Gilleland v. Dubuisson IN THE COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT OF TEXAS,

AT AUSTIN









NO. 3-93-162-CV





ELLIS H. GILLELAND,

APPELLANT

vs.





LARRY M. DUBUISSON, ET AL., ⁽¹⁾

APPELLEES

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 200TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

NO. 92-08290, HONORABLE W. JEANNE MEURER, JUDGE PRESIDING

PER CURIAM

This appeal arises from a sanction order that, among other things, struck the pleadings of appellant Ellis Gilleland. Tex. R. Civ. P. 13, 215. Gilleland, a pro se litigant, raises sixty-eight points of error on appeal, many of which he briefs in an offensive tone. This Court would ordinarily strike such a brief, but to avoid further delay, we will attempt to look to the substance of the arguments Gilleland makes. We will affirm the court's order assessing sanctions, but hold that two orders the trial court signed after it lost jurisdiction are void.

BACKGROUND

Gilleland filed the underlying lawsuit against appellees Larry M. Dubuisson; Olivia R. Eudaly; Alton F. Hopkins, Jr.; Mike Levi; Robert D. Lewis; Mary E. Mainster; Guy A. Sheppard; Fred K. Soifer; and Clark S. Willingham, in their individual and official capacities. Appellees, whom we will refer to collectively as Dubuisson, were members of the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. Gilleland alleged that Dubuisson violated the Veterinary Licensing Act by dismissing complaints to the Board by less than a quorum and by failing to provide accurate consumer-complaint information. The Veterinary Licensing Act, 67th Leg., R.S., ch. 761, § 1, 1981 Tex. Gen. Laws 2816, 2817 (Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 8890, § 5(g), since amended); 70th Leg., R.S., ch. 1122, § 19, 1987 Tex. Gen. Laws 3850, 3850-51 (Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 8890, § 18A, since amended).

Disputes arose almost immediately after Gilleland filed suit and continued throughout Dubuisson's effort to obtain discovery from Gilleland. After an unsuccessful attempt to depose Gilleland, Dubuisson requested sanctions against Gilleland for filing frivolous and groundless motions and for abusing the discovery process. Tex. R. Civ. P. 13, 215. Following a hearing, the trial court rendered judgment striking Gilleland's pleadings, dismissing his cause with prejudice, assessing attorney's fees of $10,354.90, and sanctioning him $150.00 for conduct during the sanction hearing. The court suspended payment of the $150.00 contingent on Gilleland's performing the remainder of the order.

ABUSE OF DISCRETION IN IMPOSING SANCTIONS

In points of error five and six, Gilleland contends that in striking his pleadings the trial court abused its discretion in two respects: the sanction imposed is not just and it violates his right to due process. See GTE Communications Sys. Corp. v. Tanner, 856 S.W.2d 725, 731 (Tex. 1993); TransAmerican Natural Gas Corp. v. Powell, 811 S.W.2d 913, 917 (Tex. 1991). The trial court's discretion in assessing sanctions under Rules 13 and 215 is circumscribed by the requirements that the sanction be just and that it not offend due process. Tanner, 856 S.W.2d at 731; TransAmerican, 811 S.W.2d at 917. To be just, a sanction must (1) relate directly to the offensive conduct and (2) be proportionate to the conduct. TransAmerican, 811 S.W.2d at 917; Chrysler Corp. v. Blackmon, 841 S.W.2d 844, 849 (Tex. 1992). While the due process concerns under Rules 13 and 215 are not identical, a sanction under either rule that adjudicates the merits of a party's claim satisfies due process only if the sanctioned party's conduct justifies a presumption that his claim lacks merit. Tanner, 856 S.W.2d at 731; TransAmerican, 811 S.W.2d at 917-18.

To determine whether the trial court exercised its discretion within these limits in imposing sanctions for abuse of discovery, we independently review the entire record. United States Fidelity & Guar. Co. v. Rossa, 830 S.W.2d 668, 672 (Tex. App.--Waco 1992, writ denied). We presume that the trial court considered the full record of the case, up to and including the hearing on the sanction motion. Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241 (Tex. 1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1159 (1986); see Eason v. Eason, 860 S.W.2d 187, 189 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, no writ). The full record includes the evidence, arguments of counsel, and all orders and documents before the trial court. Jefa Co. v. Mustang Tractor & Equip. Co., 868 S.W.2d 905, 910 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, writ denied). On appeal, Gilleland must present a record that demonstrates an abuse of discretion. Tex. R. App. P. 50(d), 53(k); Eason, 860 S.W.2d at 190.

Gilleland has not brought forward a complete record on appeal. Although he has presented the transcription of the sanction hearing, along with his six exhibits that were admitted in evidence, Gilleland has failed to see that any of Dubuisson's six exhibits admitted in evidence were also brought forward. In addition, Gilleland has presented no transcription from a hearing held before the sanction hearing on his motion to disqualify one of Dubuisson's attorneys. We presume that the omitted portions of the record support the challenged ruling. Christiansen v. Prezelski, 782 S.W.2d 842, 843 (Tex. 1990); Thomas v. Walker, 860 S.W.2d 579, 581 (Tex. App.--Waco 1993, orig. proceeding); University of Tex. v. Hinton, 822 S.W.2d 197, 202 (Tex. App.--Austin 1991, no writ). In the absence of a complete record, therefore, Gilleland cannot establish on appeal that the trial court abused its discretion in assessing sanctions under Rule 215. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 837 (Tex. 1992); Eason, 860 S.W.2d at 190.

