Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and Nicole Oria, in Her Official Capacity as Executive Director// Ellen Jefferson, D.V.M. v. Ellen Jefferson, D.V.M.// Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and Nicole Oria, in Her Official Capacity as Executive Director ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
03-14-00774-CV
5976703
THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
7/8/2015 11:22:47 AM
JEFFREY D. KYLE
CLERK
NO. 03-14-00774-CV
____________________________________________________
FILED IN
3rd COURT OF APPEALS
IN THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS 7/8/2015 11:22:47 AM
____________________________________________________
JEFFREY D. KYLE
Clerk
TEXAS STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS, and
NICOLE ORIA, in Her Official Capacity as Executive Director
Appellants/Cross-Appellees,
v.
ELLEN JEFFERSON, D.V.M.,
Appellee/Cross-Appellant.
____________________________________________________
On Appeal from the 127th Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas
Cause No. D-1-GN-14-000287
The Honorable Gisela D. Triana presiding
_________________________________________________
BRIEF OF APPELLANTS/CROSS APPELLEES TEXAS STATE BOARD
OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND NICOLE ORIA, IN HER
OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
____________________________________________________
KEN PAXTON TED A. ROSS
Attorney General of Texas Assistant Attorney General
State Bar No. 24008890
CHARLES E. ROY OFFICE OF THE TEXAS ATTORNEY
First Assistant Attorney General GENERAL
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW DIVISION
JAMES E. DAVIS P.O. Box 12548
Deputy Attorney General for Austin, Texas 78711-2548
Civil Litigation Telephone: (512) 475-4191
Facsimile: (512) 457-4674
DAVID A. TALBOT, JR. Email: ted.ross@texasattorneygeneral.gov
Chief, Administrative Law Division Attorneys for Appellants/Cross-Appellees
ORAL ARGUMENT CONDITIONALLY REQUESTED July 8, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... ii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.................................................................................... iii
RECORD AND PARTY REFERENCES ............................................................... iv
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ..................................................................................v
REQUEST FOR ORAL ARGUMENT ................................................................... vi
ISSUES PRESENTED FOR REVIEW ................................................................... vi
STATEMENT OF FACTS ........................................................................................2
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ........................................................................4
ARGUMENT .............................................................................................................4
I. STANDARD OF REVIEW .............................................................................4
II. REGULATORY BACKGROUND .................................................................5
III. DR. JEFFERSON’S APA RULE CHALLENGE IS WITHOUT MERIT .....6
A. Both rules are consistent with the Act, including the “Ownership
Exemption.” ...........................................................................................7
CONCLUSION AND PRAYER .............................................................................10
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE .......................................................................12
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ................................................................................12
ii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Dodd v. Meno, 870 S.W.2d 4 (Tex. 1994) .................................................................5
Reliant Energy, Inc. v. Public Util. Comm’n of Tex., 62 S.W.3d 833
(Tex. App.—Austin 2001, no pet.) ..................................................................5
Tex. Dep’t of Human Servs. v. Christian Care Ctrs., Inc., 826 S.W.2d 715
(Tex. App—Austin 1992, writ denied)............................................................6
Tex. Orthopaedic Ass’n v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Exam’rs, 254 S.W.3d 714
(Tex. App.—Austin 2008, pet. denied) .......................................................4, 5
Statutes
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 37.001 .....................................................................3
Tex. Gov’t Code § 2001.038......................................................................................3
Tex. Gov’t Code § 801.004(1) ...............................................................................7, 8
Tex. Occ. Code § 801.151 .........................................................................................5
Tex. Occ. Code § 801.151(b) .....................................................................................6
Tex. Occ. Code § 801.151(c)(1) ............................................................................5, 6
Tex. Occ. Code §§ 801.402(4), (6), (12), (13), (16) ..................................................6
Rules
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 573.72 ........................................................................ passim
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 573.80(2) ................................................................... passim
iii
RECORD AND PARTY REFERENCES
The clerk’s record will be referred to as “CR ____.”
The supplemental clerk’s record will be referred to as “Supp. CR ___.”
