that corporate entity, ''Employees or agents of a pdncipal acting
within the CO\U'Se and scope of their employment or agency relationship cannot enter mto a
conspiracy with each other so long as they are not acting outside their capacity as an employee or
agent , " Crouch v Trinque, 262 S,,W3d 417, 427 (Tex, App,,-Eastland 2008, no pet); see also
Atl. Richfield Co v, Misty Prods,, Inc, 820 S,W,2d 414, 420-21 (Tex,, App-Houston [141h Dist.]
1991, writ denied) ("An employee or agent of the parent co1po1ation and an employee or agent
of the wholly owned subsidiary , , . cannot conspire"),, Because Donbavand and Jones, both
agents of FMP, were incapable, as a matter of law, from conspiring with one anothe1; Plaintiff's
conspiracy claim should be dismissed with prejudice
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C Plaintiff's Conspiracy Claim Barred by Exclusive Statutory Remedies:.
1. State Law Claims "Entwined" with Statutory Claims are Preempted as a
Matter of Law.
Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code is designed to be the exclusive means by which a
party can vindicate her statutory rights as it pertains to unlawful harassment or discrimination.
Wheatfall v. Potter, No. 07-1937, 2010 WL 2854284, "'4 (SD. Tex July 19, 2010) (federal anti-
discrimination statutes, such as Title VII, 1 "provide the exclusive, pre-emptive administrative
and judicial scheme for the redress of federal employment discrimination").. As a result, a
claimant's statutory harassment and discrimination claims are preemptive when the complained-
of conduct is entwined with the underlying complained-of discriminatory or retaliatory conduct.
See Mosley v. Wal-Mart Stores Tex. LLC, No 3:10-cv·-2305, 2011 WL 2893086, *3 (ND . Tex .
July 20, 2011).. As the Mosley court explains, when:
the gravamen of a plaintiff's case is fox sexual harassment, the
plaintiff must proceed solely under a statutory claim unless there
are additional facts, unrelated to sexual harassment, to support an
independent to1t claim . .... allowing [tort] damages for a TCHRA
violation would eclipse the Legislature's prescribed scheme.
Id In other words, Texas state common law conspiracy claims are preempted whenever they are
"entwined" with or arise from the same facts suppolting a statutory discrimination claim., In
such situations, the preempted claims must be dismissed as a matter of course, with the claimant
left solely to rely upon the exclusive, statutory remedial scheme provided by the Texas
Legislature .
1
The express purpose of Chapter 21 is "to provide for the execution of the policies of Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 . ," De Sanriago" Wesi Tex. Comm Supervision & Corrections Dept., 203 S..W.3d 387, 391
(Tex. App. -EI Paso 2006, no pet}. "In light of tills express pmpose, we look ro analogous federal precedent when
interpreting the Texas Act" Id
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2.. Plaintiff's Conspitacy Claitn Relies on Satne Under·lying Facts as Statutory
Chapter· 21 Claitns, RequiJ'ing Their Dismissal.
In this case, Faire's conspiracy claim is not in any way factually distinct from he!'
Chaptex 21 sexual hruassment and discrimination claims. Jn fact, Faixe's Third Amended
Petition unambiguously alleges that her conspixacy claim is p1emised on the same factual
allegations supporting hex Chapter 21 claims. See Ex. 5, 3d Am . Pet. at ifif 36-37 (alleging
"Defendant Donbavand acted with intent to assist Defendant Jones in discrimmatory
practices perpetrated against Plaintiff ..... "}. Stated differently; Faix e's Third Amended Petition
is devoid of any specific factual allegations related specifically and only to her conspiracy claim.
In the absence of specific, distinct factual allegations, this Court can only conclude that Faire's
conspirncy claim is "entwined" with her statutory harnssment and discrimination retaliation
claims . As a r·esult, Faire's statutory claixns provide her exclusive remedy, preempt her common
law conspiracy claixn, and that claim should be dismissed with prejudice.
IV:. CONCLUSION & PRAYER
Plaintiff's claims in this mattex are, by and large, legally baseless and factually deficient.
Fix st, Plaintiff's claims fol' promissoxy estoppel are baxred by the statute of frauds, as they are
premised upon an oral and unwritten promise to effect the transfer of title to real estate.
Furthermore, Plaintiff has failed to establish any exception to the Statute of Frauds, as a matter of
law. Second, Plaintiff's conspiracy claim against Defendants is barred by the doctrine of intra-
corporate immunity.. Finally, Plaintiff's conspiracy claim is barred by her exclusive statutory
remedies afforded by Chapter 21.. As such, Defendants pray the Court dismiss these claims with
prejudice pw·suant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 91a and for all other relief to which they
may be entitled.
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Feb 3 2015 9:50AM No 7814 P. 10
Respectfully submitted,
Chi:istine E. R~inhard ' · · ·.
State Bar No. 24013389
Shannon B. Schmoyer
State B8l No. 17780250
Justin Bai:bour
StateBarNo. 24055142
SCHMOYER REINHARD LLP
17806 IH 10 West, Suite 400
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Phone: (210) 447-8033
Fax: (210) 447-8036
creinhard@,sr-llp.com
sschmoye1@,s1cllp.com
jbarbour@sr-Ilp.com
ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS FMP SA
MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, D/B/A
FOOD MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC,
ALL JONES, LLC, ALLEN J, JONES, AND
PETER DONBAVAND
FIAT
The foregoing Amended Rule 9la Partial Motion to Dismiss is hereby set for hearing at
8::30 a..m. on Mru:ch 18, 2015 in the Presiding District Cou1t, Bexar County Courthouse,
San Antonio, Texas.
Signed on this _ _ _ day ofFebiuary, 2015.
JUDGE PRESIDING
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Feb 3 2015 9:50AM No.7814 P 11
CERTlFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served via electronic service,
facsimile and certified mail, return receipt requested, to:
Olga Brown
Law Office of Olga Brown
111 Soledad, Suite 1725
San Antonio, Iexas 78205
(210) 226-1884 (facsimile)
argyle2@sbcglobal.net
on this 3xd day ofFebxwuy, 2015.
/)~¥'.?..a~
(fe~'
Christine E. Reinhard
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EXHIBIT 1
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No 7814 . P 13
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FILED ,
10121/2014 4:04:2j PM 4 CITS PPS W/JD • SAC2
Donn• Kay McKinney
BeXar County District Clerf<
Accepted By~ Marc Garcia
CAUSE NO. 2014~!16674
CEARTH FAIRE § IN THE DISTRICT
Plaintiff §
§
v. §
§ 15QTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, §
LLC, D/B/A FOOD MANAGEMENT §
PARTNERS, LLC, §
ALL JONES, LLC, Al LEN J JONES,
INDIVIDUALLY, AND
PETER DONBAVAND, §
INDIVIDUALLY §
§
Defendants § BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
PLAINTIFF'S ORIGINAL PETITION &
REQUEST FOR DISCLOSURE
Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, files this original petition and request for disclosure
against defendants, Fmp Sa Management Group, LLC, D/B/A Food Management
Partners, LLC, All Jones, LLC, Allen J Jones, and Peter Donbavand, and alleges as
follows:
DISCOVERY-CONTROL PLAN
L Plaintiff intends to conduct discovery under Level 3 of Texas Rule of Civil
Prnced11re 190 4 and affirmatively pleads that this snit is not governed by the
expedited-actions process in Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 169 because she may
seek Injunctive relief..
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
2.. Plaintiff seeks monetary relief over $200,000 . 00 but not more than
$3,000,000 .. QO .
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'· ~· '··:' '.
PARllES
3.. Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, is an individual whose address is 8647 Timber Place,
San Antonio, TX 78250 .
4.. Defendant FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LL.C, D/B/A FOOD
MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC is an active lexas Lirnit.ed Liability Company
conducting business in the State of Texas, and may be served by and through its
registered agen,t for service of process, Peter Donbavand, 120 Chula Vista, Hollywood
Park, Texas 78232 .
5.. Defendant ALL JONES, LLC is an active Texas Limited Liability
Company conducting business in the Sfate of Texas, and may be served by and
through its registered agent for service of process, Peter Donbavand, 120 Chula Vista,
Hollywood Park, Texas 78232.
6.. Defendant Allen J Jones, is an individual whose address is 73 l.a
Escalera, San Antonio, Texas 78261
7.. Defendant Peter Donbavand, is an individual whose business address
is, Food Management Partners, l.L.G 120 Chula Vista, San Antonio, TX 78232
JURISDICTION
8. The Court has subject-matter jurisdictjon over the lawsuit because the amount
in controversy exceeds this Court's minimum jurisdictional requirements.
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VENUE
9.. Venue is proper in Bexar County as all or a substantial part of the events or
omissions giving rise to the claim occurred in Bexar County.
FACTS
10.. Plaintiff Faire was an employee of Defendants, as well as a personal
assistant to Defendant Jones. Plaintiff, in addition to working for Defendants'
businesses, also took care of Defendant Jones' personal matters, including living in
the Dominican Republic for over five months on a 24/7 basis assisting in his defense
in a family law matter.
11.. Defendant Jones in recognition for her loyal and tireless services
assumed the role of her benefactor .. In his role as a benefactor Defendant Jones
promised Plaintiff that he would buy her a home so she would never have worries
about a residence. Defendant Jones developed a scheme for the purchase of the
house that included an authorization that Plaintiffs pay scale would be increased to
cover the house payments . Defendant Jones intended to hide the gift from the other
Defendants named in this lawsuit. Defendants have a real estate department as part
---,----------·---·--'--- ··------------
of their businesses.
12.. Although Defendant Jones intended to disguise the gift of the ~esidence
from his business partners, nevertheless he authorized for the necessary real estate
transactions to be initiated that would result in a purchase transaction with Piaintiff as
the owner. Plaintiff relied on Defendant Jones' promise and she moved into the
residence at 8647 Timber Place, San Antonio, Texas 78250 .
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Feb.. 3. 201 5c 9: 52AM " ..
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13.. Plalntiff incurred moving expenses as well as expenses in making
repairs to the residence to make it habitable. The residence is still in need of
significant repairs . An inspectisin was ordered by the defendants as further proof of
Defendant Jones' promise of the gift Further, in reliance that the home would be
given to her, Plaintiff agreed to sign a one-month lease .
14.. Thereafter, Defendant Jones, fired Plaintiff, notwithstanding her recent
promotion based on meritorious work .. Defendant Jones has also conspired with the
other defendants including Defendant Peter Donabavand to evict Plaintiff from the
house she was promised.. The wrongful eviction proceedings are currently pending in
justice of the peace court
15. Defendants continue to harass the Plaintiff although they have been put
on notice that question of title is so integrally linked to the issue of possession, that
the justice court is without jurisdiction over the matter . The title to the property is one
of the facts that give rise to this lawsuit. Plaintiff suffers from mental anguish as a
result of the conduct of Defendant Jones and the other defendants who have
·conspired with Defendant Jones . --·--·-.-------
,............
Count 1 Promissory Estoppal as a Claim
16.. Defendant Jones promised the Plaintiff that he would purchase a
residence for her. He promised that he would buy the home owned by another partner.
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The financing of the purchase was designed so as to be disguised as follows: Plaintiff
was to receive and did rt".ceive a raise to cover the monthly payments Defendant
Jones also promised Plaintiff lifetime employment.
17.. All the necessary real estate documents weie ordered by Defendant
Jones.
18.. Plaintiff relied on Defendant Jones' promise because the nature and
subject of the promise was reasonable in the context of the relationship betvveen the
Plaintiff and Defendant Jones. Plaintiff's reliance on the promise was also reasonable
and substantial, and she moved into the residence incurring moving and repair
expenses .
19 Defendant Jones knew or reasonably should have known, that Plaintiff
would rely on Defendant's promise Injustice to Plaintiff can be avoided solely if
Defendant's promise is enforced . Plaintiffs reliance on Defendant Jones' promise (s)
resulted in injury to Plaintiff which caused economic as well as non-economic
damages . Plaintiff seeks damages within the jurisdictional limits of the court.
---Lo:- l"'urthet, Platntlff l!i entllll!d to recover reasonable and 1\eM§!;ary attOrney
fees under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 38 . 001(8) because this suit
is for promissory estoppeL
21 . On or about July 25, 2014 at the office of FMP SA Management Group, LLG,
d/b/a Food Management Partners, LLC, hereinafter "FMP", 120 Chula Vista, San
Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, Allen J .Jones, President of FMP, and benefactor of
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Plaintiff, made a promise to purchase a home for Plaintiff, located at 8647 Timber
Place, San Antonio, Texas 78250, for Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, negotiating a temporary
lease pending the purchase of the home for her
22. At the direction of Defendant Jones, Defendant Peter Donbavand, Vice
President of Real Estate ~ Business Development for Defendant FMP, commenced
the process of purchasing the home at 8647 Timber Place, San Antonio, Texas
78250, for Plaintiff. Defendants' actions in furtherance of the promise, included but
were not limited to contracting for an inspection and repairs for the home, prior to
purchase .
23.. At the direction of Defendant Jones, Defendant Donbavand negotiated a
temporary lease agreement between, Tara Kemp, the owner of the home at 8647
Timber Place, and Plaintiff, pending closing of !hat purchase on or about September
15, 2014 . Defendant Donbavand prepared the one-month lease pending the closing
of the sale.
24.. Relying on the promise to purchase, and subsequent actions on the part of '
Defendants, Plaintiff Faire gave notice to vacate her prior address ..
25. On or about August 30, 2014, Plaintiffs employment with Defendant FMP was
abruptly terminated, without notice or good cause connected with the work.. Her
employment was terminated after several years, and following a recent promotion and
pay increase. Defendant Jones had promised Plaintiff lifetime employment based on
her willingness to work around the clock if necessary.
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19 ,., ·:- ~ ·-
:·.: ::::;: ~ :: : ··~: :
26. Employees of Defendants All Jones, LLC, and FMP, under the direction and
control of Defendants Jones and Donbavand, were instrncted, and did demand and
collect Plaintiffs personal iPhone, iPad, and computers.. Defendants then h;id access
to all her security and passwords, including her bank account, which they accessed.
27.. On or about September 8, 2014, at the direction of Defendants Jones and
Donbavand, FMP employee Jessica DelaTorre personally delivBred a Notice to
Vacate Property, to Plaintiff at her home at 8647 Timber Place.
COUNT I • Promlssol)' Estoppel As A Claim
28.. Defendant Jones made a promise to the Plaintiff that he would buy her a
house . The said house was owned by Tara Kemp, the wife of his partner, Jason
Kemp. Defendant Jones assured Plaintiff that the official real estate documents for
conveyance were being prepared . Defendant wanted Plaintiff to own the house in
consideration for her loyal employment during the past years . The nature of the
promise was one that was reasonable considering the special relationship between
the parties.
detriment Her reliance was foreseeable by Defendant Jones and other Defendants
acting in concert with Jones.. Further, Defendants have actual knowledge of her
reliance In that in furtherance of Jones' promise to purchase the house for her,
Plaintiff made numerous improvements to the home Defendant Jones promised her.
Plaintiff sustained economic damages as a result and great injustice can be avoided
only by enforcing the Defendanrs promise. r
Received Time Feb. 3 9:44AM
30.. Defendant Jones knew or reasonably should have known, U1at Plaintiff
would rely on Defendant's promise. Injustice to Plaintiff can be avoided solely if
Defendant's promise is enforced.. Plaintiff's reliance on Defendant Jones' promise (s)
resulted In Injury to Plaintiff which caused economic as well as non-economic
damages . Plaintiff seeks damages within the jurisdictional limits of the court
31.. Further, Plaintiff is entitled to recoverreasonable and necessary attorney
f~es under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies CO de section 38 . 001 (8) because this suit
is for promissory estoppeL
COUNT 11- WRONGFUL TERMINATION
32. Over two years ago Plaintiff and Defendants entered into a valid and
enforceable written employment agreement. Throughout the term of employment,
Defendant Jones incessantly praised Plaintiff for her efforts both as to the companies
and to his personal requii·ements. Defendant Jones accordingly gave her pay raises
and 9ther benefits.
33. \JV lthln two weet<:s ol l'ler latest pay rnJSe, Oefentlati! Jones breached the -
employment agreement by firing her without cause . Defendant Jones has failed to
meet the terms of the agreement His breach has caused injury to the Plaintiff which
resulted in economic damages including but not limited to her mqnthly salary, benefits
and a severance package . Plaintiff seeks unliquidated damages within the
jurisdictional limits of this Court.
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
..
::::.: ..
34.. Defendant Jones' accessing of her personal bank account and
Facebook account and other private matters would be offensive to a reasonable
person . Plaintiff has confirmed with her bank of Defendant Jones' intrusion via the
internet
COUNT Ill - CONVERSION
35. Plaintiff owned several items of electronic personal property that
included an !phone and an lpad load with personal information and private pass codes
including to bank accounts . Defendants wrongfully acquired and exercised dominion
and control over Plaintiff's personal property and invade her right to privacy .
Defendants have refused to return Plaintiffs personal property and continue to
harass Plaintiff by illegally accessing her email accounts.
36. Plaintiff has made numerous attempts to get her personal
property by means of written communications with Defendant Jones . He intentionally
and willfully contlnues to exercise dominion and control over Plaintiff's personal
property including electronic information. Defendants' wrongful acts have proximately
and directly caused injury to the Plaintiff, which have resulted in economic and non-
eeono111ie dainagl!!S. Plaintiff seeks 1ettin1 mti 1e etinoeffod prepefly a11d tf'ie damages
within the jurisdictional limits of the Court..
37.. Further, Plaintiff seeks exemplary damages against all
Defendants as her injury resulted from Defendants' malice, which entitles Plaintiff to
exemplary damages under rex. Civ . P .. & Remedies Code section 41..003(a). Plaintiff
is also entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees under the Texas Property Code,
because this claim is to recover her personal property .
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JURY DEMAND
38.. Plaintiff demands a jury trial and tenders the appropriate fee with thi$ petition .
CONDITIONS PRECEDE'.NT
39.. All conditions precedent to plalntifrs claim for relief have been performed or
have occurred ..
REQUEST FOR DISCLOSURE
40 . Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 194, plaintiff requests that defendant
disclose, within 50 days of the service of this request, the information or
material described in Rule 194..2 .
OBJECTION TO ASSOCIATE JUDGE
41 . Plaintiff objects to the referral of this case to an associate judge for hearing a
trial on the merits or presiding at a jury trial.
PRAYER
For these reasons, plaintiff asks that defendant be cited to appear and answer
and, on final trial, that plaintiff be awarded a judgment against defendant for the
following:
a. Economic and non-economic damages including, but not limited to back
pay, front pay, severance pay, specific performance regarding the gift
purchase of a home (or its morietary equivalent)..
b.. Prejudgment and postjudgment Interest
c.. Court costs .
