in Re Liberty Insurance Corporation ( 2008 )

i i i i i i
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-08-00464-CV
IN RE LIBERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION
Original Mandamus Proceeding1
Opinion by: Rebecca Simmons, Justice
Sitting: Karen Angelini, Justice
Sandee Bryan Marion, Justice
Rebecca Simmons, Justice
Delivered and Filed: August 27, 2008
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS DENIED
Relator Liberty Insurance Corporation (“Liberty Mutual”) seeks a writ of mandamus
compelling the trial court to grant its motion to disqualify opposing counsel. Because we cannot say
the trial court abused its discretion, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus.
The underlying suit is a bad faith workers’ compensation case. The plaintiff is represented
by Doyle Raizner LLP (“Doyle Raizner”). Attorney Patrick Dennis, a third-year associate with
Doyle Raizner listed on the pleadings in the underlying suit, was previously employed by Vinson
& Elkins, LLP (V&E). Dennis worked on four matters for Liberty Mutual while with V&E.
1
This proceeding arises out of Cause No. 07-2231-CV, styled Kathryne Vause v. Liberty Insurance Corporation
and Justin Smith, pending in the 25th Judicial District Court, Guadalupe County, Texas, the Honorable Dwight E.
Peschel presiding.
04-08-00464-CV
Liberty Mutual asserts that Dennis’s prior representation of Liberty Mutual involved
matters substantially related to the current matter such that there is a genuine threat that confidences
disclosed to Dennis will be revealed to Liberty Mutual’s opponent. See NCNB Tex. Nat’l Bank v.
Coker, 765 S.W.2d 398, 400 (Tex. 1989); TEX . DISCIPLINARY R. PROF’L CONDUCT 1.09. Liberty
Mutual presented evidence that Dennis billed almost 100 hours to four Liberty Mutual cases
involving claims of bad faith and insurance code violations in connection with workers’
compensation claims. These matters, Liberty Mutual argues, are “substantially related” to the
underlying suit, warranting Dennis’s and Doyle Raizner’s disqualification.
Plaintiff responded with an affidavit from Dennis disavowing that the four V&E cases were
substantially related to the underlying suit, declaring that he never had access to any confidential
information about Liberty Mutual while with V&E, and stating that he has not disclosed anything
about Liberty Mutual to anyone at Doyle Raizner. Plaintiff noted that three of the four matters
Dennis worked on were administrative appeals that involved procedural issues, and that Dennis’s
involvement in the one case with similar causes of action was peripheral and did not involve access
to any confidential information.
A hearing was held on the motion to disqualify on April 4, 2008. The only witness was
Dennis. The trial court took the matter under advisement, and issued an order denying the motion
on June 4.
The grant or denial of a motion to disqualify is reviewable by mandamus. In re Drake,
195 S.W.3d 232, 234 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2006, orig. proceeding). Mandamus relief is
available only if the trial court abused its discretion in granting or denying the motion to disqualify.
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In re Butler, 987 S.W.2d 221, 223-24 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, orig. proceeding).
A trial court does not abuse its discretion if the court bases its decision on conflicting evidence and
some evidence supports the trial court’s decision. In re Barber, 982 S.W.2d 364, 366 (Tex. 1998).
Appellate courts may not resolve disputed fact issues in a mandamus proceeding. Hooks v. Fourth
Court of Appeals, 808 S.W.2d 56, 60 (Tex. 1991).
“‘Disqualification is a severe remedy.’” Drake, 195 S.W.3d at 235 (quoting Spears v.
Fourth Court of Appeals, 797 S.W.2d 654, 656 (Tex. 1990)). Accordingly, trial courts must “adhere
to an exacting standard when considering [such] motions.” Id.; Cimarron Agric., Ltd. v. Guitar
Holding Co., L.P., 209 S.W.3d 197, 201 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2006, no pet.). A party moving to
disqualify cannot rely upon conclusory statements; the party must provide the trial court with
sufficient information so that the court can engage in a painstaking analysis of the facts. J.K. &
Susie L. Wadley Research Inst. & Blood Bank v. Morris, 776 S.W.2d 271, 278 (Tex. App.—Dallas
1989, orig. proceeding). “‘While a movant need not divulge any confidences, he must delineate
with specificity the subject matter, issues and causes of action presented in [the] former
representation.’” Ghidoni v. Stone Oak, Inc., 966 S.W.2d 573, 579 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998,
pet. denied) (quoting Wadley, 776 S.W.2d at 278).