Appellants/Cross-Appellees, the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical
Examiners, and Nicole Oria in Her Official Capacity as Executive Director, will be
collectively referred to as the “Board” unless otherwise designated.
Appellee/Cross-Appellant, Ellen Jefferson, D.V.M., will be referred to as
“Dr. Jefferson.”
iv
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Dr. Jefferson filed the underlying district court suit, requesting declaratory
and injunctive relief with respect to a pending Board disciplinary proceeding and
various Board rules. CR 4. She then filed an amended petition wherein she asserted
a number of challenges to the Board’s rules, two of which are at issue in this
interlocutory appeal. CR 186.
The Board filed a plea challenging the district court’s subject matter
jurisdiction over Dr. Jefferson’s rule challenge, as well as her claims under the Texas
Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act (“UDJA”). CR 67.
The district court carried the Board’s plea with the trial of Dr. Jefferson’s other
claims. After trial, the court issued a judgment granting the Board’s plea with
respect to Dr. Jefferson’s UDJA claims, and denying the Board’s plea regarding her
rule challenge. CR 855. See also Exhibit 1. The court ruled that it had jurisdiction
over Dr. Jefferson’s rule challenge and went on to uphold the validity of the Board
rules in question, with the exception of Board Rules 573.72 and 573.80(2). 22 Tex.
Admin. Code §§ 573.72; 573.80(2). Id.
The Board then timely filed this interlocutory appeal of the denial of its plea
on the rule challenge and the Court’s invalidation of Board Rules 573.72 and
573.80(2). Suppl. CR 3.
v
Dr. Jefferson thereafter filed a counter-appeal regarding the dismissal of her
UDJA claims. Suppl. CR 5.
CONDITIONAL REQUEST FOR ORAL ARGUMENT
The issues related to Dr. Jefferson’s rule challenge are purely legal in nature,
and the Board therefore does not believe that oral argument would assist the Court
with respect to those issues. However, the Board reserves the right to oral argument
should it be granted.
ISSUES PRESENTED FOR REVIEW
Are Board rules 573.72 and 573.80(2) consistent with the “Ownership
Exemption” in the Veterinary Practice Act?
vi
NO. 03-14-00774-CV
____________________________________________________
IN THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS
____________________________________________________
TEXAS STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS, and
NICOLE ORIA, in her Official Capacity as Executive Director
Appellants/Cross-Appellees,
v.
ELLEN JEFFERSON, D.V.M.,
Appellee/Cross-Appellant.
____________________________________________________
On Appeal from the 127th Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas
Cause No. D-1-GN-14-000287
The Honorable Gisela D. Triana presiding
_________________________________________________
BRIEF OF APPELLANTS/CROSS APPELLEES TEXAS STATE BOARD
OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND NICOLE ORIA, IN HER
OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
____________________________________________________
TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS:
Appellants/Cross-Appellees, the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical
Examiners, and Nicole Oria, in Her Official Capacity as Executive Director
(hereinafter collective referred to as the “Board” unless otherwise designated), by
and through the Office of the Attorney General of Texas and the undersigned
Assistant Attorney General, submit the following brief in the captioned appeal.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. Dr. Jefferson holds a license to practice veterinary medicine in Texas.
CR 5, ¶ 1.
2. Dr. Jefferson is the founder and chief executive officer of San Antonio
Pets Alive! (“SAPA”), a “no-kill” animal shelter located in San Antonio, Texas. Id.
3. On November 23, 2012, the Board received a complaint from a foster
care provider about Dr. Jefferson’s conduct related to a three-year old female
German Shepherd named Starlight, who had been fostered out by SAPA. CR 56.
The complaint asserted several allegations about Dr. Jefferson’s diagnoses of
Starlight. CR 56-61. The complaint also alleged that drugs Dr. Jefferson prescribed
for Starlight’s care were not properly administered, but were instead left on a SAPA
volunteer’s front porch without proper labeling. CR 59.
4. After an informal settlement conference, review by the Board’s
enforcement committee, and written notice to Dr. Jefferson, the Board filed a notice
of hearing at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (“SOAH”), alleging
violations of Chapter 801 of the Texas Occupations Code and administrative rules.