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
d. Attorney's fees
e. All other relief to which plaintiff is entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
LAW OFFICE OF OLGA BROWN
111 Soledad, Suite 1725
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210/226-1550 telephone
210/226-1884 facsimile
l
Argyle2@sbcglobal.net
By: Isl Olga Brown_
OLGA BROWN
State Bar No. 03155500
Attomey for Plaintiff
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Feb. 3 2015 9:55AM No 7814 P. 24
EXHIBIT 2
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Feb 3 2015 9:55AM No 7814 P. 25
FILED
11126/2014 11:17:31 AM
Donna Kay McKinney
Bexar County District Cieri<
Accepted By: Maria Abilez
CAUSE NO. 2014-Cl-16674
CEARTHFAIRE, § IN THE DlSTRlCT COURT
§
Plaintiff, §
§
v. §
§
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC § 150TH JUDIClAL DIS IRJCI
d/b/aFOOD:MANAGEMENTPARTNERS, §
LLC, ALL JONES, LlC, ALLEN L JONES §
INDIVIDUALLY, AND PETER §
DONBAVAND, INDIVIDUALLY §
§
Defendants.. § BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
DEFENDANTS' GENERAL DENIAL, DEFENSES &
REQUEST FOR DISCLOSURES TO PLAINTIFF
For their Answer to Plaintiff's Original Petition, Defendants FMP SA Management
Gxoup, LLC d/b/a Food Management Pa1tnexs, LLC, All Jones, LLC, Allen l. Jones, and
Peter Donbavand (collectively, "Defendants") respectfully show the following:
l.
GENERAL DENIAL
Pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 92, Defendants generally deny each and every
allegation contained in Plaintiff's 01iginal Petition, and demand strict proof thereof as required
by the Constitution, Statutes, Laws and Texas Rules of Civil Procedure .
II.
DEFENSES
1.. Fails to State a Claim -Plaintiff fails to state a claim, in whole or in pID:t, in her
:Petition upon which relief can be granted.
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Feo 3 2015 9:55AM No 7814 p 26
2.. Conditions Precedent - Plaintiffs claims are barred, in whole or in part, by the
applicable statutes of limitations and/or her failure to satisfy required conditions precedent,
including any applicable administrative prerequisites.
3. :Express Contract- Plaintiff's claims may be baned, in whole or in part, because
the alleged promises at issue in her Petition were subject to a valid, express contract between the
parties.
4.. Statute of Frauds - Plaintiff's claims may be barred, in whole or in paxt, by the
statute of frauds .
5. Lack of Consideration - Plaintiffs claims may be baned, in whole or in part,
because the alleged contracts at issue in her Petition were not supported by mutual consideration .
6.. Failure of Consideration - Plaintiffs claims may be barred, in whole or in part,
because Plaintiff failed to peifoxm a condition precedent to Defendants' alleged duties to
perform, if any.
7.. Wrongfully Acauired Possession -Plaintiff's claims for alleged conversion may
be barred because Plaintiffwiongfully acquired the underlying items and/or property.
8. Superior Title - Plaintiff's claims may be baxred, in whole 01 in part, because
Defendants had superior title or right to the underlying items and/or propert'··
9. Conipan1tive Negligence/No Proxiniate Cause - Plaintiff's damages and losses,
if any, were the result of Plaintiff's own conduct and/or omissions, and wer·e not pxoximately
caused by Defendants' actions and/or omissions .
10. Equitable Defenses -Plaintiff's claims may be barred, in whole oz in part, by the
doctrines of waiver, estoppe!, collateral estoppel, res judicata, £n pari delicro, and unclean hands .
2
Received Time Feo. 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 9:56AM No. 7814 P. 27
11 Failure to Mitigate - Plaintiff has failed to exercise reasonable care and
diligence to mitigate her damages, if any .
12. Offset -Plaintiff's damages and losses, if any, should be reduced by llllY and all
interim eru:nings .
13.. Right to Amend or· Supplement -Defendants reserve the right to amend or
supplement their Answer in accordance with the I exas Rules of Civil Procedure.
Ill.
REQUEST FOR DISCLOSURE
Pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 194, Defendants request that Plaintiff disclose,
within 30 days of service of this request, the information or material described in Rule 194 2.
rv.
PRAYER
Defendants request that, upon fmal hearing, the Court dismiss this lawsuit in its entirety
and ordeI' Plaintiff to take nothing by reason of this action; 01der Plaintiff to pay Defendants the
aa:omey' s fees and costs ihey have incurred and will incur in defending this action; and grant
Defendants all other relief to which it may be entitled .
DATED this 26th day of November, 2014 .
3
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 9:56AM No. 7814 P. 28
hristirie E.Reinhil.id · ···
State Bar No. 24013389
Shannon B. Schmoyer
State Bar No. 17780250
Justin Bru:bour
State Bar No . 24055142
SCHMOYER REINHARD LLP
17806 lH 10 West, Suite 400
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Phone: (210) 447-8033
Fax: (210) 447··8036
cteinhood@sr-llp.com
sschmoyer@sr-llp.com
jbarbour@s1-lJp.com
ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS FMl' SA
MANAGEMENr GROUP, LLC, D/B/A
FOOD MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC,
ALL JONES, LLC, ALLEN J; JONES, AND
PETERDONBAVAND
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served via catified mail,
return receipt requested, to:
Olga Brown
Law Office of Olga Brown
111 Soledad, Suite 1725
SanAntonio, Texas 78205
(210) 226-1884 (facsimile)
argyle2@sbcglobal.net
on this 26th day ofNovember, 2014 .
r
4
Received Time Feb . 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 9:56AM No 7814 P. 29
EXHIBIT 3
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 9:56AM No 7814 P. 30
CAUSE NO. 2014-Cl-16674
CEARTH FAIRE § IN THE DISTRICT
Plaintiff §
§
v. §
§ 150TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, §
LLC, D/B/A FOOD MANAGEMENT §
PARTNERS, LLC, §
ALL JONES, LLC, ALLEN J JONES,
INDIVIDUALLY, AND
PETER DONBAVAND, §
INDIVIDUALLY §
§
Defendants § BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
PLAINTIFF'S AMENDED ORIGINAL PETITION
Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, files this Amended Original Petition against defendants,
Fmp Sa Management Group, LLC, D/B/A Food Management Partners, LLC, All Jones,
LLC, Allen J Jones, and Peter Donbavand, and alleges as follows:
DISCOVERY-CONTROL PLAN
1 Plaintiff intends to conduct discovery under Level 3 of Texas Rule of Civil
Procedure 190 . 4 and affirmatively pleads that this suit is not governed by the
expedited-actions process in Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 169 because she may
seek injunctive relief.
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
2.. Plaintiff seeks monetary relief over $200,000 . 00 but not more than
$3,000,000 00 .
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
I
Feb, 3 2015 9:57AM No 7814 P. 31
PARTIES
3, Plaintiff, Gearth Faire, is an individual whose address is 8647 Timber Place,
San Antonio, TX 78250,
4,, Defendant FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, D/B/A FOOD
MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLG is an active Texas Limited Liability Company
conducting business in the State of Texas, and has been served and is represented by
counsel, and is properly before this court,,
5., Defendant ALL JONES, LLC is an active Texas Limited Liability
Company conducting business in the State of Texas, and and has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court
6,, Defendant Allen ,J Jones, is an individual who has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court
7. Defendant Peter Donbavand, is an individual has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court.
JURISDICTION
8., The Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over the lawsuit because the
amount in controversy exceeds this Court's minimum jurisdictional requirements,,
VENUE
9., Venue is proper in Bexar County as all or a substantial part of the events or
omissions giving rise to the claim occurred in Bexar County,,
2
Received Time Feb, 3 9:44AM
Feb, 3 2015 9:57AM No 7814 P. 32
FACTS
10,, Plaintiff Faire was an employee of Defendants, as well as a personal
assistant to Defendant Jones,, Plaintiff, in addition to working for Defendants'
businesses, also took care of Defendant Jones' personal matters, including living in
the Dominican Republic for approximately five months on a 24/7 basis assisting in his
defense in a family law matter, Plaintiff has not been properly compensated for her
seNices,
11, Defendant Jones in recognition for her loyal and tireless seNices
assumed the role of her benefactor. In his role as a benefactor Defendant Jones
promised Plaintiff that he would buy her a home so she would never have worries
about a residence,, Defendant Jones developed a scheme for the purchase of the
house that included an authorization that Plaintiff's pay scale would be increased to
cover the house payments, Defendant Jones intended to hide the gift from the other
Defendants named in this lawsuit Defendants have a real estate department as part
of their businesses,,
12,. Although Defendant Jones intended to disguise the gift of the residence
from his business partners, nevertheless he authorized for the necessary real estate
transactions to be initiated that would result in a purchase transaction with Plaintiff as
the owner, Plaintiff relied on Defendant Jones' promise and she moved into the
residence at 8647 Timber Place, San Antonio, Texas 78250,,
13,, Plaintiff incurred moving expenses as well as expenses in making
repairs to the residence to make it habitable, The residence is still in need of
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 9:57AM No 7814 P. 33
significant repairs. An inspection was ordered by the defendants as further proof of
Defendant Jones' promise of the gift. Further, in reliance that the home would be
given to her, Plaintiff agreed to sign a one-month lease .
14. Thereafter, Defendant Jones, fired Plaintiff, notwithstanding her recent
promotion based on meritorious work .. Defendant Jones has now conspired with the
other defendants including Defendant Peter Donabavand to evict Plaintiff from the
house she was promised. The wrongful eviction proceedings were abated, as the
justice of the peace court Jacks jurisdiction to rule on the petition for eviction.
Defendants have not withdrawn their petition for eviction, as further proof of the
Defendant Jones' promise to Plaintiff.
15.. Defendants continue to harass the Plaintiff by wrongfully repossessing
her car Plaintiff had clear title to her 2005 Mini cooper . Jones promised her an
ambiguous payment plan, and in retaliation for claiming her rightful title to her house,
he has deprived Plaintiff of a necessity to seek employment During the
repossession process, he terrorized her by sending strangers to ring her doorbell, all
while he owns a million dollars worth of automobiles, and spends a great deal of his
time in the Dominican Republic .
Count 1 Promissory Estoppel as a Claim
16. Defendant Jones promised the Plaintiff that he would purchase a
residence for her.. He promised that he would buy the home owned by another partner.
The financing of the purchase was designed so as to be disguised as follows: Plaintiff
was to receive and did receive a raise to cover the monthly payments. Defendant
4
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 9:58AM No 7814 P. 34
Jones also promised Plaintiff lifetime employment
17.. All the necessary real estate documents were ordered by Defendant
Jones .
18.... Plaintiff relied on Defendant Jones' promise because the nature and
subject of the promise was reasonable in the context of the relationship between the
Plaintiff and Defendant Jones . Plaintiff 's reliance on the promise was also reasonable
and substantial, and she moved into the residence incurring moving and repair
expenses .
19.. Defendant Jones knew or !·easonably should have known. that Plaintiff
would rely on Defendant's promise.. Injustice to Plaintiff can be avoided solely if
Defendant's promise is enforced Plaintiff's reliance on Defendant Jones' promise (s)
resulted in injury to Plaintiff which caused economic as well as non-economic
damages.... Plaintiff seeks damages within the jurisdictional limits of the court
20.. Further, Plaintiff is entitled to recover reasonable and necessary attorney
fees under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 38 . 001 (8) because this suit
is for promissory estoppeL
21.. On or about July 25, 2014 at the office of FMP SA Management Group, LLG,
d/b/a Food Management Partners, LLC, hereinafter "FMP", 120 Chula Vista, San
Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, Allen J Jones, President of FMP, and benefactor of
Plaintiff, made a promise to purchase a home for Plaintiff, located at 8647 Timber
Place, San Antonio, Texas 78250, for Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, negotiating a temporary
lease pending the purchase of the home for her. .
22 At the direction of Defendant Jones, Defendant Peter Donbavand, Vice
l
Received Time Feb . 3 9:44AM
Feb. 3 2015 9:58AM No 7814 P. 35
President of Real Estate & Business Development for Defendant FMP, commenced
the process of purchasing the home at 8647 Timber Place, San Antonio, Texas
78250, for Plaintiff.. Defendants' actions in furtherance of the promise, included but
were not limited to contracting for an inspection and repairs for the home, prior to
purchase .
23. At the direction of Defendant Jones, Defendant Donbavand negotiated a
temporary lease agreement between, Tara Kemp, the owner of the home at 8647
Timber Place, and Plaintiff. pending closing of that purchase on or about September
15, 2014. Defendant Donbavand prepared the one-month lease pending the closing
of the sale .
24.. Relying on the promise to purchase, and subsequent actions on the part of
Defendants, Plaintiff Faire gave notice to vacate her prior address.
25.. On or about August 30, 2014, Plaintiffs employment with Defendant FMP was
abruptly terminated, without notice or good cause connected with the work.. Her
employment was terminated after several years, and following a recent promotion and
pay increase. Defendant Jones had promised Plaintiff lifetime employment based on
her willingness to work around the clock if necessary.
26.. Employees of Defendants All Jones, LLC, and FMP, under the direction and
control of Defendants Jones and Donbavand, were instructed, and did demand and
collect Plaintiffs personal iPhone, iPad, and computers. Defendants then had access
to all her security and passwords, including her bank account, which they accessed.
6
Received Time Feb. 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 9:59AM No 7814 P. 36
27. On or about September 8, 2014, at the direction of Defendants Jones and
Donbavand, FMP employee Jessica DelaTorre personally delivered a Notice to
Vacate Property, to Plaintiff at her home at 8647 Timber Place .
COUNT I - Promissory Estoppel As A Claim
28.. Defendant Jones made a promise to the Plaintiff that he would buy her a
house. The said house was owned by Tara Kemp, the wife of his partner, Jason
Kemp.. Defendant Jones assured Plaintiff that the official real estate documents for
conveyance were being prepared.. Defendant wanted Plaintiff to own the house in
consideration for her loyal employment during the past years. The nature of the
promise was one that was reasonable considering the special relationship between
the parties, and the multi-million dollar net worth of the Defendant Jones, that includes
approximately one million dollars worth of automobiles .
29.. Plaintiff Faire reasqnably and substantially relied on the promise to her
detriment Her reliance was foreseeable by Defendant Jones and other Defendants
acting in concert with Jones.. Further, Defendants have actual knowledge of her
reliance in that in furtherance of Jones' promise to purchase the house for her,
Plaintiff made numerous improvements to the home Defendant Jones promised her.
Plaintiff sustained economic damages as a result and great injustice can be avoided
only by enforcing the Defendant's promise, which is reasonable in light of Defendant
Jones' net worth .
Received Time Feb. 3 9:44AM
Feb 3, 2015 9:59AM No 7814 P. 37
30,, Defendant Jones knew or reasonably should have known, that Plaintiff
would rely on Defendant's promise . Injustice to Plaintiff can be avoided solely if
Defendant's promise is enforced. Plaintiff's reliance on Defendant Jones' promise (s)
resulted in injury to Plaintiff which caused economic as well as non-economic
damages,, Plaintiff seeks damages within the jurisdictional limits of the court
31,, Further, Plaintiff is entitled to recover reasonable and necessary attorney
fees under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 38 .001 (8) because this suit
is for promissory estoppet
COUNT II-WRONGFUL TERMINATION
32,, Over two years ago Plaintiff and Defendants entered into a valid and
enforceable written employment agreement. Throughout the term of employment,
Defendant Jones incessantly praised Plaintiff for her efforts both as to the companies
and to his personal requirements,, Defendant Jones accordingly gave her pay raises
and other benefits,,
33, Within two weeks of her latest pay raise, Defendant Jones breached the
employment agreement by firing her without cause,, Defendant Jones has failed to
meet the terms of the agreement His breach has caused injury to the Plaintiff which
resulted in economic damages including but not limited to her monthly salary, benefits
and a severance package., Plaintiff seeks unliquidated damages within the
jurisdictional limits of this Court,,
8
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 9:59AM No 7814 P. 38
34. Defendant Jones' accessing of her personal bank account and
Facebook account and other private matters would be offensive to a reasonable
person . Plaintiff has confirmed with her bank of Defendant Jones' intrusion via the
internet Plaintiff seeks exemplary damages for this outrageous, if not illegal conduct
COUNT Ill - CONVERSION
35.. Plaintiff owned several items of electronic personal property that
included an lphone and an lpad load with personal information and private pass codes
including to bank accounts. Defendants wrongfully acquired and exercised dominion
and control over Plaintiff's personal property and invade her right to privacy .
Defendants have refused to return Plaintiff's personal property and continue to
harass Plaintiff by illegally accessing her email accounts.
36. Plaintiff has made numerous attempts to get her personal
property by means of written communications with Defendant Jones . He intentionally
and willfully continues to exercise dominion and control over Plaintiff's personal
property including electronic information . Defendants' wrongful acts have proximately
and directly caused injury to the Plaintiff, which have resulted in economic and non-
economic damages . Plaintiff seeks return of the converted property and the damages
within the jurisdictional limits of the Court
37.. Further, Plaintiff seeks exemplary damages against all
Defondants as her injury resulted from Defendants' malice, which entitles Plaintiff to
exemplary damages under Tex. Civ P & Remedies Code section 41 . 003(a) Plaintiff
r
Received Time Feb. 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:00AM No 7814 P. 39
is also entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees under the Texas Property Code,
because this claim is to recover her personal property .
JURY DEMAND
38.. Plaintiff has demanded a jury trial and tendered the appropriate fee with her
original petition .
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
39 . All conditions precedent to plaintiff's claim for relief have been performed or
have occurred.
OBJECTION TO ASSOCIATE JUDGE
40. Plaintiff objects to the referral of this case to an associate judge for hearing a
trial on the merits or presiding at a jury trial.
PRAYER
For these reasons, plaintiff asks that defendant be cited to appear and answer
and, c;in final trial, that plaintiff be awarded a judgment against defendant for the
following:
a. Exemplary damages
b. Economic and non-economic damages including, but not limited to back
pay, front pay, severance pay, specific performance regarding the gift
purchase of a home (or its monetary equivalent)
c.. Prejudgment and postjudgment interest
d.. Court costs .
e.. Reasonable and necessary Attorney's fees
10
Rec ei ved Time Feb 3 9: 44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:00AM No 7814 P. 40
f All other relief to which plaintiff is entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
LAW OFFICE OF OLGA BROWN
111 Soledad, Suite 1725
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210/226-1550 telephone
210/226-'1884 facsimile
Arqyle2@sbcglobal.net
By: Isl Olga Brown
OLGA BROWN
State Bar No . 03155500
Attorney for Plaintiff
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I do hereby certify that on the 5th day of December 2014, in accordance with
the TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, a true and correct copy of the above and
foregoing Plaintiff's Amended Original Petitioner was furnished to:
Christine E Reinhard
SCHMOYER REINHARD LLP
17806 IH 10West, Suite 400
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Isl Olga Brown
OLGA BROWN
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:00AM No 7814 P. 41
EXHIBIT4
[
Received Time Feb 3. · 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:00AM No 7814 P. 42
FILED
1/2812015 4:07:54 PM
Donna Kay McKinney
Bexar County District Cieri<
Accepted By: Monica Hernande~
CAUSE NO. 2014-CJ.16674
CEARTH FAIRE § JN THE DISTRICT
Plaintiff §
§
v. §
§ 1soTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
FMI> SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, §
LLC, D/B/A FOOD MANAGEMENT §
PARTNERS, LLC, §
ALL JONES, LLC, ALLEN J JONES,
INDIVIDUALLY, AND
PETER DONBAVAND, §
INDIVIDUALLY §
§
Defendants § BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
PLAINTIFF'S SECOND AMENDED ORIGINAL PETITION
Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, files this Second Amended Original Petition against
defendants, FMP Sa Management Group, LLC, D/B/A Food Management Partners,
LLC, ALL JONES, LLC, Allen J Jones, and Peter Donbavand, and alleges as follows:
DISCOVERY-CON'rROL PLAN
1. Plaintiff intends to conduct discovery under Level 3 of Texas Rule of Civil
Procedure 190.4 and affirmatively pleads that this suit is not governed by the
expedited-actions process in Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 169 because she may
seek injunctive relief. Plaintiff has a pending Motion for a Level Three Docket Control
Order, and the parties entered into a Rule 11 Agreement showing intent to enter into
an Agreed Docket Control Order and setting this matter for Jury Trial November 2,
2015 See Exhibit A.
Received Time Feb. 3 9:44AM
Feb. 3 2015 10:01AM No 7814 P. 43
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
2.. Plaintiff seeks monetary relief over $200,000.00 but not more than
$3,000,000 . 00.