Liberty Mutual based its motion to disqualify on Rules 1.09(a)(3) and 1.09(a)(2) of the
Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure.2 Rule 1.09(a)(3) provides that a lawyer who represented a
client in a prior matter shall not represent another client in a matter adverse to the former client if
the representation is the same or a substantially related matter. TEX . DISCIPLINARY R. PROF’L
2
The Disciplinary Rules are not controlling as standards governing motions to disqualify. They serve, however,
as guidelines that articulate considerations relevant to the merits of such motions. Drake, 195 S.W .3d at 235.
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CONDUCT 1.09(a)(3). To show that the matters are “substantially related,” the moving party must
prove the existence of a prior attorney-client relationship in which the factual matters involved were
so related to the facts alleged in the pending action that it creates a genuine threat that confidences
revealed to the party’s former counsel will be divulged to its current opponent. Cimarron
Agricultural, 209 S.W.3d at 202 (citing Coker, 765 S.W.2d at 400). Superficial resemblances
among legal issues do not rise to the level of a substantial relationship where there is no indication
that the facts in the current action are substantially related to the facts in prior suits. Id.
Liberty Mutual places great reliance on In re Butler, 987 S.W.2d at 226-27, where an
attorney represented an insurance carrier in a duty to defend case and then represented a party
adverse to the carrier in a duty to defend case. The trial court found that the matters were
“substantially related” and granted the motion to disqualify. Id. In reaching this decision, the trial
court considered in camera evidence indicating that the lawyer performed a “significant amount of
work” on the prior lawsuit including direct communications between the attorney and the carrier
detailing the background of the lawsuit and evaluating liability. The Butler court noted that the trial
court’s disqualification order involved resolution of factual issues that it would not be proper for an
appellate court to disturb in a mandamus proceeding. Id. Although there were some factual
distinctions between the two matters alleged to raise the conflict, the court of appeals held that,
based on the evidence presented, “it was not unreasonable for the trial court to conclude that the
[two lawsuits] dealt with substantially related matters.” Id. at 226.
The court of appeals in Butler appropriately limited its review to whether, based on the
evidence, the trial court could reasonably have granted the motion to disqualify. The issue this
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Court faces is whether, on the record in this mandamus proceeding, the trial court could reasonably
have denied the motion. See Ghidoni, 966 S.W.2d at 579-80; Wadley, 776 S.W.2d at 278. We
cannot say that the overlap of causes of action between the matters Dennis worked on while at V&E
and the current matter conclusively establish that those matters are “substantially related” to the
current suit such that the trial court had no discretion but to grant Liberty Mutual’s motion to
disqualify. Drake, 195 S.W.3d at 226. We conclude that the trial court could reasonably have
determined that Dennis’s prior representation of Liberty Mutual did not involve matters substantially
related to the current suit. Coker, 765 S.W.2d at 400.
Turning to Liberty Mutual’s other ground for disqualification, Disciplinary Rule 1.09(a)(2)
requires disqualification if an attorney represents a current client in a matter adverse to the former
client if the representation in reasonable probability will involve a violation of Rule 1.05, which
prevents unauthorized dissemination of confidential information. TEX . DISCIPLINARY R. PROF’L
CONDUCT 1.05, 1.09(a)(2). The evidence as to whether Dennis received confidential information
as a result of his prior representation of Liberty Mutual is disputed. Drake, 195 S.W.3d at 237.
Accordingly, we cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion as to Liberty
Mutual’s Rule 1.09(a)(2) grounds. Id.; Butler, 987 S.W.2d at 226-27.
For these reasons, the petition for writ of mandamus is denied.
Rebecca Simmons, Justice
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