CR 53-63. In particular, the Board alleges that Dr. Jefferson:
• failed to establish a veterinary client patient relationship prior to diagnosing
and treating Starlight and prior to prescribing and dispensing medication;
• failed to treat Starlight with the required minimum standard of care;
2
• failed to maintain proper patient records;
• failed to properly label medication; and
• engaged in a pattern of acts that indicate consistent malpractice, negligence,
or incompetence in the practice of veterinary medicine.
Id.
5. Instead of proceeding with the Starlight complaint before SOAH,
Dr. Jefferson filed the underlying district court case, asserting claims for declaratory
relief under the Texas Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act (“UDJA”), as well as for
injunctive relief. CR 4. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 37.001, et seq. She
later filed an amended petition wherein she challenged several Board rules under the
Texas Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), including the two rules in question
in this proceeding. CR 216-223. See Tex. Gov’t Code § 2001.038.
6. The Board filed a plea to the jurisdiction, which was carried with the
case to trial. CR 67.
7. After a bench trial held on August 4, 2014, the district court issued a
final judgment which granted the Board’s plea with respect to Dr. Jefferson’s UDJA
claims, and denying the Board’s plea regarding her rule challenge. CR 855; Exhibit
1. The court ruled that it had jurisdiction over Dr. Jefferson’s rule challenge and
went on to uphold the validity of the Board rules in question, with the exception of
Board Rules 573.72 and 573.80(2). Id.
3
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
Board Rules 573.72 and 573.80(2) are both within the Board’s express and
implied rulemaking authority granted by the legislature.
Rule 573.72 does not apply to any licensed veterinary who can demonstrate
that he or she is subject to the Veterinary Practice Act’s “Ownership Exemption.”
The rule was simply adopted in order to prevent a licensed vet from hiding behind
the veil of a non-profit or municipal corporation in establishing one or more of the
criteria set forth in the exemption.
Rule 573.80(2) is also consistent with the Ownership Exemption. The rule’s
definition of “designated caretaker” furthers the legislative purpose of ensuring that
non-veterinarians practicing veterinary medicine without a license cannot be exempt
from the Act, thus protecting the public from the unsafe practice of veterinary
medicine.
ARGUMENT
I. STANDARD OF REVIEW
When determining whether a rule is valid, a court must ascertain whether the
rule is in harmony with the governing statutes and the general objectives of those
statutes. Tex. Orthopaedic Ass’n v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Exam’rs, 254 S.W.3d
714, 719 (Tex. App.—Austin 2008, pet. denied). In making that determination, it is
4
presumed that the rule is valid; the challenging party has the burden of proving
otherwise. Id., 254 S.W.3d at 722. Moreover, in deciding whether a rule exceeds
an agency’s rulemaking authority, the agency’s construction of its governing
statute(s) is entitled to “serious consideration” and “great weight” by a reviewing
court as long as the construction is reasonable and does not contradict the plain
language of the statute. Id., 254 S.W.3d at 719; Dodd v. Meno, 870 S.W.2d 4, 7
(Tex. 1994); Reliant Energy, Inc. v. Public Util. Comm’n of Tex., 62 S.W.3d 833,
838 (Tex. App.—Austin 2001, no pet.).
II. REGULATORY BACKGROUND
The Board is the state agency empowered to regulate the practice of veterinary
medicine in Texas. Tex. Occ. Code § 801.151. This includes the broad authority to
adopt rules to protect the public. Tex. Occ. Code § 801.151(c)(1). Among the
Board’s specific duties are the authority to discipline license holders for, among
other things, engaging in dishonest or illegal practices in, or connected with, the
practice of veterinary medicine or the practice of equine dentistry; engaging
practices or conduct that violates the Board’s rules of professional conduct;
performing or prescribing unnecessary or unauthorized treatment; ordering a
prescription drug or controlled substance for the treatment of an animal without first
establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship; and committing gross
malpractice or a pattern of acts that indicate consistent malpractice, negligence, or
5
incompetence in the practice of veterinary medicine or the practice of equine
dentistry. Tex. Occ. Code §§ 801.402(4), (6), (12), (13), (16).