PARTIES
3.. Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, is an individual whose address is 8647 Timber Place,
San Antonio, TX 78250.
4.. Defendant FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, D/B/A FOOD
MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC is an active Texas Limited Liability Company
conducting business in the State of Texas, and has been served and is represented by
counsel, and is properly before this court
5. Defendant ALL JONES, LLC is an active Texas Limited Liability
Company conducting business in the State of Texas, and and has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court
6. Defendant Allen J Jones, is an individual who has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court.
7.. Defendant Peter Donbavand, is an individual has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court.
JURISDICTION
8.. The Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over the lawsuit beeause the
amount in controversy exceeds this Court's minimum jurisdictional requirements .
2
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:01AM No. 7814 P. 44
VENUE
9.. Venue is proper in Bexar County as all or a substantial part of the events or
omissions giving rise to the claim occurred in Bexar County .
FACTS
10.. Plaintiff Faire was an employee of Defendants, as well as a personal
assistant to Defendant Jones.. Plaintiff, in addition to working for Defendants'
businesses, also took care of Defendant Jones' personal matters, including living in
the Dominican Republic for approximately five months on a 2417 basis assisting in his
defense in a family law matter pending in Bexar County, Texas. Plaintiff has not been
properly compensated for her services .
11.. Defendant Jones, in recognition for her loyal and tireless services
assumed the role of her benefactor . In his role as a benefactor Defendant Jones
promised Plaintiff that he would buy a home and transfer ownership to Plaintiff, so she
would never have worries about a residence.. Defendant Jones developed a scheme
for his purchase of the house that included telling other corporate officers that
Plaintiff's pay increase was for the house payments Defendant Jones intended to hide
his gift from the other Defendants named in this lawsuit Defendants have a real
estate department as part of their businesses, and therefore, Plaintiff was further
inclined to believe his promise to purchase and transfer ownership .
12.. Although Defendant Jones intended to disguise the gift of the residence
from his business partners, nevertheless he authorized for the necessary real estate
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:01AM No. 7814 P. 45
transactions to be initiated that would result in a purchase transaction and an
immediate transfer of ownership.. Plaintiff relied on Defendant Jones' promise and she
moved into the residence at 8647 Timber Place, San Antonio, Texas 78250 .
13.. Plaintiff incurred moving expenses as well as expenses in making
repairs to the residence to make it habitable . The residence is still in need of
significant repairs. An inspection was ordered by the defendants as further proof of
Defendant Jones' purchase with intention to make a gift Further, in reliance that the
home would be given to her, Plaintiff agreed to sign a one-month lease.
14. Thereafter, Defendant Jones, fired Plaintiff, notwithstanding her recent
promotion based on meritorious work .... Defendant Jones has now conspired with the
other defendants including Defendant Peter Donbavand to evict Plaintiff from the
house she was promised. The wrongful eviction proceedings were abated, as the
justice of the peace court lacks jurisdiction to rule on the petition for eviction
15.. Defendants continue to harass the Plaintiff by wrongfully repossessing
her car. Plaintiff had clear title to her 2005 Mini cooper. Jones promised her an
ambiguous payment plan, and in retaliation for claiming her rightful title to her house,
he has depriVed Plaintiff of a necessity of transportation to seek employment During
the repossession process, he terrorized her by sending strangers to ring her doorbell,
all while he owns a million dollars worth of automobiles, and spends a great deal of
his time in the Dominican Republic.
4
Rec ei ved Time Feb 3 9: 44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:02AM No 7814 P. 46
16.. Plaintiff had an exemplary employment record with Defendants FMP and
ALL JONES, LLC, and had immediately before the firing, been given a raise in pay
and additional duties.. Plaintiff was fired solely because Plaintiff refused to continue
perform employment duties that were not in furtherance of the corporate business but
to serve as a shield for Defendant Jones numerous illegal activities some including
sexual harassment. Defendant Peter Donbavand, a business partner of Defendant
Jones was aware of the employment violations occurring at the corporations and by
non-action, condoned the wrongful conduct of Defendant Jones .
17.. Plaintiff seeks actual damages as a result of the wrongful termination,
which include, but are not limited to back pay from the date of retaliation until the date
of trial.. Plaintiff also seeks future pay in lost earnings and benefits including the
repossession of her automobile lost as a result of her wrongful termination .
18.. Plaintiff also seeks damages for past and future mental anguish as a
result of Defendant Jones forcing her to choose between the illegal activities he was
demanding of her and her livelihood .
19.. Defendant Jones acted with malice toward Plaintiff in that ,Jones
exhibited conscious indifference to consequences Plaintiff might suffer separate and
apart from the damages suffered as a result of the wrongful termination.. Defendant
Jones and Defendant Donbavand have inflicted additional injuries by circulating
malicious rumors about the Plaintiff, harassing the Plaintiff and other activities which
affect her future employment. Plaintiff therefore seeks exemplary damages.
Rec ei ved Time Feb. 3 9: 44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:02AM No 7814 P. 47
COUNT 1-PROMISSORY ESTOPPEL as a CLAIM
20.. On or about March 27, 2013, when Plaintiff Faire was temporarily living
in the Dominican Republic at the request of Defendant ,Jones, taking care of Jones'
child Astin, working on a 24/7 hour basis, Defendant Jones promised to buy a home
and gift it to Plaintiff upon their return to San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
21. It was reasonable for Plaintiff to rely on Defendant Jones' promise to
purchase a home and gift it to her based on Defendant Jones' financial resources,
including his ownership of one million dollars worth of cars, and extensive property
real estate holdings in the United States, and in the Dominican Republic.
22.. Defendant Jones promised the Plaintiff that he would execute a written
agreement at closing, giving her full title and interest to the home . Defendant Jones
further promised the closing would take place immediately upon the reaching of an
agreement on the final price and other terms. A final purchase price was reached
between Defendant Jones and his business partner Jason Kemp . All terms for the
sale of the house were reached by buyer and seller.
23. Defendant Jones negotiated all the terms of the real estate purchase
Defendant Jones had reached an agreement with his business partner, Jason Kemp
to purchase the house located at 8647 Timber Place San Antonio, Texas 78250 from
Kemp's wife, Tara Kemp . The real estate actions necessary for a closing were
initiated . Defendant Donbavand ordered an inspection of the home in furtherance of a
prompt closing .
6
Rec ei ved Time Feb 3 9: 44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:03AM No. 7814 P. 48
24.. Although there were no uncertainties regarding the purchase of the
home by Defendant Jones for the Plaintiff, there was a delay in the closing. Plaintiff
was asked to sign a one month lease pending the real estate closing. In signing the
one-month lease, Defendant Jones promised he would sign the necessary documents
to give Plaintiff full and complete ownership of the home in consideration for her loyal
efforts in assisting Defendant Jones in the defense of his suit for divorce .
25. It now appears th.at Defendant Jones, acting in concert with Defendant
Donbavand, who appeared in Justice of Peace court attempting to practice law without
a license, regarding this promise, made the following:
a. a false representation or concealment of material facts concerning the
real estate transaction;
b.. made representation with knowledge, actual or constructive, of those
facts;
c. with the intention that it should be acted on;
d.. to a party without knowledge or the means of knowledge of those facts
e.. who detrimentally relied upon the misrepresentation
26.. Plaintiff contends the promise to complete the transaction (closing of the
real estate} conveying title to Plaintiff is binding against Defendant Jones in order to
avoid injustice. Plaintiff further contends equitable estoppel alleged above is sufficient
to preclude the statute of fraud defense to this promise of a home to Plaintiff.
COUNT 2 QUID PRO QUO SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
27 Plaintiff was an employee of Defendants FMP, ALL JONES and their
subsidiaries, and her duties were to serve as a personal assistant to the Defendant
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:03AM No 7814 P. 49
Allen J . Jones, the President and CEO of Defendant FMP . Plaintiff was a self-
supporting divorced woman with no financial resources other than her wages. Plaintiff
also had an exemplary work history prior to working for Defendants .
28.. On or about January 21, 2013 Defendant Jones made sexual advances
toward Plaintiff, a very attractive woman . Defendant Jones then demanded physical
conduct of a sexual nature. Defendant Jones's demands escalated and the mental
abuse was so extreme that it prevented Plaintiff from defending herself.
29.. Defendant Jones made it cleared to the Plaintiff ttiat continued
employment as well as other job benefits were conditioned on her acceptance of the
continued sexual demands of Defendant Jones .
30. At the time of the harassment, Defendant Jones was the President and
CEO of the Food Management Partners, a Texas LLC . At all times, Defendant
Jones held himself out to Plaintiff and to the public, as a very powerful business man,
and owner of 150 businesses . Defendant Jones instilled fear of his power on
Plaintiff.. There was no recourse available to the Plaintiff to complain..
31.. Plaintiff was harmed by the physical sexual conduct perpetrated against
her by Defendant Jones.. Plaintiff's harm was directly and proximately cause by
Defendant Jones sexual harassment.. When Plaintiff was well enough to, she refused
to further submit to Defendant Jones' inappropriate requests she was fired on or
about August 31, 2014 .
l
a
Rec ei v ed Time Feb 3 9: 44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:03AM No 7814 P. 50
32.. Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for lost wages, lost benefits and
future employment opportunities based on her traumatic experience at the hand of
Defendant Jones .
33. Plaintiff seeks exemplary damages based on Defendant Jones's history of
sexual harassment of others and including the purchase of a female for his own
inappropriate sexual requests.
34. Further, Plaintiff seeks exemplary damages against all Defendants, as
her injury resulted from Defendants' malice, which entitles Plaintiff to exemplary
damages under Tex Civ . P. & Remedies Code section 41..003(a).
COUNT 3 - Conspiracy
35.. Defendant Peter Donbavand and Jason Kemp, CFO of FMP assisted
Defendant Jones in conduct which they knew amounted to a commission of a tort or
wrongful acts against the Plaintiff.
36. Defendant Donbavand and Kemp acted with intent to assist Defendant
Jones in his wrongful acts toward Plaintiff including the discriminatory practices
perpetrated against Plaintiff more fully described in Petitioner's Second Amended
Original Petition .
37.. Defendant Donbavand and Kemp's assistance to Defendant Jones and
their own related conduct was a substantial factor in causing the discriminatory
practices and in the breach of the promise Defendant Jones made to Plaintiff.
Received Time Feb. 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:04AM No 7814 P. 51
JURY DEMAND
38. Plaintiff has demanded a jury trial and tendered the appropriate fee with her
original petition .
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
39.. All conditions precedent to plaintiff's claim for relief have been performed or
have occurred .
OBJECTION TO ASSOCIATE JUDGE
40.. Plaintiff objects to the referral of this case to an associate judge for hearing a
trial on the merits or presiding at a jury trial..
I
PRAYER
For these reasons, plaintiff asks that defendant be cited to appear and answer
I
and, on final trial, that plaintiff be awarded a judgment against defendant for the
following:
lI
I
a.
b..
Exemplary damages
Economic and non-economic damages including, but not limited to back
l
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.1
pay, front pay, severance pay, specific performance regarding the gift
purchase of a home (or its monetary equivalent) . I
c.. Prejudgment and postjudgment interest
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d.. Court costs.
e. Reasonable and necessary Attorney's fees
f.. All other relief to which plaintiff is entitled .
10
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:04AM No 7814 P. 52
Respectfully submitted,
LAW OFFICE OF OLGA BROWN
111 Sotedad, Suite 1725
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210/226-1550 telephone
210/226-1884 facsimile
Arayle2@sbcglobal.net
By: Isl Olga Brown
OLGA BROWN
State Bar No 03155500
Attorney for Plaintiff
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I do hereby certify that on the 28th day of January 2015, in accordance with
the TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, a true and correct copy of the above and
foregoing Plaintiff's Second Amended Original Petition was furnished to:
Christine E Reinhard
SCHMOYER REINHARD LLP
17806 IH 10 West, Suite 400
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Isl Olga Btown
OLGA BROWN I
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Rec eiv ed Time Feb 3 9: 44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:04AM No 7814 P. 53
EXHIBIT 5
.
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb. 3 2015 10:04AM No 7814 P. 54
CAUSE NO. 2014-Cl-16674
CEARTH FAIRE § IN THE DISTRICT
Plaintiff §
§
v. §
§ 150TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, §
LLC, D/B/A FOOD MANAGEMENT §
PARTNERS, LLC, §
ALL JONES, LLC, ALLEN J JONES,
INDIVIDUALLY, AND
PETER DONBAVAND, §
INDIVIDUALLY §
§
Defendants § BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
PLAINTIFF'S THIRD AMENDED ORIGINAL PETITION
Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, files this rhird Amended Original Petition against
defendants, FMP Sa Management Group, LLC, D/B/A Food Management Partners,
LLC, ALL JONES, LLC, Allen ,J ,Jones, and Peter Donbavand, and alleges as follows:
DISCOVERY-CONTROL PLAN
1. Plaintiff intends to conduct discovery under Level 3 of Texas Rule of Civil
Procedure 1904 and affirmatively pleads that this suit is not governed by the
expedited-actions process in Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 169 because she may
seek injunctive relief.. Plaintiff has a pending Motion for a Level Three Docket Control
Order, and the parties entered into a Rule 11 Agreement showing intent to enter into
an Agreed Docket Control Order and setting this matter for Jury Trial November 2,
2015 . See Exhibit A.
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Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:05AM No 7814 P. 55
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
2. Plaintiff seeks monetary relief over $200,000 . 00 but not more than
$3,000,000 . 00 .
PARTIES
3.. Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, is an individual whose address is 8647 Timber Place,
San Antonio, TX 78250 .
4.. Defendant FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, D/B/A FOOD
MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC is an active Texas Limited Liability Company
conducting business in the State of Texas, and has been served and is represented by
counsel, and is properly before this court
5. Defendant ALL JONES, LLC is an active Texas Limited Liability
Company conducting business in the State of Texas, and and has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court
6.. Defendant Allen J Jones, is an individual who has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court
7. Defendant Peter Donbavand, is an individual has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court
JURISDICTION
8. The Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over the lawsuit because the
amount in controversy exceeds this Court's minimum jurisdictional requirements .
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2
Rec ei ved Time Feb 3 9: 44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:05AM No 7814 P. 56
VENUE
9 Venue is proper in Bexar County as all or a substantial part of the events or
omissions giving rise to the claim occurred in Bexar County.
FACTS
10. Plaintiff Faire was an employee of Defendants, as well as a personal
assistant to Defendant Jones. Plaintiff, in addition to working for Defendants'
businesses, also took care of Defendant Jones' personal matters, including living in
the Dominican Republic for approximately five months on a 24!7 basis assisting in his
defense in a family law matter pending in Bexar County, Texas . Plaintiff has not been
properly compensated for her services.
11.. Defendant Jones, in recognition for her loyal and tireless services
assumed the role of her benefactor. In his role as a benefactor Defendant Jones
promised Plaintiff that he would buy a home and transfer ownership to Plaintiff, so she
would never have worries about a residence.. Defendant Jones developed a scheme
for his purchase of the house that included telling other corporate officers that
Plaintiff's pay increase was for the house payments. Defendant Jones intended to hide
his gift from the other Defendants named in this lawsuit Defendants have a real
estate department as part of their businesses, and therefore, Plaintiff was further
· inclined to believe his promise to purchase and transfer ownership .
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12 Although Defendant Jones intended to disguise the gift of the residence
from his business partners, nevertheless he authorized for the necessary real estate
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:05AM No 7814 P. 57
transactions to be initiated that would result in a purchase transaction and an
immediate transfer of ownership. Plaintiff relied on Defendant Jones' promise and she
moved into the residence at 864l Timber Place, San Antonio, Texas 78250 .
13. Plaintiff incurred moving expenses as well as expenses in making
repairs to the residence to make it habitable. The residence is still in need of
significant repairs An inspection was ordered by the defendants as further proof of
Defendant Jones' purchase with intention to make a gift Further, in reliance that the
home would be given to her, Plaintiff agreed to sign a one-month lease .
14. Thereafter, Defendant Jones, fired Plaintiff, notwithstanding her recent
promotion based on meritorious work .... Defendant Jones has now conspired with the
other defendants including Defendant Peter Donbavand to evict Plaintiff from the
house she was promised. The wrongful eviction proceedings were abated, as the
justice of the peace court lacks jurisdiction to rule on the petition for eviction.
15.. Defendants continue to harass the Plaintiff by wrongfully repossessing
her car. Plaintiffhad clear title to her 2005 Mini cooper.. Jones promised her an
ambiguous payment plan, and in retaliation for claiming her rightful title to her house,
he has deprived Plaintiff of a necessity of transportation to seek employment During
the repossession process, he terrorized her by sending strangers to ring her doorbell,
all while he owns a million dollars worth of automobiles, and spends a great deal of
his time in the Dominican Republic .
4
Received Time Feb. 3 9:44AM
Feb 3. 2015 10:06AM No 7814 P. 58
16.. Plaintiff had an exemplary employment record with Defendants FMP and
ALL JONES, LLC, and had immediately before the firing, been given a raise in pay
and additional duties. Plaintiff was fired solely because Plaintiff refused to continue
perform employment duties that were not in furtherance of the corporate business but
to serve as a shield for Defendant Jones numerous illegal activities some including
sexual harassment Defendant Peter Donbavand, a business partner of Defendant
Jones was aware of the employment violations occurring at the corporations and by
non-action, condoned the wrongful conduct of Defendant Jones.
17.. Plaintiff seeks actual damages as a result of the wrongful termination,
which include, but are not limited to back pay from the date of retaliation until the date
of trial . Plaintiff also seeks future pay in lost earnings and benefits including the
repossession of her automobile lost as a result of her wrongful termination.
18.. Plaintiff also seeks damages for past and future mental anguish as a
result of Defendant ,Jones forcing her to choose between the illegal activities he was
demanding of her and her livelihood .
19.. Defendant Jones acted with malice toward Plaintiff in that Jones
exhibited conscious indifference to consequences Plaintiff might suffer separate and
apart from the damages suffered as a result of the wrongful termination. Defendant
Jones and Defendant Donbavand have inflicted additional injuries by circulating
malicious rumors about the Plaintiff, harassing the Plaintiff and other activities which
affect her future employment Plaintiff therefore seeks exemplary damages .
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:06AM No 7814 P. 59
COUNT 1-PROMISSORY ESTOPPEL as a CLAIM
20. On or about March 27, 2013, when Plaintiff Faire was temporarily living
in the Dominican Republic at the request of Defendant Jones, taking care of Jones'
child Astin, working on a 24/7 hour basis, Defendant Jones promised to buy a home
and gift it to Plaintiff upon their return to San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas .
21.. It was reasonable for Plaintiff to rely on Defendant Jones' promise to
purchase a home and gift it to her based on Defendant Jones' financial resources,
including his ownership of one million dollars worth of cars, and extensive property
real estate holdings in the United States, and in the Dominican Republic .
22.. Defendant Jones promised the Plaintiff that he would execute a written
agreement at closing, giving her full title and interest to the home . Defendant Jones
further promised the closing would take place immediately upon the reaching of an
agreement on the final price and other terms. A final purchase price was reached
between Defendant Jones and his business partner Jason Kemp All terms for the
sale of the house were reached by buyer and seller
23.. Defendant Jones negotiated all the terms of the real estate purchase .
Defendant Jones had reached an agreement with his business partner, Jason Kemp
to purchase the house located at 8647 Timber Place San Antonio, Texas 78250 from
Kemp's wife, Tara Kemp . The real estate actions necessary for a closing were
initiated . Defendant Donbavand ordered an inspection of the home in furtherance of a
prompt closing .
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6
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:07AM No 7814 P. 60
24.. Although there were no uncertainties regarding the purchase of the
home by Defendant Jones for the Plaintiff, there was a delay in the closing. Plaintiff
was asked to sigri a one month lease pending the real estate closing. In signing the
one-month lease, Defendant Jones promised he would sign the necessary documents
to give Plaintiff full and complete ownership of the home in consideration for her loyal
efforts in assisting Defendant Jones in the defense of his suit for divorce
25.. It now appears that Defendant Jones, acting iii concert with Defendant
Donbavand, who appeared in Justice of Peace court attempting to practice law without
a license, regarding this promise, made the following:
a.. a false representation or concealment of material facts concerning the
real estate transaction;
b. made representation with knowledge, actual or constructive, of those
facts;
c. with the intention that it should be acted on;
d.. to a party without knowledge or the means of knowledge of those facts
e. who detrimentally relied upon the misrepresentation
26 Plaintiff contends the promise to complete the transaction (closing of the
real estate) conveying title to Plaintiff is binding against Defendant Jones in order to
avoid injustice Plaintiff further contends equitable estoppel alleged above is sufficient
to preclude the statute of fraud defense to this promise of a home to Plaintiff.
COUNT 2 QUID PRO QUO SEXUAL HARASSMENT
27 Plaintiff was an employee of Defendants FMP, ALL JONES and their
subsidiaries, and her duties were to serve as a personal assistant to the Defendant
Rec ei ved Time Feb. 3 9: 44AM
Feb. 3 2015 10:07AM No 7814 P. 61
Allen J.. Jones, the President and CEO of Defendant FMP. Plaintiff was a self-
supporting divorced woman with no financial resources other than her wages . Plaintiff
also had an exemplary work history prior to working for Defendants .
28.. On or about January 21, 2013 Defendant Jones made sexual advances
toward Plaintiff, a very attractive woman Defendant Jones then demanded physical
conduct of a sexual nature Defendant Jones's demands escalated and the mental
abuse was so extreme that it prevented Plaintiff from defending herself..
29.. Defendant ,Jones made it cleared to the Plaintiff that continued
employment as well as other job benefits were conditioned on her acceptance of the
continued sexual demands of Defendant Jones .
30.. At the time of the harassment, Defendant Jones was the President and
CEO of the Food Management Partners, a Texas LLC . At all times, Defendant
Jones held himself out to Plaintiff and to the public, as a very powerful business man,
and owner of 150 businesses . Defendant ,Jones instilled fear of his power on
Plaintiff. There was no recourse available to the Plaintiff to complain:
31.. Plaintiff was harmed by the physical sexual conduct perpetrated against
her by Defendant Jones.. PlaintITfs harm was directly and proximately cause by
Defendant Jones sexual harassment When Plaintiff was well enough to, she refused
to further submit to Defendant Jones' inappropriate requests she was fired on or
about August 31, 2014 .
8
Received Time Feb. 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:07AM No 7814 P. 62
32.. Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for lost wages, lost benefits and
future employment opportunities based on her traumatic experience at the hand of
Defendant ,Jones .
33 . Plaintiff seeks exemplary damages based on Defendant Jones's history of
sexual harassment of others and including the purchase of a female for his own
inappropriate sexual requests .
34.. Further, Plaintiff seeks exemplary damages against all Defendants, as
her injury resulted from Defendants' malice, which entitles Plaintiff to exemplary
damages under Tex . Civ. P & Remedies Code section 41.003(a) .
COUNT 3 "" Conspiracy
35.. Defendant Peter Donbavand and Jason Kemp, CFO of FMP assisted
Defendant Jones in conduct which they knew amounted to a commission of a tort or
wrongful acts against the Plaintiff
36. Defendant Donbavand and Kemp acted with intent to assist Defendant
Jones in his wrongful acts toward Plaintiff including the discriminatory practices
perpetrated against Plaintiff more fully described in Petitioner's Third Amended
Original Petition .
37.. Defendant Donbavand and Kemp's assistance to Defendant Jones and
their own related conduct was a substantial factor in causing the discriminatory
practices and in the breach of the promise Defendant Jones made to' Plaintiff..
Received Time Feb. 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:08AM No 7814 P. 63
COUNT 4 - Fraud
38 . Additionally, Plaintiff Faire pleads fraud on the part of Defendant
Jones and aided and abetted by the other Defendants. Petitioner alleges that
Defendants are barred from using the statute of frauds to avoid the promise of gifting
real estate, namely the residence at 8647 Timber Place, San Antonio, TX 78250 to
Plaintiff.
39.. Plaintiff claims the gift of real estate must be enforced in equity as the
denial of the enforcement would amount to a virtual fraud . See Exxon Co1p
Breezevale, Ltd, 82 S W3d 429, 439 (Tex. App-Dallas 2002, pet. denied)..
40.. Plaintiff alleges the facts of her claim removes the suit from the operation
of the statute of frauds in that it meets the elements required as set forth;
(1) payment of consideration,
(2) possession by the promisee and
(3) the making by the promisee of valuable improvements;
41.. Plaintiff shows it is undisputed that she worked Defendant Jones with
the knowledge of all Defendants for nearly five months in the Dominican Republic on a
2417 basis as consideration, and she has refrained from a claim of wage and hour
violations, in reliance of the promise; Plaintiff has properly taken possession of the
home pursuant to a document prepared by the Defendants and Plaintiff has made
valuable improvements on the faith of the Agreement/promise .
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Received Time Feb 3. 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:08AM No 7814 P. 64
42.. Defendant Peter Donbavand has employed one Robert Ray, attorney at
law to initiate eviction proceedings against Plaintiff on two occasions with the full
knowledge of Defendant Jones' promise to Plaintiff. Therefore, Plaintiff's injuries
resulted from Defendants' actual fraud or malice, which entitles Plaintiff to exemplary
damages under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 41..003(a).
JURY DEMAND
43.. Plaintiff has demanded a jury trial and tendered the appropriate fee with her
original petition .
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
44.. All conditions precedent to plaintiffs claim for relief have been performed or
have occurred .
OBJECTION TO ASSOCIATE JUDGE
45. Plaintiff objects to the referral of this case to an associate judge for hearing a
trial on the merits or presiding at a jury trial .
PRAYER
For these reasons, plaintiff asks that defendant be cited to appear and answer
and, on final trial, that plaintiff be awarded a judgment against defendant for the
following:
a. Exemplary damages
b.. Economic and non-economic damages including, but not limited to back
pay, front pay, severance pay, specific performance regarding the gift
purchase of a home (or its monetary equivalent).
Receiveef Time Feb. 3 9:44AM
Feb 3 2015 10:08AM No 7814 P. 65
c.. Prejudgment and postjudgment interest.
d.. Court costs.
e.. Reasonable and necessary Attorney's fees
f.. All other relief to which plaintiff is entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
LAW OFFICE OF OLGA BROWN
111 Soledad, Suite 1725
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210/226-1550 telephone
210/226-1884 facsimile
Argvlef@sbcglobal,net
By: Isl Olga Brown
OLGA BROWN
State Bar No . 03155500
Attorney for Plaintiff
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I do hereby certify that on the. 30th day of January 2015, in accordance with
the TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, a true and correct copy of the above and
foregoing Plaintiff's Third Amended Original Petition was furnished to:
Christine E Reinhard
SCHMOYE.R REINHARD L.l.P
17806 IH 10 West, Suite 400
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Isl Olga Brown
OLGA BROWN
12
Received Time Feb 3 9:44AM
Tab 4
FILED
3/10/2015 3:52:26 PM
Donna Kay McKinney
Bexar County District Clerk
Accepted By: Maria Abilez
CAUSE NO. 2014-CI-16674
CEARTH FAIRE § IN THE DISTRICT
Plaintiff §
§
V. §
§ 150TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, §
LLC, D/B/A FOOD MANAGEMENT §
PARTNERS, LLC, §
ALL JONES, LLC, ALLEN J JONES,
INDIVIDUALLY, AND
PETER DONBAVAND, §
INDIVIDUALLY §
§
Defendants § BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
PLAINTIFF’S FOURTH AMENDED ORIGINAL PETITION
Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, files this Fourth Amended Original Petition against
defendants, FMP Sa Management Group, LLC, D/B/A Food Management Partners,
LLC, ALL JONES, LLC, Allen J Jones, Peter Donbavand and Jason Kemp, and
alleges as follows:
DISCOVERY-CONTROL PLAN
1. A Level Three Agreed Docket Control Order is in place, this matter is set for
Jury Trial November 2, 2015.
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
2. Plaintiff seeks monetary relief over $200,000.00 but not more than
$3,000,000.00.
PARTIES
3. Plaintiff, Cearth Faire, is an individual whose address is 8647 Timber Place,
San Antonio, TX 78250.
4. Defendant FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, D/B/A FOOD
MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC is an active Texas Limited Liability Company
conducting business in the State of Texas, and has been served and is represented by
counsel, and is properly before this court.
5. Defendant ALL JONES, LLC is an active Texas Limited Liability
Company conducting business in the State of Texas, and has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court
6. Defendant Allen J Jones, is an individual who has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court.
7. Defendant Peter Donbavand, is an individual has been served and is
represented by counsel, and is properly before this court.
8. Defendant Jason Kemp is an individual whose business address is
Food Management Partners, LLC 120 Chula Vista, San Antonio, TX 78232. He may
be served at this address, or wherever he may be found.
JURISDICTION
9. The Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over the lawsuit because the
amount in controversy exceeds this Court’s minimum jurisdictional requirements.
2
VENUE
10. Venue is proper in Bexar County as all or a substantial part of the events or
omissions giving rise to the claim occurred in Bexar County.
FACTS
11. Plaintiff Faire was an employee of Defendants, as well as a personal
assistant to Defendant Jones. Plaintiff, in addition to working for Defendants’
businesses, also took care of Defendant Jones’ personal matters, including living in
the Dominican Republic for approximately five months on a 24/7 basis assisting in his
defense in a family law matter pending in Bexar County, Texas. Plaintiff has not been
properly compensated.
12. Defendant Jones, individually, in recognition for her loyal and tireless
services personal to him, promised Plaintiff a home. Defendant Jones developed a
scheme for his purchase of the house that included telling other corporate officers that
Plaintiff’s pay increase was for the house payments. Defendant Jones intended to hide
his gift from the other Defendants named in this lawsuit, until he retaliated against
Plaintiff by denying he had made a gift of real estate to Plaintiff.
13. Defendant Jones, in his individual capacity, negotiated with Defendant
Jason Kemp, whose wife owned the residence at 8647 Timber Pl, San Antonio, TX
78250. Defendant Jones then instructed, Defendant Donbavand, in his individual
capacity and outside the scope of corporate business to prepare the necessary
documents so he, Jones could purchase the residence for the Plaintiff.
14. Defendant Donbavand, while a business partner of Defendant Jones and
also an agent of Defendant FMP, routinely served Defendant Jones as a personal
aide and routinely took orders from Jones outside the course and scope of his duties
with the corporate entities to meet the personal demands of Defendant Jones,
notwithstanding if the corporate best interests were served.
15. Defendant Kemp, also a business partner of Defendant Jones, took orders and
assumed duties outside the course and scope of the corporate entities upon demand
from Defendant Jones the President & CEO of Defendant FMP. Defendant Jones
treats the corporate entities as his “piggy bank” and Defendants Donbavand and
Kemp, as his personal aides.
16. Defendant Kemp routinely succumbs to the personal demands of
Defendant Jones outside the best interests of the corporate business as in this case to
sell him the residence at 8647 Timber Pl, San Antonio, TX 78250, so he could gift the
property to the Plaintiff in consideration for her assisting in his personal legal matters.
17. While Defendant Donbavand was completing the necessary
documents, again outside the course and scope of corporate business, Defendant
Jones requested that Plaintiff move into the house, orally gifting her the house, a
present gift. Plaintiff in reliance of his oral promised moved into the house with the
consent of Defendant Kemp and the request of Defendant Jones and made valuable
and permanent improvements in reliance of Defendant Jones promise to her.
4
18. Plaintiff incurred moving expenses as well as expenses in making
permanent improvements to the residence to make it habitable. The residence is still
in need of significant repairs. An inspection was ordered by the defendants as further
proof of Defendant Jones’ purchase with intention to make a gift.
19. Thereafter, Defendant Jones, fired Plaintiff, notwithstanding her recent
promotion based on meritorious work.. Defendant Jones demanded the other
defendants Defendant Peter Donbavand and Defendant Jason Kemp evict Plaintiff
from the house he had given her. The wrongful eviction proceedings were abated,
as the justice of the peace court lacks jurisdiction to rule on the petition for eviction in
that title to the property is at issue. The wrongful eviction proceedings are outside the
course and scope of corporate business.
20. Defendants continued to harass the Plaintiff by wrongfully repossessing
her car. Plaintiff had clear title to her 2005 Mini Cooper. Jones promised to repair
her car. An ambiguous payment plan was put in place. However, in retaliation for
claiming her rightful title to her house, Jones has deprived Plaintiff of a necessity, of
transportation to seek employment. During the repossession process, Jones
terrorized her by sending strangers to ring her doorbell, all while he owns a million
dollars worth of automobiles, and spends a great deal of his time in the Dominican
Republic.
21. Plaintiff had an exemplary employment record before being hired by
Defendants FMP and ALL JONES, LLC. Immediately before being fired by
Defendants, Faire had been given a raise in pay and been entrusted with additional
duties. Plaintiff was fired solely because Plaintiff refused to continue to perform
employment duties that were not in furtherance of the corporate business and
because of Defendant Jones’ demands for demeaning sexual acts and explicit threats
to fire her if she didn’t submit.
22. Plaintiff seeks actual damages as a result of the sexual harassment and
discrimination, which include, but are not limited to back pay from the date of quid pro
quo retaliation until the date of trial. Plaintiff also seeks future pay in lost earnings and
benefits including the repossession of her automobile lost as a result of her unlawful
termination.
23. Plaintiff also seeks damages for past and future mental anguish as a
result of Defendant Jones explicitly forcing her to choose between the sexual abuse
he was demanding of her and her livelihood.
24. Defendant Jones acted with malice toward Plaintiff in that Jones
exhibited conscious indifference to consequences Plaintiff might suffer separate and
apart from the damages suffered as a result of the retaliation. Defendant Jones, as
President and CEO, has inflicted additional injuries by circulating malicious rumors
about the Plaintiff at corporate headquarters. Plaintiff therefore seeks exemplary
damages.
6
COUNT 1- ORAL GIFT OF REAL ESTATE
25. On or about March 27, 2013, when Plaintiff Faire was temporarily living
in the Dominican Republic at the request of Defendant Jones, taking care of Jones’
child Astin, working on a 24/7 hour basis, Defendant Jones promised to buy a home
and gift it to Plaintiff upon their return to San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
26. On or about July 20 2014, Plaintiff moved into the house at 8647 Timber
Pl, San Antonio, Texas 78250, that Defendant Jones gifted her in his individual
capacity but with the knowledge and consent of all Defendants. Plaintiff is still
living at her home, taking possession under the present gift.
27. Plaintiff has made permanent and valuable improvement to the home
based on the reliance of the gift made to her by Defendant Jones as an individual.
28. It was reasonable for Plaintiff to rely on Defendant Jones’ promise of an
oral gift of real estate based on Defendant Jones’ financial resources, including but
not limited to ownership in franchises of Zio’s Italian Kitchen, Buffalo Wild Wings,
Don Pablo’s Big Tex Bold Mex, Furr’s, Little Ceasar’s and Smashburger.
29. Further, Defendant Jones boasts of having presently one million dollars
worth of cars and extensive real estate holdings in the state. In other judicial
proceedings, Defendant Jones bragged about owning 150 businesses and having
financial resources to “buy” a young lady from a brothel for $10,000.00 in the
Dominican Republic where he also has extensive real estate holdings.
30. Defendant Jones informed the Plaintiff that he was buying the house from
Defendant Kemp, and that at closing, he would give her full title and interest to the
home. Defendants Jones further promised the closing would take place immediately
upon the reaching of an agreement on the final price and other terms. A final
purchase price was reached between Defendant Jones and Defendant Jason Kemp.
All terms for the sale of the house were reached by buyer and seller, and having
absolutely nothing to do with the business of the corporate entities, parties herein
31. Defendant Jones negotiated all the terms of the real estate purchase to
make a present gift of real estate to Plaintiff. Defendant Jones, Defendant Kemp,
and Defendant Donbavand knew the house located at 8647 Timber Pl, San Antonio,
TX 78250 purchased from Kemp’s wife, Tara Kemp, was a gift of real estate to the
Plaintiff. Defendant Donbavand ordered an inspection of the home in furtherance of
a prompt closing, all outside of the course and scope of corporate business..
32. Defendant Jones made this gift to Plaintiff as an individual and not as
President & CEO of the other corporate defendants. Defendant Jones purchased
the home from Defendant Kemp as an individual and not as a transaction within the
course and scope of corporate business.
33. Defendant Jones ordered Defendant Donbavand to complete the
necessary documentation and transactions outside the course and scope of
8
corporate business. Defendant Donbavand routinely acts as Defendant Jones’
personal aide to carry out his orders regarding personal matters. Defendant
Donbavand is experienced in real estate transactions and worked to completing the
necessary documents. In the meantime, in a fit of retaliation, Defendant Jones
changed his mind about the gift. Plaintiff has been living in the house for eight
months.
34. Plaintiff asserts this oral gift of real estate must be enforced in equity as
the facts herein establish a gift of real estate, notwithstanding the requirements of
the statute of frauds.