It is within this broad authority afforded the Board by the legislature that the
rules in question must be examined.
III. DR. JEFFERSON’S APA RULE CHALLENGE IS WITHOUT MERIT
As an initial matter, the Board advises the Court that it is not contesting that
part of the district court’s final judgment which determines that the court had subject
matter jurisdiction over Dr. Jefferson’s rule challenges. CR 855; Exhibit 1.
However, the Board does contend that the judgment invalidating Board rules
573.72 and 573.80(2) was incorrect. The rules in question are consistent with the
Act, and they fall squarely within the Board’s express authority thereunder to protect
the public from the unsafe practice of veterinary medicine. Tex. Occ. Code §
801.151 (c)(1). See also the specific factors set forth in § 801.402. Tex. Occ. Code
§§ 801.402(4), (6), (12), (13), (16).
The rules are also within the Board’s implied authority because they are
authorized by the legislature’s statutorily-enumerated purposes, those being the
protection of the public and the establishment and maintenance of high integrity for
the profession. Tex. Occ. Code § 801.151(b); Tex. Dep’t of Human Servs. v.
Christian Care Ctrs., Inc., 826 S.W.2d 715, 719 (Tex. App—Austin 1992, writ
denied).
6
A. Both rules are consistent with the Act, including the “Ownership
Exemption.”
The Act provides that it does not apply to “the treatment or care of an animal
in any manner by the owner of the animal, an employee of the owner, or a designated
caretaker of the animal, unless the ownership, employment, or designation is
established with the intent to violate this chapter.” Tex. Gov’t Code § 801.004(1)
(“Ownership Exemption”).
As will be discussed below, both rules are consistent with the Ownership
Exemption.
Rule 573.72
Rule 573.72 provides:
(a) A nonprofit or municipal corporation may employ or contract with
a veterinarian to provide veterinary services in connection with
sheltering, sterilization, vaccination, or other medical care and
treatment of animals.
(b) Employment by or contractual service to a nonprofit or municipal
corporation does not exempt the veterinarian from any of the provisions
of the Veterinary Licensing Act or the Board’s rules.
(c) Veterinarians employed by, or contracted to, nonprofit or municipal
corporations shall be liable for any violations of the Act or rules
occurring as a result of the practice of veterinary medicine or any
veterinary services provided by the nonprofit or municipal corporation,
including those occurring due to the acts or omissions of non-licensed
employees of, or volunteers for, the nonprofit or municipal corporation.
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 573.72.
7
The district court held that rule 573.72 “violates the right of a non-profit or
shelter to employ a licensed veterinarian and seek full protection of the ownership
exemption for the treatment of animals for which the shelter is the owner.” CR ___.1
To the contrary, the rule is consistent with the Ownership Exemption. If indeed a
licensed veterinarian can demonstrate that he or she is an owner or designated
caretaker of an animal, or is employed by an owner of an animal, then the rule would
obviously not apply as long as the licensee did not intend to circumvent the
provisions of the Act. Tex. Occ. Code § 801.004(1). Indeed, non-profits and
municipal corporations often provide services to the general public and are not the
owners, employees, or designated caretakers of animals. Rule 573.72 is simply
written to prevent a licensed vet from hiding behind the veil of a non-profit or
municipal corporation in establishing one of the exemption criteria, which is a
separate matter from whether or not a vet is an owner of an animal, an employee of
the owner, or a designated caretaker.
The rule is not intended to apply to veterinarians who fall under the Ownership
Exemption, and it is consistent with the exemption and the Act as a whole.
1
While the district court referred to Rule 573.72 as a whole, subsection (a) is not at issue in this
appeal. No one disputes the right of a nonprofit or municipal corporation to “employ or contract
with a veterinarian to provide veterinary services in connection with sheltering, sterilization,
vaccination, or other medical care and treatment of animals.” The Board therefore assumes that
the court meant to invalidate subsections (b) and (c) only.