COUNT 2 – Conspiracy
35. Defendants Peter Donbavand and Jason Kemp, as individuals acting
outside their corporate duties, assisted Defendant Jones in conduct which they knew
amounted to a commission of a tort or wrongful acts against the Plaintiff, and
specifically acting to rescind the oral gift of real estate to Plaintiff
36. Defendant Donbavand and Defendant Kemp acted with intent to assist
Defendant Jones in his wrongful acts toward Plaintiff of attempting to rescind the
present gift of real estate.
37. Defendant Donbavand and Defendant Kemp’s assistance to Defendant
Jones and their own related conduct was a substantial factor in the breach of the
present gift Defendant Jones made to Plaintiff.
COUNT 3 QUID PRO QUO SEXUAL HARASSMENT
38. Plaintiff was an employee of Defendants FMP, ALL JONES and their
subsidiaries, and her duties were to serve as a personal assistant to the Defendant
Allen J. Jones, the President and CEO of Defendant FMP. Plaintiff was a self-
supporting divorced woman with no financial resources other than her wages. Plaintiff
also had an exemplary work history prior to working for Defendants.
39. Plaintiff raises this claim under Tex. Lab. Code Ann. §§ 21.001, .051
(West 1996), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.
40. On or about January 21, 2013 Defendant Jones made sexual advances
toward Plaintiff, a very attractive woman. Defendant Jones then demanded physical
conduct of a sexual nature. Defendant Jones’s demands escalated and the mental
abuse was so extreme that it prevented Plaintiff from defending herself.
41. Defendant Jones made it cleared to the Plaintiff that continued
employment as well as other job benefits were conditioned on her acceptance of the
continued sexual demands of Defendant Jones.
42. At the time of the harassment, Defendant Jones was the President and
CEO of the Food Management Partners, a Texas LLC. At all times, Defendant
Jones held himself out to Plaintiff and to the public, as a very powerful business man,
and owner of 150 businesses. Defendant Jones instilled fear of his financial power
on Plaintiff. There was no recourse available to the Plaintiff to complain.
10
43. Plaintiff was harmed by the physical sexual conduct perpetrated against
her by Defendant Jones. Plaintiff’s harm was directly and proximately cause by
Defendant Jones sexual harassment. When Plaintiff was mentally well enough to,
she refused to further submit to Defendant Jones’ inappropriate requests she was
fired on or about August 31, 2014.
44. Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for lost wages, lost benefits and
future employment opportunities based on her traumatic experience at the hand of
Defendant Jones.
45. Plaintiff seeks exemplary damages based on Defendant Jones’s history
of sexual harassment of others and including the purchase of a female as if she was
merely chattel.
46. Further, Plaintiff seeks exemplary damages against Defendant
Donbavand and Defendant Kemp, as her injury resulted from Defendants’ malice,
which entitles Plaintiff to exemplary damages under Tex. Civ. P. & Remedies Code
section 41.003(a).
JURY DEMAND
47. Plaintiff has demanded a jury trial and tendered the appropriate fee with her
original petition. The jury trail has been set for November 2, 2015.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
48. All conditions precedent to plaintiff’s claim for relief have been performed or
have occurred.
OBJECTION TO ASSOCIATE JUDGE
49. Plaintiff objects to the referral of this case to an associate judge for
hearing a trial on the merits or presiding at a jury trial.
PRAYER
For these reasons, Plaintiff asks that Defendants be cited to appear and
answer and, on final trial, that Plaintiff be awarded a judgment against Defendants for
the following:
a. Exemplary damages
b. Economic and non-economic damages including, but not limited to back
pay, front pay, severance pay, specific performance regarding the gift
purchase of a home (or its monetary equivalent).
c. All the remedies afforded by Tex. Lab. Code Ann. 21.001
c. Prejudgment and postjudgment interest.
d. Court costs.
e. Reasonable and necessary Attorney’s fees
f. All other relief to which Plaintiff is entitled.
12
Respectfully submitted,
LAW OFFICE OF OLGA BROWN
111 Soledad, Suite 1725
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210/226-1550 telephone
210/226-1884 facsimile
Argyle2@sbcglobal.net
By: /s/ Olga Brown_________
OLGA BROWN
State Bar No. 03155500
Attorney for Plaintiff
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I do hereby certify that on the 10th day of March 2015, in accordance with
the TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, a true and correct copy of the above and
foregoing Plaintiff’s Fourth Amended Original Petition was furnished to:
Christine E Reinhard
SCHMOYER REINHARD LLP
17806 IH 10 West, Suite 400
San Antonio, Texas 78257
/s/ Olga Brown_______
OLGA BROWN
Tab 5
CAUSE NO. 2014-CI-16674
CEARTH FAIRE § IN THE DISTRICT
Plaintiff §
§
V. §
§ 150TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, §
LLC, D/B/A FOOD MANAGEMENT §
PARTNERS, LLC, §
ALL JONES, LLC, ALLEN J JONES, §
INDIVIDUALLY, AND §
PETER DONBAVAND, §
INDIVIDUALLY §
§
Defendants § BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION/NEW TRIAL
TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT:
NOW COMES PLAINTIFF, CEARTH FAIRE, who herein requests this
Court to reconsider this Court’s granting of Defendants’ Rule 91a Motion to
Dismiss her claims of oral gift of real estate and conspiracy. In support of such
request Petitioner would show this Court as follows:
I. Factual Background of Earlier Motion
At the March 18, 2015 hearing, Movants based their arguments on
complaints of the pleadings more in the light of a no-evidence summary motion
or request for special exception relief. This is not the basis for determining
whether Petitioner’s causes of action have merit at this particular stage of
litigation.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 1
PLAINTIFF’s Motion for Reconsideration. /New Trial
Petitioner clearly pled each element for her cause of action for oral gift of
real estate and conspiracy to defraud by succinctly and factually addressing each
element of her claims. Whether or not those facts support her allegations is a
matter for another motion in the future. At this stage, the reasonable inferences
reasonably drawn from them is sufficient to for this court to deny the Rule 91a
Motion. But, more importantly, Movants failed to properly plead their own Motion.
II. Contents of Motion Fails to Identify Cause of Action
Challenged by Movant
The Movants failed to meet the requirements of the Dismissal Rule.
On February 3, 2015, Defendants filed an Amended Motion for Partial Dismissal
of Plaintiff’s claim of promissory estoppel. But prior to the hearing, Plaintiff had
timely filed her Fourth Amended Original Petition, eliminating the cause of action
for promissory estoppel, and included a claim for Oral Promise of Real Estate,
separate and distinct from promissory estoppel as a cause of action.
Movant’s motion did not include a challenge to the new cause of action.
TRCP 91a: Dismissal of Baseless Causes of Action clearly makes strict
requirements of the Movant. This requirement is not one of an onerous nature.
Movants were simply required to meet the requirements of TRCP 91a.2
which mandates that movant identify each cause of action to which the motion is
addressed. Further, movant must state specifically, the reasons the cause of
action has no basis in law and no basis in fact or both.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 2
PLAINTIFF’s Motion for Reconsideration. /New Trial
Movants failed to do both. Instead and mistakenly, Movants argued the
cause of action of promissory estoppel, which was no longer a part of the Fourth
Amended Original Petition, the live pleadings.
III. Movants Merely Argued Evidence, Contrary to Rule
Movants were further mistaken at the time of the hearing by arguing
evidence regarding Plaintiff’s claims. It is undisputed that Rule 91a.7 mandates
that the court may not consider evidence in ruling on the Motion. The court must
decide the motion based solely on the pleading of the cause of action. The
pleading of the oral gift of real estate was unchallenged in the amended
dismissal motion, therefore the claim must stand and proceed to a trier of fact.
Movants further failed to plead and prove an award of attorney fees. It is
also a requirement of the Rule. This court has properly stricken the award from
Movant’s order. Likewise, this court should also deny their motion to eliminate
Petitioner’s claim for oral gift of real estate.
IV. Movants Failed to Address Individual Conspirators Acts
Movants again failed to address the cause of action of conspiracy that was
properly plead by Petitioner. In their Amended Motion for Dismissal of
Conspiracy, they address the issue of conspiracy as being barred by Intra-
Corporate Immunity Doctrine. After Petitioner amends her pleadings and alleges
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 3
PLAINTIFF’s Motion for Reconsideration. /New Trial
that each defendant was acting outside the scope of the corporate responsibility,
Movant failed again to address the issue in his Amended Motion 91a which
requires specificity in the challenges to the cause of action. Movants failed to
specifically state the reason(s) there is no basis in law or no basis in fact or both.
Movants were required by to include in the contents of their motion a
challenge to the individual acts of each defendant. A conclusory statement of
an alleged affirmative defense is not sufficient to meet the requirements of
Rule 91a.2.
Petitioner is prepared to challenge Movants’ slide show of misstatements
of law and of facts and presented to this court. Movants’ email traffic supports
Petitioner’s claims of the individual acts of conspiracy in relation to the Defendant
Jones’ oral promise of real estate to Petitioner.
CONCLUSION
Movants’ counsel’s own words at time of hearing should persuade this
court to reconsider the granting of their Motion to Dismiss. Mr. Justin Barbour’s
own words were as follows:
“……just as we’re bound by plaintiff’s live pleadings, in determining
whether or not the Rule 91a motion should be granted, I believe the plaintiff
should be as well….”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 4
PLAINTIFF’s Motion for Reconsideration. /New Trial
The Plaintiff’s live pleadings include the cause of action of oral gift of real
estate. The contents of Movants’ Amended Rule 91a motion do not challenge
that specific cause of action. Further, the Movants’ live pleadings also do not
specifically challenge the conspiracy action.
The Movants had the burden to properly plead their Rule 91a motion by
simply identifying in their motion each cause of action they challenge and state
specifically the reasons the cause of action has no basis in law or in fact or both.
Movants failed to meet this burden.
Movants are in agreement, parties are bound by their pleadings.
Movants’ pleadings do not support a granting of the motion. Defendants’ self-
serving interpretation of Plaintiff’s pleadings do not meet the strict requirement of
the Rule. This court therefore should reconsider its ruling in this matter and deny
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss.
Plaintiff seeks attorneys fees and costs accordingly, and respectfully
requests the Court grant her attorney fees and costs in defending this matter.
PRAYER
WHEREFORE ALL PREMISES CONSIDERED , Plaintiff Faire prays that
after notice and hearing, this court reconsider its original judgment, deny
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, and, in the alternative, grant an Order for New
Trial. Plaintiff prays for attorneys’ fees and costs. Plaintiff prays for all other and
further relief to which she is entitled.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 5
PLAINTIFF’s Motion for Reconsideration. /New Trial
Respectfully submitted:
By: _/s/ Olga Brown___________
LAW OFFICES OF OLGA BROWN
OLGA BROWN
State Bar No. 03155500
111 Soledad, Suite 1725
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Telephone: 210/226-1550
Telecopier: 210/226-1884
Argyle2@sbcglobal.net
Attorney for Plaintiff
NOTICE OF HEARING
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the above styled and numbered cause is
set for hearing before Judge Antonia Arteaga on the 28th day of April 2015 at
11:30 a.m., 57th Judicial District Court, Bexar County Courthouse, San Antonio,
Texas.
SIGNED this ______ day of April, 2015.
________________________
HON. ANTONIA ARTEAGA
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing Motion for
Reconsideration was served on each attorney of record or party in accordance
with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure on this 21st day of April 2015.
:
/s/ Olga Brown_______
OLGA BROWN
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 6
PLAINTIFF’s Motion for Reconsideration. /New Trial
Tab 6
Rule 91A Motions to Dismiss Chapter 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I Legislative History of Rule 9la .1
A Statutory Foundation for Rule 91 a
1. The Legislature's Sketch of Rule 9la. ..... 1
2.. Mandatory Award of Attorney's Fees to Prevailing Pruty . .1
B Adoption of Rule 9la ..... . .... 2
II Nuts and Bolts of a Rule 91 a Motion to Dismiss 3
A Scope of Rule 9la's Application .... ........... 3
B. Rule 9la's Basis for Dismissal . ............. 4
1 No Basis in Law . 4
a A claim may be dismissed when the cause of action alleged is not recognized by Texas law. . ................ 4
b A claim may be dismissed based on the facts alleged in the pleading.. 4
c. A claim may be dismissed based on exhibits attached to any pleadings pursuant to Rule. 59 . 5
2. No Basis in Fact. 5
C. Rule 91 a Deadlines .5
I. Filing the Motion ... 5
2 Setting a Heming ..... . ....... 5
3. Responding to the Motion . ············· 6
4. Obtaining a Ruling on the Motion . ..... 6
D ContentsofaRule9laMotion ... 6
E Mandatory A wrud of Attomey Fees 6
III Will Rule 9la Prove to be a Usefol Tool? .. .6
L
Rule 91A Motions to Dismiss Chapter 4
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Birdo v Williams, 859 S.W2d 571 (Tex. App-Houston (!st Dist] 1993, no writ)... 5
Boyles v. Kerr, 855 S..W.2d 593 (I ex. 1993) .4
Centennial Ins v. Commercial Union Ins, 803 S.W.2d 479 (Tex. App -Houston [14th Dist] 1991, no writ) 3
City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.WJd 802 (Tex. 2005) ...... 4
Delgado v Methodist Ho.sp, 936 S W2d 479 (Tex. App -Houston [14th Dist] 1996, no WI it) ....... 5
Fort BendCountyv Wilson, 825 S W2d 251 (Tex. App . -Houston [14th Dist] 1992, no writ). .3
GTE Comm'n Sys. v. Janner, 856 S.W.2d 725 (Tex . 1993)... . ... .A
Hamilton v. Pechacek, 319 S.W 3d 801 (Tex. App-Fort Worth 2010, no pet) 4
Moselq v Hernandez, 797 S. W 2d 240 (Tex. App -Corpus Christi 1990, no writ) ..... 3
Nath v Texas Children's Hosp, 375 S.W.3d 403 (Tex. App -Houston [14th Dist] 2012, pet filed) .5
Scott v. Gallagher, 209 S WJd 262 (Tex. App -Houston [!st Dist] 2006, no pet) A, 5
Tex &NewOrleansRR Co v Compton, 136S.W2d 1113(1940) ...... 5
Winters v. Parker, 178 S W3d 103 (Tex App . -Houston [!st Dist] 2005, no pet) ... 7
Statutes
TEX Crv PRAC &REM.CODE§ 14002 . .3
\'
TEX crv. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 14 . 003 3,4
TEX Gov' I CODE § 22 .004(g) . 3,5
Rules
FED R Crv p 12(b)(6) . .3
TEX R crv p 13. 4
TEX R Crv p 47(a). 5
TEXR Crv p 91a . . passim
Session Laws
Act of May 25, 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., ch. 203 (HB 274} . . I, 6
Articles
Angela Morris, Texas Lawyer Blog (Nov 16, 2012), http://texaslawyertypepad . com/texas_ lawyer_blog
/2012/11 /high-court-approves-rules-for-dismissal-expedited-proceedings . html . . .6
Justices Jane Bland, Bill Boyce, and Greg Perkes, What's Appealing About the New Di.smissal and Expedited
Trial Rules?, presented at the 23rd Annual Conference on State and Federal Appeals, June 13-14, 2013 3
!Ort Reform Clo.sing the Lottery, THE ECONOMIST, Dec. IO, 2011; see also Press Release fiom the Office of
Gov Rick Perry, Lawsuit Reforms Cut Down on Frivolous Claims, Expedite Justice for the Deserving (July
27, 2011 ), http://governor .state tx us/news/press-release/I 6430/ . I
ii
Rule 91A Motions to Dismiss Chapter 4
SECTION 1.01 Amends Section 22 . 004,
RULE 91A MOTIONS TO Government Code, by adding Subsection
DISMISS (g), as follows:
I. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF RULE 91A (g) The supreme comt shall
Earlie1 this yea1, the Texas Sup1eme Court adopt rules to p1ovide fo1 the
app1oved Texas Rule of Civil Procedme 9la, which dismissal of causes of action that
allows defendants to seek dismissal of any cause of have no basis in law 01 fact on
action that has no basis in law 01 fact motion and without evidence.
Rule 9la introduces Texas lawye1s to a new The mies shall provide that the
motion to dismiss that is one of the many production motion to dismiss shall be
of House Bill 274, which became effective on granted 01 denied within 45 days
Septembet l, 2011. 1 House Bill 274 gained national of the filing of the motion to
attention as a "loser pays" tOJt refotm law intended to dismiss The mies shall not apply
streamline litigation and discourage ftivolous to actions under the Family Code
lawsuits . 2 To accomplish these goals, the Legislatme
enacted a statute requesting that the Texas Supreme 2 Mandatory Awrud of Attorney's Fees to
Comt to draft and adopt mies creating a new motion Prevailing Patty
to dismiss with a mandato1y award of attorney's fees The second statute added by House Bill 2 74
to the prevailing patty. provides fo1 a mandato1y award of attorney's fees to
Rule 9la's motion to dismiss p1ovides an the prevailing patty
oppo1tunity for a defendant to obtain an expeditious
dismissal of meritless causes of actions Although SECTION 1 02.. Amends Chapter 30,
Rule 91 a provides litigators with a potentially useful Civil Practice and Remedies Code, by
tool, the rule's mandato1y awrud of attorney's fees to adding Section 30 . 021, as follows:
the prevailing pa1ty will dete1 many from using its
procedures rathe1 than othe1, less expeditious, Sec 30021 AWARD OF
methods for obtaining a pre-trial dismissal of ATTORNEY'S FEES IN
/
I metitless claims RELATION TO CERTAIN
' MOTIONS TO DISMISS.
A.. Statutory Foundation for Rule 91a Requires the comt, in a civil
House Bill 274 adds two statutes-section proceeding, on a ttial comt's
22 004(g) in the I exas Government Code and section granting 01 denial, in whole 01 in
30 . 021 in the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies prut, of a motion to dismiss filed
Code-that lay the foundation for Rule 91 a and its unde1 the mies adopted by the
mandatmy awrud of attorney's fees supreme comt under Section
22 .004(g), Government Code, to
1. The Legislature's Sketch of Rule 9la awrud costs and ieasonable and
The first statute added by House Bill 274 gives necessary attorney's fees to the
the Texas Supreme Comt the task of adopting mies prevailing patty. Provides that
creating a motion to dismiss claims that have no basis this section does not apply to
in law 01 fact: actions by 01 against the state,
other governmental entities, 01
public officials acting in theiI
official capacity or under colo1 of
law
1
See Act of May 25, 2011, 82nd Leg., RS, ch
203 (HB 274) In response to these statuto1y directives, the
Texas Supreme Comt adopted Rule 91 a.
2 See Tort Reform Clo.sing the Lottery, IHE
ECONOMIST, Dec 10, 2011; see also Press Release
from the Office of Gov Rick Perry, Lawsuit
Reforms Cut Down on Frivolous Claims, Expedite
Justice for the Des·erving (July 27, 2011),
http://govemor state tx us/news/press-
release/16430/
Rule 91A Motions to Dismiss Chapter 4
B.. Adoption of Rule 91a
Ihe Texas Supreme Court adopted Rule 9la on (a) Ihe court may not rule on a
February 12, 2013.. 3 Rule 9la provides the following motion to dismiss if, at least 3
rules: days before the date of the
hearing, the respondent files a
91a. Dismissal of Baseless Causes of nonsuit of the challenged cause of
Action action, or the movant files a
withdrawal of the motion.
91a .. 1 Motion and Grounds.. Except in
a case brought under the Family Code or (b) If the respondent amends the
a case governed by Chapter 14 of the challenged cause of action at least
I exas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, 3 days before the date of the
a party may move to dismiss a cause of heating, the movant may, before
action on the grounds that it has no basis the date of the hearing, file a
in law or fact. A cause of action has no withdrawal of the motion or an
basis in law if the allegations, taken as amended motion directed to the
true, together with inferences reasonably amended cause of action.
drawn from them, do not entitle the
claimant to the relief sought A cause of (c) Except by agreement of the
action has no basis in fact if no parties, the court must rule on a
reasonable person could believe the facts motion unless it has been
pleaded . withdrawn or the cause of action
has been nonsuited in accordance
91a.2 Contents of Motion .. A motion to with (a) or (b) In ruling on the
dismiss must state that it is made pursuant motion, the court must not
to this rule, must identify each cause of consider a nonsuit or amendment
action to which it is addressed, and must not filed as permitted by
state specifically the reasons the cause of paragraphs (a) or (b)
action has no basis in law, no basis in
fact, or both (d) An amended motion filed in
accordance with (b) restarts the
91a.3 Time for Motion and Ruling.. A time periods in this rule .
motion to dismiss must be:
91a ..6 Hearing; No Evidence
(a) filed within 60 days after the first Considered.. Each party is entitled to at
pleading containing the least 14 days' notice of the hearing on the
challenged cause of action is motion to dismiss Ihe court may, but is
served on the movant; not required to, conduct an oral hearing
on the motion. Except as required by
(b) filed at least 21 days before the 9la.7, the court may not consider
motion is heard; and evidence in ruling on the motion and must
decide the motion based solely on the
(c) gr anted or denied within 45 days pleading of the cause of action, together
after the motion is filed . with any pleading exhibits permitted by
Rule 59
91a.4 Time for Response.. Any
response to the motion must be filed no 91a . 7 Award of Costs and Attorney
later than 7 days before the date of the Fees Required.. Except in an action by or
hearing. against a governmental entity or a public
official acting in his or her official
91a.5 Eflect of Nonsuit or capacity or under color of law, the court
Amendment; Withdrawal of Motion. must award the prevailing party on the
motion all costs and reasonable and
I" necessary attorney fees incurred with
3
See TEX R Clv P 91 a, comment to 2013
'-.,-----
change respect to the challenged cause of action
2
Rule 91A Motions to Dismiss Chapter 4
in the trial court The court must consider by Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil
evidence regarding costs and fees in Procedure because it allows a defendant to move for
~­ determining the award dismissal without filing a special exception and then a
I summary judgment. 4 Unlike Rule 12(b)(6), which
91a .. 8 Eflect on Venue and Personal merely allows a party to file a motion asserting that
Jurisdiction. This rule is not an the opposing party's pleading does not state a claim
exception to the pleading requirement of upon which relief can be granted, 5 Rule 9Ia contains
Rules 86 and I 20a, but a party does not, a number of rules specifically governing its motions
by filing a motion to dismiss pursuant to to dismiss
this rule or obtaining a ruling on it, waive
a special appearance or a motion to A. Scope of Rule 91a 's Application
transfer venue. By filing a motion to Rule 9Ia generally applies to all civil
dismiss, a party submits to the court's proceedings with two exceptions First, as required
jurisdiction only in proceedings on the by the Legislature, Rule 9Ia does not apply to cases
motion and is bound by the court's ruling, brought under the F amity Code . 6 Second, Rule 9 I a
including an award of attorney fees and does not apply to inmates' in /Olma pauperis
costs against the party . lawsuits, which are governed by Chapter I 4 of the
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 7
91a . 9 Dismissal Procedure (Chapter I 4 contains its own distinct dismissal
Cumulative.. This rule is in addition to, mechanism 8)
and does not supersede or affect, other
procedures that authorize dismissal. 4
See, e g, Justices Jane Bland, Bill Boyce, and
Comment to 2013 change: Rule 9la is a Greg Perkes, What's Appealing About the New
Dismissal and Expedited Trial Rules?, presented at
new rule implementing section 22. 004(g)
the 23rd Annual Conference on State and Federal
of the Texas Government Code, which Appeals, June 13-14, 2013, at I, 7-10 (citing Fort
was added in 20 I I and calls for rules to Bend County v Wilson, 825 S.W2d 251, 253 (Tex
provide for the dismissal of causes of App -Houston [I 4th Dist] I 992, no writ);
I action that have no basis in law or fact on C'entennial Ins v. Commercial Union Ins , 803
' motion and without evidence. A motion S.W2d 479, 482 (Tex. App.-Houston (14th Dist]
to dismiss filed under this rule must be 1991, no writ); and Moseley v Hernandez, 797
ruled on by the court within 45 days S W 2d 240, 242 (Tex App -Corpus Christi I 990,
unless the motion, pleading, or cause of no writ)
action is withdrawn, amended, or 5
FED R Clv P 12(b)(6).
nonsuited as specified in 91 as. If an
amended motion is filed in response to an 6
TEX R C!V P. 9la I; TEX Gov'r CODE §
amended cause of action in accordance 22.004(g) ("The rules shall not apply to actions
with 91a5(b), the court must rule on the under the Family Code . ").
motion within 45 days of the filing of the 7
amended motion and the respondent must TEX. R Clv p 9la I; '"e TEX. C!V PRAC &
REM CODE§ 14 . 002
be given an opportunity to respond to the
amended motion The term "hearing" in 8
TEx. CIV PRAC. & REM CODE§ 14 003 Section
the rule includes both submission and an 14 003 allows for dismissal of an inmate's claim ifa
oral hearing Attorney fees awarded court finds that the allegation of poverty in the
under 9Ia.7 are limited to those affidavit or unsworn declarations is false, the claim
associated with the challenged cause of is frivolous or ·malicious, or the inmate filed the
action, including fees for preparing or required affidavit or unsworn declaration knowing
responding to the motion to dismiss . that it was false Id. § 14 003(a) In determining
whether a claim is frivolous or malicious, a trial
court may consider whether the claim's realistic
II.. NUIS AND BOLTS OF A RULE 91A
chance of ultimate success is slight, the claim has no
MOTION TO DISMISS arguable basis in law or in fact, it is clear that the
party cannot prove facts in support of the claim, or
Rule 9 I a provides guidelines for a new motion the claim is substantially similar to a previous claim
to dismiss, which has been widely compar·ed, and not filed by the inmate because the claim arises from the
entirely accurately, to the motion to dismiss allowed same operative facts
3
Rule 91A Motions to Dismiss Chapter 4
R Rule 91a 's Basis for Dismissal prevents a court from considering evidence . 15 This
Rule 9ia allows dismissal of any cause of lack of evidentiary and factual issues focuses a
~' action that "has no basis in law or fact " 9 This same court's inquiry under Rule 9la
' pluase is also used in Rule 13 10 and a substantially Courts are likely to dismiss causes of action
similar phrase is used in Chapter l 4ll Texas under Rule 91 a in three circumstances: (I) when the
appellate courts have analyzed the meaning of this cause of action is not recognized by Texas law;
phrase in reviewing sanctions imposed under Rule 13 (2) when the pleading alleges facts that negate a
and dismissals under Chapter 14 The existing cause of action; and (3) when pleading exhibits,
jurisprudence regarding these rules and statutes may attached pursuant to Rule 59, demonstrate that
provide some guidance in understanding Rule 9la; claimant is not entitled to the relief sought as a matter
however, certain distinct differences among the law.
schemes undermine the similarities and make direct
comparisons difficult a A claim may be dismissed when the cause of
action alleged is not recognized by Texas law.
L No Basis in Law Courts need not delve into any evidence to
Under Rule 91a, a claim has no basis in law if determine whether a cause of action is recognized by
"the allegations, taken as true, together with Texas law When a claimant alleges a cause of action
inferences reasonably drawn from them, do not entitle that is not recognized by Texas law (e . g ., a claim for
the claimant to the relief sought." 12 Rule 91a's negligent infliction of emotional distress), 16 the cause
analysis of the legal basis for the relief a plaintiff of action could be dismissed under Rule 9la
seeks presents a relatively straightforward question: Interestingly, unlike Rule 13, Rule 91a does not
Do the allegations in the pleadin& state a cause of recognize that a claim might have a basis in law if
action that would authorize relief? 1 "warranted by good faith argument for the extension,
17
Unlike Rule 13, Rule 91a does not require a modification, or reversal of existing law.." The
trial court to engage in any factual determination absence of this language may indicate that Rule 91a
regarding the motives involved in filing the pleaded provides a more stringent test for a claimant's legal
allegations 14 Io the contrary, Rule 91a expressly contentions than Rule 13
9
( TEX R Crv p 9lal b A claim may be dismissed based on the facts
' alleged in the pleading
10
Rule 13 permits sanctions against an attorneys Dismissal under this portion of Rule 9la may
and parties who file a "groundless" pleading in bad be appropriate when the pleading, on its face, reveals
faith or for the purpose of harassment TEX R. Crv that a claimant is not entitled to the relief sought
P. 13 Rule 13 defines "groundless" as "no basis in
because the alleged facts are legally insufficient to
law or fact and not warranted by good faith
argument for the extension, modification, or reversal provide the claimant with a valid cause of action
of existing law . " Id Such allegations, even taken as true, would not entitle
a claimant to any relief. 18
11
TEX CIV PRAC. & REM. CODE § 14 003(a) For example, dismissal under Rule 91 a may be
(stating that in determining whether to dismiss a appropriate if a plaintiff alleges that by not erecting a
claim, a court may consider whether "the claim has railroad crossing sign a railroad company negligently
no atguable basis in law or in fact" (emphasis caused an automobile to drive into the sixtieth car of
added)) a slow-moving train because if the automobile's
12
Id driver could not see the train, he could not have seen
13
see Scott v. Gallagher, 209 S.W.3d 262, 266
(Tex . App-Houston [!st Dist] 2006, no pet);
Hamilton v Pechacek, 319 SWJd 801, 809 (Tex
15
App . -Fort Worth 2010, no pet) (explaining that a TEX R Crv P 9la.6.
claim has no arguable basis in I.aw under Chapter 14 16
if the claim presents an "indispuiably meritless legal &e Boyles v Ken, 855 S.W.2d 593, 594 (Tex
theory") 1993)
17
14
See GTE Comm 'n Sys. v Tanner, 856 SW 2d Compare TEX. R Crv P 9la. l with TEX. R Crv
725, 731 (Tex. 1993) (explaining that Rule 13 does p 13
not allow sanctions unless the pleading is groundless
(_ and is also brought in bad faith or for the purpose of
18
See City of Keller v Wilson, 168 S.W 3d 802,
harassment). 811-17 (Tex 2005).
4
Rule 91A Motions to Dismiss Chapter 4
a crossing sign either. 19 These facts, even taken as court dismisses a claim under Chapter 14 without an
trne, would not entitle a claimant to any relief'0 evidentiary hearing, appellate courts presume that the
Rule 91a dismissal is unlikely to be applicable claim must have been dismissed for having no
in most cases based on facts alleged in a pleading arguable basis in law rather than in fact") Rule 91a,
because in most circumstances, claimants are able to on the other hand, expressly for bids any evidentiary
allege facts that satisfy Texas's notice pleading hearing 26
requirements21 while avoiding the specificity that Absent an evidentiary hearing, one might ask
could result in dismissal of their claims how a court could possibly evaluate whether a
pleading advances facts that no reasonable person
c A claim may be dismissed based on exhibits could believe." And if a trial court does dismiss a
attached to any pleadings pursuant to Rule 59 claim as having no basis in fact, what does that
Rule 91 a allows courts to consider exhibits indicate about the attorney who filed the petition?
attached to a pleading pursuant to Rule 59,2' Thus, if
the parties simply disagree over the proper C Rule 91a Deadlines
foterpretation of a document attached to a pleading Rule 91 a guarantees a ruling on a motion to
pursuant to Rule 59, a Rule 91a motion to dismiss dismiss no later than 45 days from the date the motion
may provide a procedural vehicle well-suited to is filed 28 This deadline, along with others in Rule
resolving such a dispute. For example, in an 91 a, promises a speedy resolution of the motion to
insurance coverage dispute in which the facts are not dismiss
disputed and the insurance policy is attached to the
pleadings, Rule 91a may provide a procedural vehicle Filing the Motion
for obtaining an expeditious ruling on coverage . A party must decide whether to file a Rule 91 a
motion to dismiss soon after the petition is served
2 No Basis in Fact The motion must be filed within 60 days after service
Rule 91 a states that a claim has no basis in fact of the first pleading containing the challenged cause
if "no reasonable person could believe the facts of action. 29 Rule 91a does not provide an exception
pleaded " 23 This definition seems difficult to apply in to the due order of pleading requirements for motions
the absence of any evidence to place the pleaded facts to transfer venue and special appearances. But a
in context party can file and obtain a ruling on a Rule 91 a
( Neither Rule 13 nor Chapter 14 provide any motion to dismiss without waivin~ a special
help with this problematic definition because both appearance or motion to transfer venue 3
allow for evidentiary hearings . 24 (Jn fact, when a
2 Setting a Hearing
19
Id at 816 (citing Tex & New Orleans RR Co v The motion to dismiss must be filed at least 21
Compton, 136 S.W.2d 1113, 1115 (1940)) days before the motion is heard and may be
withdrawn until 3 days before the hearing 31 When
20 Id
25
21
See, e g, SCott, 209 S W .3d at 266
See TEX. R Crv P 47(a) (stating that a pleading
26
should include "a short statement of the cause of TEX. R Clv P. 91a 6 (implementing TEX GOV'!
action sufficient to give fair notice of the claim CODE § 22 004(g), which requires implementation of
involved"). rules for dismissal of causes of action that have no
22
basis in law or fact on motion and without evidence)
TEX R Crv. p 91a 6
27
23
Birdo v Williams, 859 S.W.2d 571, 572 (Tex
Id App-Houston [!st Dist] 1993, no writ) ("When
24
the trial court, as in the present case, dismisses a
see Nath v Texas Chi!dren'.s Hosp, 375 S.WJd cause [pursuant to Chapter 14] without a fact
403, 427 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist] 2012, hearing, the trial court could not have determined the
pet. filed) (explaining that a trial court may examine suit had no arguable basis in fact" (emphasis
the facts and circumstances at the time of filing the added))
petition in order to determine whether a claim is
without evidentiary support, i.e., has no basis in fact 28
IEX.R CIV P 91aJ(c)
or law); Delgado v. Methodist Hosp, 936 S W.2d
29
479, 487-88 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist] TEX. R CIV. p 91aJ(a)
1996, no writ) (finding a claim to be groundless
(___ under Chapter 14 when the plaintiff presented no
30
TEX R CIV P 9!a.8.
evidence of"extreme and outrageous" conduct) . 31
TEX R Clv P 91a 3(b), 9la 5(a)
5
Rule 91A Motions to Dismiss Chapter 4
setting a Rule 9la hearing, a paity should be awaie determination to the contents of the motion to
that the trial court's deadline to rnle on the motion is dismiss
r-- calculated from the date the motion is filed, not from
1
the date of the hearing 32 The court is not required to E.. Mandatory Award of Attorney Fees
conduct an oral hearing on the motion 33 Rule 9la includes a mandatory award of"costs
and reasonable and necessaiy attorney fees incurred
3.. Responding to the Motion with respect to the challenged cause of action in the
A respondent must file its response to the trial court" to the prevailing party 41 This provision
motion no later than 7 days before the motion is implements section 30 .021 of the Civil Practice &
heaid .34 Up until 3 days before the motion is heard, a Remedies Code, which was enacted by House Bill
claimant may either nonsuit or ainend the challenged 274 42
cause of action 35 In the original version of House Bill 274,
If the respondent ainends the challenged cause section 30 021 would have "authorized" a tiial court
of action at least 3 days before the date of the hem ing, to award costs and attorney's fees However, during
the movant may withdraw the motion or file an the legislative process, the Legislature changed this
ainended motion at any time before the hearing 36 discretionaiy awaid of costs and attorney's fees to a
Filing an ainended motion in response to an amended mandatory award
cause of action, restarts Rule 9la's time periods . 37 In speaking about Rule 9la, one Texas
Supreme Court justice has recognized that the
4.. Obtaining a Ruling on the Motion mandatory award of attorneys' fees may affect the
Unless the movant timely withdraws the motion frequency with which 9la motions ai·e filed:
or the respondent timely nonsuits the challenged
cause of action, a trial court must rule on the motion Whether the motion is granted or denied,
absent an agreement of the parties to the contrmy 38 the winning paity gets attorney fees So,
Notwithstanding any agreement of the paities, if you file a motion and lose, the other
the trial court must grant or deny the motion no later side gets attorney fees So, pmties are
than 45 days after the date the motion is filed . 39 Rule going to have to think seriously about
9la does not specify what happens if a trial court when to use it 43
rules on a motion to dismiss after this 45-day
deadline . III. WILL RULE 91A PROVE IO BE A
USEFUL TOOL?
n. Contents of a Rule 91a Motion Prior to the adoption of Rule 9la, Texas had no
A Rule 9Ia motion to dismiss must: (I) state procedure for expeditiously obtaining dismissal of a
that it is made pursuant to the rule, (2) identify each meritless cause of action Parties could obtain the
cause of action to which it is addressed, and (3) state same result by other means For example, parties
specifically the reasons the cause of action has no could file special exceptions, which could result in
basis in law, no basis in fact, or both. 40 These dismissal of the claims if the respondent failed to
requirements do not seem particularly onerous for the amend its pleadings after the trial court sustained the
movant; however, the rnle does limit the trial court's special exceptions 44 If special exceptions did not
32
See TEX. R CIV. P. 9laJ(c)
41
33
TEX. R C1v. P 91a 6.. This mandatory award
TEX. R CIV P 91a 6 does not apply to causes of action by or against a
34 government entity or a public official acting in his or
TEX R CIV P 9la4 her official capacity or under color of law Id
" TEX. R. C!V. P 91a5 42
See Act of May 25, 2011, 82nd Leg., RS, ch.
36
TEX. R CIV P. 9la5(b) 203, § 102 (HB 274)
43
37
TEX R CIV P 91a 5(d) Angela Morris, Texas Lawyer Blog (Nov. 16,
2012), http://texaslawyer typepad com/texas_
38
TEX R CIV. P. 91a 5(c) lawyer_blog /201211 I/high-court-approves-rules-for-
dismissal-expedited-proceedings .html.
39
TEX R CIV. p 9la3(c).
( 44
See, e.g, Winters v Parker, 178 SWJd 103,
"----- 40
TEX R CIV P 91a.2 105-06 (Tex. App.-Houston [!st Dist] 2005, no
pet).