8
Rule 573.80(2)
Board Rule 573.80(2) defines a “designated caretaker” as:
a person to whom the owner of an animal has given specific authority
to care for the animal and who has not been designated, by using the
pretext of being a designated caretaker, to circumvent the Veterinary
Licensing Act (Chapter 801, Texas Occupations Code) by engaging in
any aspect of the practice of veterinary medicine (including alternate
therapies). A designated caretaker who treats an animal for a condition
that the animal was known or suspected of having prior to the person
being named a designated caretaker, is presumed to be attempting to
circumvent the Veterinary Licensing Act unless the designated
caretaker is following the instruction of a veterinarian and is under the
appropriate level of supervision per board rules. In this situation, the
designated caretaker may present evidence to rebut the presumption.
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 573.80(2) (emphasis added).
The district court held that the definition of “designated caretaker” violates
the Ownership Exemption because “it creates a presumption that a person intends to
violate the Act and then provides an impermissibly limited exception that requires
the care of a veterinarian to prevent such violation.” CR 856; Exhibit 1. To the
contrary, the definition is consistent with the Act, including the Ownership
Exemption. The intent of the rule is to ensure that non-veterinarians practicing
veterinary medicine without a license cannot be exempt from the Act. If the rule is
invalidated then anyone caught practicing veterinary medicine without a license
could evade responsibility by simply claiming that he or she is a “designated
caretaker.” Indeed, absent the rule, the common definition of “designated caretaker”
9
would simply be any person who is “designated” to “care” for an animal. That would
vitiate the entire Act and would create an absurd result which the legislature never
intended.2 On the other hand, neither vets nor people practicing without a license
would generally be practicing unless the animal already had a condition. Thus,
preventing someone from being a “designated caretaker” after an animal has a
condition furthers the purpose of the Act and protects the public from the unsafe
practice of veterinary medicine.
Rule 573.80(2) is also entirely consistent with the Ownership Exemption and
the Act as a whole.
CONCLUSION AND PRAYER
For the reasons discussed above, the Board respectfully requests that this
Court reverse that part of the district court’s judgment which invalidates Board Rules
573.72 and 573.80(2).3
Dated: July 8, 2015.
2
All vets are clearly designated to provide care to animals under any common definition of
“designated,” “caretaker,” or “designated caretaker.”
3
The Board also requests this Court to affirm that the part of the district court’s final judgment
which grants the Board’s plea to the jurisdiction. CR 855; Exhibit 1. That matter will be briefed
by the parties as part of Dr. Jefferson’s cross-appeal.
10
Respectfully submitted,
KEN PAXTON
Attorney General of Texas
CHARLES E. ROY
First Assistant Attorney General
JAMES E. DAVIS
Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation
DAVID A. TALBOT, JR.
Division Chief, Administrative Law Division
/s/ Ted A. Ross
Ted A. Ross
Assistant Attorney General
State Bar No. 24008890
OFFICE OF THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW DIVISION
P. O. Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
Telephone: (512) 475-4191
Facsimile: (512) 457-4674
Email: ted.ross@texasattorneygeneral.gov
Attorneys for Appellants/Cross-Appellees Texas
State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and
Nicole Oria
11
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I hereby certify compliance with Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 9 and
that there are 1,999 words in this document. Microsoft Word was used to prepare
this filing and calculate the number of words in it.
/s/ Ted A. Ross
Ted A. Ross
Assistant Attorney General
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that, in compliance with Rule 9.5 of the Texas Rules of
Appellate Procedure, a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing document
has been served on the following on this the 8th day of July 2015:
David F. Brown Via: Electronic Service and e-mail
dbrown@ebblaw.com
David P. Blanke
dblanke@ebblaw.com
Zeke DeRose III
zderose@ebblaw.com
111 Congress Avenue, 28th Floor
Austin, Texas 78701
Ryan Clinton
rdclinton@dgclaw.com
Davis, Gerald & Cremer, P.C.
111 Congress Avenue, Suite 1660
Austin, Texas 78701
Attorneys for Ellen Jefferson, D.V.M.