6
Rule 91A Motions to Dismiss Chapter 4
result in dismissal, parties could also pursue summary
judgment
r-, Rule 9la's promise of an expeditious ruling on
a motion to dismiss makes it a potentially usefol tool
in defending against a claim, but its mandatory award
of attorney's fees will make any lawyer pause before
using it The costs and attorney fees involved in
filing or responding to a motion to dismiss should
typically be relatively inexpensive compared to the
ultimate cost of trying a case or even obtaining
summary judgment
Nevertheless, the mandatory award of attorney
fees will certainly cause both movants and
respondents to approach Rule 91 a with some degree
of caution It will no doubt deter many potential
movants from filing such a motion. However, it will
also place pressure on respondents to take a serious
look at the causes of action alleged .
As lawyers become familiar with this rule, it
will be interesting to see how often Rule 9 la motions
are filed and, once filed, how often the motion
survives to the hearing without the movant
withdrawing the motion or the respondent non-suiting
or amending the challenged causes of action.
(_
7
Tab 7
1
1 REPORTER'S RECORD
2 VOLUME 1 OF 1 VOLUME(S)
3 TRIAL COURT CAUSE NO. 2014-CI-16674
4 CEARTH FAIRE IN THE DISTRICT COURT
5 VS .. BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
6 FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP,
LLC, D/B/A FOOD MANAGEMENT
7 PARTNERS, LLC, ALL JONES,
ALLEN J . JONES,
8 INDIVIDUALLY AND PETER
DONBAVAND, INDIVIDUALLY 150TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
9
10
11
12 MOTION TO ENTER DEFENDANTS' FIRST AMENDED
/
RULE 91.a PARTIAL MOTION TO DISMISS
I 13
14
15
16 On the 9th day of April, 2015, the following
17 proceedings came on to be held in the above-titled
18
19
and numbered cause before the HONORABLE ANTONIA
ARTEAGA, Judge Presiding, held in San Antonio, Bexar l
20 County, Texas.
21 Proceedings :reported by computerized stenotype
22 machine.
23
24
25
MARIA E. FATTAHI, CSR, RPR, CRR
Auxiliary Official Court Reporter
(210) 335-1594
2
1 A P P E A R A N C E S
3 MS . OLGA BROWN
SBOT NO. 03155500
4 Attorney at Law
111 Soledad, Ste 1725
5 San Antonio, Texas 78205
Telephone: (210)226-1550
6 ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF
7
8
MR. JUSTIN BARBOUR
9 SBOT NO. 24055142
Schmoyer Reinhard, LLP ·
10 17806 IH 10 West, Ste. 400
San Antonio, Texas 7 82 5 7
11 Telephone: (210)447-8033
ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANTS
12
( 13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
(
'
MARIA E. FATTAHI, CSR, RPR, CRR
Auxiliary Official Court Reporter
(210) 335-1594
3
1 VOLUME 1 OF 1 VOLUME(S)
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' FIRST AMENDED
2 RULE 91a PARTIAL MOTION TO DISMISS
3
4 APRIL 9' 2015 PAGE VOL.
5 Appearances,. 2 1
6 Index ... 3 1
7 Proceedings.,. 4 1
8 Court's Ruling.,. " •) ., . " 7 l
9 Adjournment .. ' .. . " " " 7 1
10 Court Reporter's Certificate .. 8 1
11
12 WITNESS INDEX
I 13 PLAINTIFF'S WITNESS (ES) DIRECT CROSS VOIR DIRE VOL.
'
14 (None)
15 DEFENDANTS' WITNESS (ES) DIRECT CROSS VOIR DIRE VOL .
16 (None)
17
18 PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT(S)
EXHIBIT INDEX
II
19 NO . DESCRIPTION OFFERED ADMITTED VOL. '
20 (None)
21 DEFENDANTS' EXHIBIT($)
22 NO . DESCRIPTION OFFERED ADMITTED VOL.
23 (None)
24
25
(
'
MARIA E,. FATTAHI, CSR, RPR, CRR
Auxiliary Official Court Reporter
(210) 335-1594
4
l THE COURT: 2014-CI-16674 Cearth Faire
2 versus FMP SA Management Group, d/b/a Food Management,
3 Partners, LLC, All Jones, LLC, Allen J. Jones,
4 Individually and Peter Donbavand, Individually.
5 Let the record reflect that we have Mr.
6 Barbour here on behalf of ....
7 MR. BARBOUR: FMP SA Management.
8 THE COURT: And we have Ms. Brown here on
9 behalf of?
10 MS . BROWN: Cearth Faire.
11 THE COURT: Thank you . And today we're
12 here on a motion to enter, and I have been given the
13 proposed order by Mr. Barbour titled Order Granting
14 Defendant's First Amended Rule 9la Partial Motion to
15 Dismiss.
16 And, specifically, Ms. Brown, what
17 objections, if any, do you have to the language? If you
18 could direct the Court to the exact language, which
19 paragraph, and how you'd like to it be to changed.
20 MS . BROWN: Your Honor, we strictly object
21 to the part of the order that orders the plaintiff's
22 claim for promissory estoppel be dismissed and I have
23 arguments and
24 THE COURT: So specifically is that --
25 MS . BROWN: and the --
(
MARIA E. FATTAHI, CSR, RPR, CRR
Auxiliary Official Court Reporter
(210) 335-1594
5
1 THE COURT: Ms. Brown --
2 MS. BROWN: -- and the
3 THE COURT: Ms. Brown, I need to know
4 specifically is that on Paragraph 2 or paragraph l?
5 MS. BROWN: Where the order reads "it is
6 further ordered that the plaintiff's claim for
7 promissory estoppel,'' I would like for ''promissory
8 estoppel'' to be deleted from the order.
9 THE COURT: And do you believe that -- and
10 you were here initially on what date?
11 MR . BARBOUR: On March 18th, Your Honor.
12 THE COURT: On March 18th, did you -- you
( 13 disagree that the Court granted summary judgment with
'
14 regard to promissory estoppel?
15 MS. BROWN: No, Your Honor. I don't agree
16 with that and here's the reason why.
17 THE COURT: What I want to know is do you
18 believe I ordered it on that day or you do not believe I
19 ordered it that day? !
20 '
MS. BROWN: You ordered it that day, but I
21 want to state on the record an objection to that because
22 Mr. Barbour misrepresented to you the fact that the rule
23 required for us to nonsuit that claim and that is
24 definitely not what the rule says.
25 THE COURT: I'm sorry, Ms. Brown. On a
(
MARIA E. FATTAHI, CSR, RPR, CRR
Auxiliary Official Court Reporter
(210) 335-1594
6
I
'
1 motion to enter, it is strictly an administerial hearing
2 wherein I memorialize what took place in our initial
3 hearing which was in March
4 So if you would like to ask the Court to
5 reconsider, I'd be happy to do that but it needs to be
6 properly in a motion to reconsider .
7 But this today is simply a motion to enter
8 the order that was the Court's back in March 18th of
9 2015.
10 MS . BROWN: But on the other hand, Your
11 Honor, I do not want to try this Rule 91a motion by
12 consent .
I 13 I do not want to bring that -- my
'
14 objection to that for the first time in appeal, so I
15 want a record that today before this Court that I have
16 requested and are stating and prepared to argue why the
17 promissory estoppel section of this order must be
18 deleted .
19 THE COURT: I respectfully disagree .
20 Are there any other objections to any
21 other language which you believe the Court did not --
22 the Court ruled upon and it improperly or not correctly
23 stated according to the Court's rule -- not that you
24 disagree with but you think that any language in here
25 does not reflect the Court's ruling from March?
(
MARIA E . FATTAHI, CSR, RPR, CRR
Auxiliary Official Court Reporter
(210) 335-1594
7
,
I
1 MS . BROWN: The other objection that I
2 have, Your Honor, is that Mr. Barbour included in his
3 order that the defendants be awarded reasonable
4 attorney's fees incurred with respect to the challenged
5 causes of action .
6 THE COURT: Would you agree or disagree,
7 Mr. Barbour, that the Court did not award attorney's
8 fees back in March?
9 MR.. BARBOUR: At that time, no, Your
10 Honor, but Rule 91a does make an award of fees mandatory
11 upon granting that motion.
12 THE COURT: Okay.. Again, I did not order
I 13 in March . I am not going to include it in my order of
',
14 today .
15 If you would like for me to reconsider it,
16 you know the pr op er procedure . Your request as to the
17 last sentence of the order requested it is hereby
18 granted .
19 Is there any other objections that you
20 have to the proposed order, Ms. Brown?
21 MS . BROWN: No . None further, Your Honor.
22 Thank you so much .
23 THE COURT: Thank you. Then we'll stand
24 adjourned . Thank you very much.
25
(
MARIA E. FATTAHI, CSR, RPR, CRR
Auxiliary Official Court Reporter
(210) 335-1594
8
1 STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF BEXAR
2
3 I, Maria E. Fattahi, Official Court Reporter in
4 and for the 57th District Court of Bexar, State of
5 Texas, do hereby certify that the above and
6 foregoing contains a true and correct transcription
7 of all portions of evidence and other proceedings
8 requested in writing by counsel for the-parties to
9 be included in this volume of the Reporter's Record
10 in the above-styled and numbered cause, all of which
11 occurred in open court or in chambers and were
12 reported by me .
.
I 13 I further certify that this Reporter's Record
'··
14 of the proceedings truly and correctly reflects the
15 exhibits, if any, offered by the respective parties.
16 I further certify that the total cost for the
17 preparation of this Reporter's Record is $56.00 and II
18 was paid/will be paid by Ms. Olga Brown.
19
20
WITNESS MY OFFICIAL HAND on this the 20th day of
April, 2015.
I
21
/)~Wt£ I
22
23
Haf~t
Texas
E. Fatta
CSR 3566, Exp.
Auxiliary Official Court
24 101 W. Nueva, Ste. 301
San Antonio, Texas 78204
25 Telephone: 210-335-1594
E-mail: maria.fattahi@bexar.org
(
Tab 8
1
1 REPORTER'S RECORD
VOLUME 1 OF 1 VOLUME
2 TRIAL COURT CAUSE NO. 2014-CI-16674
3
CEARTH FAIRE ) IN THE DISTRICT COURT
4 )
)
5 VS. ) 150TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
)
6 )
FMP SA MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, )
7 ET AL. ) BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
*******************************************************
8
MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL
9
*******************************************************
10
11
12
13
14
15 On the 6th day of May, 2015, the following came on
16 to be heard in the above-entitled and numbered cause
17 before the Honorable Antonia Arteaga, Judge presiding,
18 held in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas:
19 Proceedings reported by computerized stenotype
20 machine.
21
22
23
24
25
2
1 APPEARANCES
2
3 MR. JEFFREY SMALL
SBOT NO. 00793027
4 12451 Starcrest Drive, Suite 100
San Antonio, Texas 78216
5 Phone: (210) 496-0611
Appearing for Cearth Faire
6
7 MS. OLGA BROWN
SBOT NO. 03155500
8 111 Soledad Street, Suite 1725
San Antonio, Texas 78205
9 Phone: (210) 226-1550
Appearing for Cearth Faire
10
11 MR. JUSTIN J. BARBOUR
SBOT NO. 24055142
12 17806 West IH 10, Suite 400
San Antonio, Texas 78257
13 Phone: (210) 447-8033
Appearing for FMP SA Management Group, LLC,
14 et al.
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
3
1 CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX
2 VOLUME 1 OF 1
3 MARCH 18, 2015
PAGE VOL.
4
Appearances.............................. 2 1
5
Court Reporter's Certificate............. 28 1
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
4
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 THE COURT: 2014-CI-16674, Cearth Faire
3 versus FMP SA Management Group, LLC, DBA Food Management
4 Partners; All Jones, LLC; Allen J. Jones, individually;
5 and Peter Donbavand, individually.
6 If I could have the attorneys please
7 identify themselves for the record and whom they
8 represent beginning on my left?
9 MR. SMALL: Jeff Small for Cearth Faire.
10 THE COURT: Thank you, Mr. Small.
11 MS. BROWN: Your Honor, Olga Brown, also
12 for Cearth.
13 THE COURT: Good morning, Ms. Brown.
14 MR. BARBOUR: Good morning, Your Honor.
15 Justin Barbour for defendants.
16 THE COURT: Good morning, Mr. Barbour.
17 MR. RAY: Your Honor, I'm Robert Ray. I'm
18 not counsel of record on this matter, but I am counsel
19 of record for one of the defendants in another cause of
20 action that has bearing on this one.
21 THE COURT: Okay. So we're going to let
22 you have a seat and just hang out with us this morning.
23 MR. RAY: If you don't mind.
24 THE COURT: I don't mind at all.
25 MR. RAY: Thank you.
5
1 THE COURT: And it is currently 8:25, and
2 we are scheduled to hear a motion for a new trial. The
3 Court has granted you 60 minutes in order to present,
4 which is highly unusual in the 57th. Ordinarily our
5 motions for new trial are anywhere from 15 to
6 30 minutes, but your legal assistant is quite
7 persuasive, Ms. Brown. So we agreed to go ahead and
8 give you the full hour.
9 So with that, you have the floor. Or is it
10 going to be you or Mr. Small?
11 MS. BROWN: Your Honor, I would like to
12 make the opening, have Mr. Barbour address it, and then
13 Mr. Small kind of close it if that's all right with Your
14 Honor.
15 THE COURT: Okay. So you'd like to start
16 out and then -- well, this is what we'll -- give me the
17 reasons why you believe that I got it wrong the first
18 time. And then if you'd like to allow Mr. Small to
19 chime in -- I don't need opening, I don't necessarily
20 need closing remarks at all, but we want to get straight
21 to the meat of the matter.
22 Ms. Brown, I'll let you begin.
23 And then, Mr. Small, you can take it up.
24 And then we're going to hear from
25 Mr. Barbour. If there's any reply necessary in between,
6
1 we will direct accordingly.
2 Go ahead, Ms. Brown.
3 MS. BROWN: Thank you, Your Honor.
4 And once again, it's nothing that the Court
5 did wrong at all, but here's where I -- the reason that
6 we're asking this morning that you deny the motion on --
7 and -- reconsider and deny the motion, frankly, for
8 this, Your Honor: Because the defendants --
9 THE COURT: Let's be clear --
10 MS. BROWN: Yes.
11 THE COURT: -- there is no motion to
12 dismiss.
13 MS. BROWN: Yes.
14 THE COURT: Okay.
15 MS. BROWN: Because for the simple reason,
16 Your Honor, that the defendants did not meet the
17 requirements of 91(a). That rule has very specific
18 rules. And I would like to direct the Court's attention
19 to Rule 91(a)(2). And it addresses contents of the
20 motion. And this requirement that they did not meet
21 does not support the ruling of this Court in this way,
22 Your Honor:
23 On February 3rd, 2015, the defendants filed
24 their last pleading, and it was an amended 91(a) partial
25 motion for dismissal. Over a month later -- and it was
7
1 timely -- the petitioner filed an amended motion
2 dropping the cause of action for promissory estoppel and
3 adding oral gift of real estate.
4 Following that, Your Honor, the defendants
5 were required to do one of two things. They either had
6 to amend their motion to dismiss or to withdraw their
7 motion. They did neither. Even though in their
8 response, Your Honor -- we stated this is a new cause of
9 action that we're adding. And in all fairness we filed
10 this 10 days before the March 18th hearing that Your
11 Honor entertained.
12 Now, because they failed to meet this
13 91(a)(2) contents of the motion, the Court's ruling
14 cannot support the denial.
15 91(a) -- the granting of 91(a), Your Honor,
16 is done in three instances. And I'll be really brief.
17 One is that there's not a recognized cause
18 of action in this state. Oral gift of real estate is a
19 recognized cause of action in this state.
20 The second instance in which the motion is
21 granted is if on the facts -- the facts of -- petitioner
22 cannot gain relief. For example, if the petitioner in a
23 say auto accident pleads that the accident happened
24 15 years ago and there was no tolling statute, then on
25 its face that pleading is -- cannot bring relief to the
8
1 petitioner. In that instance the motion to dismiss is
2 granted.
3 The third one is when a petitioner attached
4 an -- a document or a affidavit, let's say an insurance
5 policy. And the insurance policy definitely does not --
6 states that there's no coverage or he's not a named
7 insurer (sic). And I've looked at all the cases, Your
8 Honor, and it's only on those three case -- those three
9 general groups of cases that a motion to dismiss is
10 granted.
11 The Court in making a legal analysis of
12 whether or not to grant the motion must do this: Do the
13 allegations of the pleading state a cause of action
14 which authorizes relief?
15 Our cause of action for oral gift of real
16 estate is a viable cause of action. It's a recognized
17 cause of action.
18 And in that case, Your Honor, because it
19 was not challenged, it was not challenged by the
20 defendant --
21 THE COURT: What specifically do you say
22 was not challenged? The cause of action on oral gift of
23 real estate?
24 MS. BROWN: That's correct, Your Honor.
25 THE COURT: Okay.
9
1 MS. BROWN: And like I said, he had to
2 amend his motion or withdraw it, one of the two. He did
3 not do that.
4 And so, Your Honor, this -- the Court does
5 not have discretion to determine whether or not the
6 contents of the motion were met or not. They either
7 were met or they were not.
8 For example, he did not challenge and state
9 specifically what his challenges were. So, therefore,
10 this Court I believe should reconsider their ruling on
11 this and deny their cause of action.
12 The same thing, Your Honor, applies for our
13 claim of conspiracy. In his third amended petition for
14 -- to dismiss or in his third motion to dismiss --
15 excuse me. Clear the record. In his second amended
16 motion to dismiss, he alleges that there's no cause of
17 action because of intra-corporate immunity.
18 I came back, Your Honor -- Mr. Small and I
19 came back and we amended our pleadings and said
20 basically the corporate officers were not acting in
21 their corporate duties. They were acting as
22 individuals.
23 Conspiracy is basically this: One or more
24 individuals getting together to commit an unlawful act.
25 And so that too, Your Honor, is not supported by the
10
1 motion.
2 In other words -- in other words, he did
3 not meet the legal requirements of the rule. And,
4 therefore, the ruling that the motion be granted cannot
5 stand.
6 And basically, Your Honor, like I said, we
7 pointed this out to the Court in the original hearing on
8 March 18th. We said he did not amend.
9 Mr. Barbour on behalf of the defendants
10 went on. And even in the response that he filed
11 yesterday after --
12 THE COURT: I'm sorry, Ms. Brown, if I can
13 interrupt just a second. You seem very clear on your
14 statements with regard to the arguments made on March
15 18th.
16 MS. BROWN: Yes.
17 THE COURT: Is there a transcript
18 available?
19 MS. BROWN: Yes, there is, Your Honor.
20 THE COURT: Okay. Thank you.
21 MS. BROWN: And I have it with you (sic)
22 and -- because the defendants allege that we didn't
23 bring it up to the attention of the Court. We did.
24 THE COURT: Okay.
25 MS. BROWN: And I have the transcript. And
11
1 it's page 6 lines 10 and 11 of the transcript.
2 THE COURT: Thank you.
3 MS. BROWN: And Mr. Small at that time also
4 informed the Court that this proceeding is basically
5 about pleadings. That the rule strictly says the Court
6 cannot entertain evidence. What happened in that
7 March 18th meeting was evidence. But this whole 91(a),
8 the new rule, is about pleadings. Did the attorneys,
9 Mr. Jeff Small and I, plead correctly oral gift of real
10 estate?