/s/ Ted A. Ross
Ted A. Ross
Assistant Attorney General
12
EXHIBIT 1
CAUSE NO. D-1-GN-14-000287
ELLEN JEFFERSON, D.V.M., § IN THE DISTRICT COLTRT
§
Plainlzjf; §
§
v. §
§ 127th JUDICL\L DISTRICT
TEXAS STATE BOARD OF VETERIN;\RY §
J\fEDICAL EX\J\fINERS and NICOLE §
ORL\, in her official capacity as Executive
Director,
Defendants. TR,\ VIS COUNTY, TJ~XAS
FINAL JUDGMENT
On August 4, 2014, Plaintiff, Ellen Jefferson, D.V.M. (Dr. Jefferson), and Defendants, the
Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (l'BVl\fE), and Nicole Oria, in her official
capacity as Executive Director of TBVME, appeared with their attorneys of record and proceeded
to trial before the Court. The Court also heard argument on Defendants' Plea to the Jurisdiction on
that date. After considering the pleadings, motions, stipulations, the requests for judicial notice, the
evidence presented at trial, and the arguments of counsel, the Court renders final judgment as
follows:
The Court grants Defendants' Plea to the Jurisdiction in part and dismisses Dr. Jefferson's
claims under the Uniform Declaratory Judgment :\ct without prejudice. Dr. Jefferson must exhaust
her administrati,-e remedies to challenge TBVl\fE's factual findings and allegations and the
application of TBVME's rules to those findings and allegations. See Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §
801.004(1 ).
The Court finds that it does have jurisdiction under Section 2001.038 of the Administrative
Procedure Act (":\P:") regarding certain rule challenges that Dr. Jefferson asserts. The Court finds
that TBVME's reliance on Section 2001.038(e) docs not bar the Court's consideration of the
C\l':·:I·: ~(J D-l-C~-1+-ll00287
Page l nC ?1
administrative rules at the core of the disputes presented in this suit. Cnder jurisdiction provided by
Section 2001.038, the Court finds that the following rules arc contrary to Section 801.004(1):
1) Board Rule 573.72, as written, \-iolates the right of a non-profit or shelter to
employ a licensed veterinarian and seek full protection of the ownership exemption for the
treatment of their animals for which the shelter is the owner. See 22 Tex. Admin. Code§ 573.72. If a
veterinarian is employed by a non-profit or shelter, their handling of the care of the animals so
owned by their employer will not be generally cm-ered by the ;\ct.
2). Board Rule 573.80(2) also fails to comply \vith the mvnership exemption,
smce it creates a presumption that a person intends to evade the Act and then provides an
impermissibly limited exception that requires the care of a veterinarian to prevent such violation.
See 22 Tex. Admin. Code§ 573.80(2).
The Court, however, does find that the mvncrship exception docs not allow a veterinarian to
ignore other laws outside the Act that relate to his or her \·eterinary license, including all laws
relating to the handling of prescription drugs (dangerous or controlled). Because it is the veterinary
license, not the ownership of the animals, that allows a veterinarian to take certain actions, those
actions may be m-ersecn by TBVME to ensure compliance. Such im-estigations and administrative
actions are not categorically banned by the ownership exemption and the Court will not prevent
TBVME from exercising its administrative powers to investigate such complaints. In exercising its
quasi-judicial authority in onrseeing the administrative process, however, TBVi\IE must do so in
accordance with the boundaries of the ,\ct, and with proper and due regard for the ownership
exemption, as mandated by the Texas J ~egislaturc.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJl-DGED, :\ND DECREED that the Plea to the
Jurisdiction is granted in part, pursuant to Section 2001.038 of the Administratin Procedure Act;
that Board Rules 573.72 and 573.80(2) are found to be contrary to Section 801.004(1) of the
C\USL J\:O D-I-(;'.'.i-14-lllJIJ287
Page 2 of~'>
Veterinarv Practice Act and therefore invalid; and this matter shall be remanded to the TBVME for
J
further actions consistent with this order.
All costs of court are assessed against the party who incurred them. All relief not expressly
granted herein is denied. This judgment finally disposes of all parties and all claims in the entire suit
and is appealable.
Signed this day of NoYember, 2014.
Gisela D. Triana
200'h District Court
Travis County, Texas
C\l'SI·: .'\() D-l-(;.'\-14-1lil0287
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