11 We did. It went unchallenged. And,
12 therefore, Your Honor, we're saying please reconsider
13 and deny their motion in its entirety.
14 THE COURT: Thank you.
15 Mr. Barbour, would you like to reply at
16 this point or would you like Mr. Small to go ahead.
17 MR. BARBOUR: I would yield to plaintiff's
18 discretion. If Mr. Small feels like he can blend in at
19 this point, I would be happy to respond after that
20 but --
21 MR. SMALL: Your Honor, I don't have a
22 whole lot to add because Ms. Brown was very succinct.
23 Just using the language of the Rule 91(a)(5) says that
24 the Court may not rule on a motion to dismiss after
25 nonsuit or amendment. So consequently the promissory
12
1 estoppel is beyond the Court's reach.
2 And similarly 91(a)(2), you know, does say
3 that -- that the pleadings must tell why -- it must
4 address each cause of action. Well, oral gift of real
5 estate was in our fifth amended petition, but it was not
6 in FMP's live 91(a) motion so consequently that too is
7 beyond the Court's reach.
8 So promissory estoppel is not in the fifth
9 amended, but yet it was addressed and ruled on. And I
10 would contend that according to the rule that promissory
11 estoppel and oral gift of real estate are both beyond
12 the Court's discretion.
13 THE COURT: Thank you.
14 Mr. Barbour.
15 MR. BARBOUR: Yes, Your Honor. I'll get to
16 the substance of I think plaintiff's argument in a
17 moment, but first Your Honor hadn't quite asked whether
18 this objection was raised at the March 18th hearing,
19 which the motion to dismiss was originally argued.
20 Ms. Brown directed us to page 6, lines 10
21 and 11 of the hearing transcript, which I think is at
22 tab 3 of the binder that Your Honor has.
23 And as I read page 6 line 3 (sic), that's
24 actually me talking just giving an overview of
25 plaintiff's sexual harassment claim, which is not at
13
1 issue in the motion to dismiss at all.
2 THE COURT: I believe it's page 6, line 10
3 and 11 that she referenced.
4 MR. BARBOUR: 10 and 11, Your Honor, yes,
5 Your Honor, that's what I'm looking at as well. I
6 apologize if I misspoke, but that is me giving an
7 overview of plaintiff's sexual harassment claim under
8 chapter 21, which isn't a target of the motion to
9 dismiss at all. That is certainly not plaintiff raising
10 an objection as to the fact that the contents of the
11 motion aren't directed to the oral gift or amended
12 conspiracy claim.
13 So on that basis, Your Honor, there's
14 authority cited in our response indicating that the
15 parties have a duty to raise objections, to raise
16 concerns to the Court at their earliest opportunity. In
17 this case that was indisputably at the March 18th
18 hearing at which these arguments were made.
19 Plaintiff declined to raise these
20 objections at that time and instead argued the motion on
21 the merits. I don't know why that would be, but that
22 was the tactic they chose, Your Honor. So our
23 contention would be that any such arguments have been
24 waived at this point and would not be a ground to either
25 reverse the Court's decision on the motion to dismiss or
14
1 potential error on that point.
2 THE COURT: Can we pause for just a second?
3 MR. BARBOUR: Yes, Your Honor.
4 THE COURT: Ms. Brown, did you mean to
5 bring the Court's attention to a different part of your
6 transcript?
7 MS. BROWN: I will, Your Honor. I'm going
8 to have Mona look through it. I must have quoted the
9 wrong --
10 THE COURT: Okay. Just let us know when
11 you're ready.
12 Mr. Barbour, I'm going to allow you to
13 continue.
14 MR. BARBOUR: Yes, Your Honor.
15 So that initial point aside, Your Honor,
16 next we're turning to the property-related claims where
17 Ms. Faire is in essence attempting to ask the Court at
18 trial or at some point to compel defendants to transfer
19 title to a home that she's living in currently without
20 any written agreement between the parties whatsoever
21 under the guise that there was a promise of a gift at
22 some point that this home would be transferred.
23 Ms. Brown, as I understand, is arguing that
24 this oral gift claim wasn't before the Court at the
25 March 18th hearing and therefore can't be the subject of
15
1 the motion to dismiss.
2 In my perspective, I see a few different
3 issues with her contention here. The first, Your Honor,
4 is that rule 91(a)(5)(a) clearly describes what a
5 plaintiff has to do or what a party has to do if they
6 don't wish to take a claim all the way through the
7 motion to dismiss hearing.
8 Mr. Small has suggested that a claim is
9 nonsuited or amended, that it's beyond the Court's
10 reach. With all due respect to Mr. Small, Your Honor, I
11 don't believe that's correct.
12 Rule 91(a)(5)(a) specifically says the
13 Court may not rule on a motion to dismiss if at least
14 three days before the date of the hearing the respondent
15 nonsuits the challenge cause of action or the movant
16 files a withdrawal of the motion.
17 We did not withdraw our motion, and
18 plaintiff very clearly did not file a nonsuit of her
19 claim of promissory estoppel. Meaning, Your Honor, no
20 matter where we end up, as of the March 18th hearing,
21 the promissory estoppel claim is still both before the
22 Court and also it's also subject to that motion to
23 dismiss.
24 Plaintiff is now alleging that she dropped
25 the promissory estoppel claim and instead amended this
16
1 new claim for oral gift of real estate.
2 They're not separate claims, Your Honor.
3 They are the same claim entirely. And plaintiff has
4 merely repackaged the existing claim, which has been
5 present in her petition under the guise of a promissory
6 estoppel claim since late October trying to avoid the
7 motion to dismiss through this kind of I would call
8 gamesmanship potentially, Your Honor, but certainly a
9 nonsubstantive change there.
10 It's reflected by plaintiff's pleadings,
11 there's no substantive difference between the nature of
12 the underlying allegations whatsoever between this
13 alleged promissory estoppel and the subsequent oral gift
14 claim.
15 Plaintiff's third amended petition, which
16 alleged the quote, unquote promissory estoppel claim
17 four times alleges that plaintiff was quote, unquote
18 gifted the property.
19 And then we move to the fourth petition
20 which is filed in response to the motion to dismiss.
21 And then she removes the term promissory estoppel and
22 inserts the term oral gift of real estate suggesting
23 that it's a different claim and that we then have to
24 kick this can down the road later on to another motion
25 to dismiss hearing, but that's neither warranted nor
17
1 necessary, Your Honor. It's all the same claim trying
2 to compel a transfer of property in the absence of a
3 statute of frauds.
4 And specifically to this point, Your Honor,
5 I would argue that plaintiff has conceded the fact that
6 the oral gift claim is, in fact, addressed in the Rule
7 91(a) motion to dismiss.
8 On page 2 of her response to that motion,
9 plaintiff argues, quote, by their Rule 91(a) motion,
10 defendants challenge plaintiff's claim for an oral gift
11 of real estate.
12 And then she continues on to some of the
13 merits of that.
14 But plaintiff admits in her response that
15 the oral gift claim is in fact challenged by the Rule
16 91(a) motion to dismiss. And subsequently falling back
17 from that position trying to, you know, argue the exact
18 opposite at this point, Your Honor, has no basis
19 whatsoever and she's bound to her prior pleadings, which
20 admitted which claims were in fact addressed in that
21 motion.
22 And then finally, Your Honor, I would note
23 that I respectfully take issue I think with Mr. Small's
24 interpretation and Ms. Brown's interpretation of Rule
25 91(a) which seemingly would require the parties, you
18
1 know, to constantly be amending their Rule 91(a) motion
2 to dismiss every time an amended pleading is filed in
3 response to it. That's not what the rule requires.
4 The rule requires you state the basis on
5 which there's no basis in law or no basis in fact for
6 the claim alleged.
7 Our Rule 91(a) motion contends -- properly
8 I believe -- that plaintiff's claim for a
9 property-related claim trying to compel the transfer of
10 this home is barred by the statute of frauds, that she
11 has not shown any exceptions, you know, available to
12 that claim to show that even accepting all of her
13 allegations as true, she would be able to compel the
14 transfer of that property in the absence of a written
15 agreement.
16 It doesn't matter whether you style the
17 argument as promissory estoppel, oral gift of real
18 estate, or whatever other claim plaintiff may conjure
19 later on in this litigation potentially. The statute of
20 frauds is still the reason that claim fails. That
21 defense and that argument is stated succinctly and
22 sufficiently under Rule 91(a) to articulate why
23 plaintiffs can't recover and their claim has no basis in
24 the law. And, therefore, the motion to dismiss is
25 appropriate.
19
1 THE COURT: Thank you, Mr. Barbour.
2 Give me just one second please, Mr. Small.
3 MR. SMALL: Yes, ma'am.
4 (Short pause.)
5 THE COURT: We're back on the record.
6 Mr. Barbour, you're standing. Was there
7 something more?
8 MR. BARBOUR: As to the oral gift claim,
9 Your Honor, I would finally note, none of plaintiff's
10 arguments contend that she has in fact alleged a
11 sufficient claim for this oral gift of real estate. At
12 our hearing, we discussed in detail the fact that
13 plaintiff has not shown any present gift, any immediate
14 transfer of property as necessary to state that claim.
15 So all of these technicalities of Rule 91(a) aside,
16 which I also believe are baseless, at the end of the day
17 she still has not alleged a claim that stands up to
18 scrutiny for this transfer of real estate. And,
19 therefore, Your Honor, I believe that it was, in fact,
20 appropriate for the Court to dismiss that
21 property-related claim.
22 Would the Court like me to address the
23 conspiracy claim at this time, as well?
24 THE COURT: Yes.
25 MR. BARBOUR: Yes, Your Honor.
20
1 Finally we turn to the conspiracy claim and
2 plaintiff's argument again at this point is essentially
3 that because she filed an amended petition in response
4 to the motion to dismiss, that therefore this claim was
5 somehow beyond the Court's reach and the Court could not
6 reach the merits of whether or not she had alleged that
7 conspiracy claim.
8 This is not within Rule 91(a) either, Your
9 Honor. Rule 91(a) requires that we file a motion to
10 dismiss, identify the cause of action in fact that it
11 can't go forward. It allows the plaintiff the option to
12 either respond to the motion to dismiss or to amend her
13 pleadings, which it does, but the rule does not
14 foreclose the Court's ability to rule on a motion to
15 dismiss notwithstanding that amendment, that the Court
16 has full discretion to evaluate the merits of that claim
17 and to see whether there's a basis in law or a basis in
18 fact for that claim and to move forward.
19 Plaintiff's reasoning to Rule 91(a), we
20 would indefinitely be cycling through and forever
21 amending our pleadings and amending our motions and
22 never reaching the goal of Rule 91(a), which is the
23 efficient resolution and dismissal potentially of
24 patently frivolous and baseless causes of action.
25 THE REPORTER: Would you please slow down.
21
1 MR. BARBOUR: I apologize for that. I
2 apologize.
3 So there being no requirement that we have
4 amended our Rule 91(a) motion in response to her amended
5 petition, that arguments falls flat.
6 And again, Your Honor, I would turn to the
7 merits of plaintiff's conspiracy claim. And again at
8 the March 18th hearing on the motion to dismiss,
9 plaintiff was completely unable to identify a single
10 allegation in her petition that showed an unlawful or
11 illegal act taken by any of defendants whatsoever.
12 Therefore, that claim has no basis in law under the
13 wording of Rule 91(a)(1) because her allegations even
14 taken as true would not entitle her to the relief
15 sought. Meaning if we took her petition and put it in
16 front of a jury and said everything in here is true,
17 they would not be able to render a verdict for her on
18 that conspiracy claim because there's no unlawful or
19 illegal acts alleged anywhere within that petition.
20 And so for those reasons, Your Honor, we
21 would suggest that the Court was entirely proper in
22 dismissing plaintiff's property-related claims and her
23 conspiracy claims. And respectfully I ask that the
24 Court deny the plaintiff's motion for new trial.
25 THE COURT: Thank you, Mr. Barbour.
22
1 Mr. Small, round two.
2 MR. SMALL: Your Honor, having been engaged
3 in an oral gift of real estate case in Kendall County
4 for the best part of the last two years revolving around
5 a supposed 1500 acre gift of a ranch, I can state
6 categorically that I have yet to see one case dealing
7 with an oral gift of real estate that equates that cause
8 of action to promissory estoppel. They are two
9 different things. And taking issue with counsel's
10 suggestion of what 91(a) does and does not permit,
11 91(a)(5) is titled effective nonsuit or amendment. The
12 Court may not rule on a motion to dismiss if at least
13 three days before the date of the hearing, the
14 respondent files a nonsuit of the challenged cause of
15 action or the movant withdraws the motion.
16 And I would suggest that the cases say that
17 an amendment that drops a cause of action -- an amended
18 petition that drops a cause of action is effective
19 nonsuit of that particular cause of action. And here
20 again --
21 THE COURT: When you say you believe the
22 cases say, which cases are you --
23 MR. SMALL: I was not prepared to present a
24 case to the Court, but I will be happy to provide that
25 authority to the Court and to Mr. Barbour because if --
23
1 I've run into case where even if you drop a defendant
2 out of the caption on a case, you have effectively
3 dropped them out of the case. So, you know, that's the
4 equivalent of a nonsuit.
5 THE COURT: And so I'm going to ping-pong
6 back to Mr. Barbour.
7 Mr. Barbour, would you agree or disagree
8 that by dropping a cause of action that that is the
9 effect of a nonsuit and so -- which is the -- then would
10 fall within the realm of subsection A?
11 MR. BARBOUR: I would not, Your Honor. You
12 know, Rule 162 specifically provides for nonsuits to
13 occur and there's a nonsuit pleading a plaintiff has to
14 file or a claimant has to file obviously to nonsuit that
15 claim. And under Texas' notice pleading standards, you
16 know, headings frankly are irrelevant to a plaintiff's
17 claim anyway. You know, it's the content of the
18 pleading that we're looking at. So whether a plaintiff
19 styles her claim as promissory estoppel or oral gift or
20 whatever the case may be, the underlying claim itself,
21 you know, does not change in light of that.
22 So I think if the framers of Rule 91(a)
23 wanted to allow for the, you know, the amendment of the
24 pleading to withdraw that cause of action, they would
25 have provided for that, respectfully, Your Honor. They
24
1 did not. They specifically required a nonsuit, which is
2 a very clear delineated bright-line action. You're
3 either forgoing the claim voluntarily and nonsuiting it
4 or, you know, an amendment may or may not, you know,
5 we're left in this gray area. And plaintiff having not
6 followed that very clear procedure to specifically and
7 affirmatively disallow the promissory estoppel claim by
8 nonsuiting it means that, you know, it's still there
9 intertwined with this oral gift claim as conceded in her
10 response to the motion to dismiss.
11 THE COURT: Thank you, Mr. Barbour.
12 And before we go any further, Mr. Small,
13 and right now the Court is of the mindset that I really
14 would like case law, but did we find within the
15 transcript from March 18th the portion where the
16 argument that was made this morning was in fact made on
17 March 18th?
18 MR. SMALL: Yes, ma'am. It was Page 11
19 lines 10 and 11, not page 6.
20 MS. BROWN: Apologize for that, Your Honor.
21 THE COURT: It's okay. Page 11, lines --
22 MR. SMALL: Page 11, lines 10 and 11 are
23 the most succinct place I think.
24 (Short pause.)
25 THE COURT: Mr. Barbour, would you like to
25
1 respond at this time?
2 MR. BARBOUR: I would, Your Honor. As I
3 read lines -- page 11, lines 10 and 11, you know,
4 there's -- they have not objected to our current
5 pleading. I see that. I don't see any argument there
6 that the motion to dismiss is defective or can't proceed
7 based on its current content whatsoever. They were an
8 affirmative duty. If they're wanting to argue that the
9 quote, unquote, contents of the motion as provided under
10 Rule 91(a)(2) must specifically address it and that it's
11 insufficient, that's not at all spelled out there, Your
12 Honor. And even if they did, they never asked the Court
13 for a ruling on that motion at that time and it wasn't
14 raised, you know, as a formal objection. It's an aside
15 that doesn't at all raise these issues for the Court's
16 review.
17 And so I would both argue that it's not a
18 proper objection whatsoever and it certainly was not
19 preserved at that point to be raised in the motion for
20 new trial. So I don't think they exhausted their
21 burdens at all.
22 THE COURT: Thank you, Mr. Barbour.
23 Mr. Small, I'm going to let you hopefully
24 tie up any loose ends at this time.
25 MR. SMALL: I would.
26
1 The last thing. And counsel appear to be
2 attempting to tag Ms. Brown with some kind of admission
3 that promissory estoppel and oral gift of real estate
4 are one and the same, but the fact of the matter is that
5 91(a) explicitly states that this is a ruling only on
6 the pleadings. And the pleadings say what the pleadings
7 say. No evidence, no argument of counsel, no nothing.
8 It's the pleadings and the pleadings alone.
9 And we would ask that the Court deny their
10 91(a) motion to dismiss. Thank you.
11 THE COURT: Thank you, Mr. Small.
12 So what we're going to do is we're going to
13 allow Mr. Small to submit by e-mail and only for this
14 purpose, and CC Mr. Barbour, his two cases on the issue
15 of 91(a) and whether dropping a cause of action in fact
16 falls into the realm that would permit the argument that
17 was made today. Only that case. And he's going to get
18 it to me before noon. Yes? Yes. And that way
19 Mr. Barbour -- I don't know if you're doing anything
20 before 2:00 today or not. I really would -- I want to
21 have some finality one way or another. And I want to
22 let you guys know before 5:00 if at all possible. So if
23 you would like that, then Mr. Small can get it to me
24 before noon, and then you can have until what time
25 afternoon to respond, Mr. Barbour?
27
1 MR. BARBOUR: You said 2:00, Your Honor,
2 that would be fine by me.
3 THE COURT: Okay. So 2:00 and that way --
4 so that would be wonderful. If you get it before
5 then -- I have lunch between 12:00 and 1:30 and I don't
6 have a judges' meeting at lunch so -- just so you know
7 the Court's schedule. But with that, I appreciate your
8 arguments. I appreciate your early morning rise in
9 coming to the 57th this morning. And y'all are excused.
10 Thank you very much.
11 (Proceeding concluded.)
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1 STATE OF TEXAS
2 COUNTY OF BEXAR
3
4 I, Mary Martinez, Certified Court Reporter in and
5 for Bexar County, State of Texas, do hereby certify that
6 the above and foregoing contains a true and correct
7 transcription of the proceedings requested in the
8 above-styled and numbered cause, all of which occurred
9 in open court or in chambers and were reported by me.
10 I further certify that this Reporter's Record truly
11 and correctly reflects the exhibits, if any, offered by
12 the respective parties.
13 I further certify that the total cost for the
14 preparation of this Reporter's Record is $ 216.00
15 (expedited) and was paid by Ms. Olga Brown .
16 To which I certify on this the 15th day of
17 May , 2015.
18
19
20
21 /s/ Mary Martinez
Mary Martinez, CSR 5943
22 57th District Court
Bexar County Courthouse
23 100 Dolorosa Street
San Antonio, Texas 78205
24 Telephone: 210.335.1602
Exp: 12-31-2016
25