The record before us does, however, show the following sequence of events. After Gilleland filed suit, Dubuisson served him with a notice of intent to take oral deposition and a subpoena duces tecum. Gilleland moved to quash both documents, alleging that the action had not yet commenced and that the documents showed an intent to harass him and threaten his physical safety. Gilleland charged in his motions that one of Dubuisson's attorneys intended to lure him into her office for the deposition, from which premises he could be arrested and jailed. Gilleland labelled this attorney as "paranoid, a savage man-hater," with "an obvious vendetta" against him, and on this basis requested a neutral location at which he could be deposed. Gilleland further stated that the same attorney had corrupted the official court reporter in another of his lawsuits and had caused the statement of facts to be redacted. Alleging that the attorney could easily pressure the court reporter in this cause into producing a corrupt recording, Gilleland sought a deposition on written questions and objected to any recording being made by the official court reporter for the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

After the trial court denied Gilleland's motions to quash, he moved for a discovery protective order, which incorporated his previous motions and alleged grounds that were identical to the grounds of his previous motions. Gilleland claimed that the trial court's ruling on his earlier motions did not address his claims for protection from corrupt deposition taking, corrupt deposition recording, and a location at which he would be harassed and physically threatened. In denying Gilleland's motion for protective order, the trial court found the motion to be unmeritorious and frivolous.

Between the time Gilleland filed his motion for discovery protective order and the time the court heard it, Dubuisson attempted to depose Gilleland. Gilleland did not produce the items mentioned in the subpoena duces tecum at the deposition and maintains that he was not obliged to produce them because no attorney at the deposition requested them from him. At the outset of the deposition, Gilleland refused to discuss stipulations or to allow Dubuisson's attorneys to make appearances, statements for the record, or objections; instead, he interrupted and repeatedly talked over them in a belligerent tone, demanding the next question. Gilleland threatened to seek sanctions against the attorneys for trying to object, and he asserted that, because it was his deposition, only he was allowed to make statements. Despite the trial court's denying his request for a deposition on written questions, Gilleland insisted on writing out each question and reading his written answer. Gilleland again accused one of Dubuisson's attorneys of being a liar and a perjurer who had threatened his physical safety and "corrupted" an official statement of facts, presumably, as he had alleged previously, by causing it to be fraudulently redacted.

When Dubuisson's attorneys informed him that the deposition would continue at the county courthouse, Gilleland spoke simultaneously in an effort to obscure their words. Gilleland further refused to take a phone call from the district judge's office, through whom the attorneys had arranged to continue the deposition under a district judge's supervision. Although the attorneys clearly announced their intent to reconvene the deposition at the district judge's office, Gilleland chose to consider the deposition terminated by the attorneys. Gilleland spoke in a threatening and abusive tone during the deposition and, at one point, caused one attorney to fear for her physical safety.

After the unsuccessful deposition, Gilleland objected to the transcription of the deposition and filed an "Affidavit of Fraudulent Deposition Record." Gilleland charged that the pages of the transcription which recorded the appearances and statements of Dubuisson's attorneys, after they reconvened the deposition at the district judge's office, made the transcription fraudulent.

At the hearing on Dubuisson's sanction motion, Gilleland asserted that, as he had predicted, the taking of the deposition was corrupted, the transcription was corrupted, and the location of the deposition proved to be physically threatening. During the course of the hearing, the trial court repeatedly warned Gilleland against interrupting, arguing, harassing other parties, and making comments that demeaned the court. The court assessed three fifty-dollar fines against Gilleland for arguing, engaging in accusatory conduct, and making an inappropriate outburst. After the last fine, the court summoned a deputy sheriff to the courtroom.

We find no abuse of discretion in striking Gilleland's pleadings for abusing the discovery process. Because Gilleland has not shown that the trial court erred under Rule 215, we overrule points five and six.

OTHER COMPLAINTS REQUIRING REFERENCE TO THE EVIDENCE

Gilleland asserts in the following points of error that no evidence supports either the findings of the trial court or the judgment: four, eleven, twelve, fifteen, seventeen through twenty, twenty-two, twenty-nine, thirty-one, thirty-five, thirty-eight through forty-two, forty-four, and fifty-five. Gilleland also brings the following points of error that either allege an abuse of discretion, in effect raise evidentiary challenges, or require an evaluation of the evidence from the sanction hearing to resolve: eight, fourteen, sixteen, thirty-two, thirty-four, thirty-six, thirty-seven, forty-three, forty-five, forty-nine through fifty-three, fifty-six, fifty-seven, sixty, and parts of points nine and fifty-four. Gilleland contends in point twenty-six that Dubuisson never alleged at the sanction hearing that Gilleland's motions were frivolous and groundless.

As previously discussed, Gilleland has provided an incomplete statement of facts from the sanction hearing. Tex. R. Civ. P. 50(d), 53(k). With only a partial statement of facts before us, we must presume that the evidence supports the trial court's findings and its judgment. Prezelski, 782 S.W.2d at 843; Murray v. Devco, Ltd., 731 S.W.2d 555, 557 (Tex. 1987); Englander Co. v. Kennedy, 428 S.W.2d 806, 806 (Tex. 1968). Concerning point twenty-six, even if Dubuisson did not allege at the sanction hearing that Gilleland's motions to quash were frivolous, we presume that the trial court considered the entire history of the case when it assessed sanctions. Downer, 701 S.W.2d at 241; Rossa, 830 S.W.2d at 672. We therefore overrule the points enumerated above, including that part of points nine and fifty-four requiring an evaluation of the evidence.

RIGHT TO JURY TRIAL ON SANCTIONS

In points of error two, twenty-one, and forty-eight, Gilleland argues that, by hearing and determining Dubuisson's sanction motion without a jury, the trial court denied his due-process right to a jury trial. Gilleland relies in his brief on article one, sections fifteen and nineteen of the Texas Constitution; the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution; and Société Internationale v. Rogers, 357 U.S. 197, 209-10 (1958). We do not find in the record, nor has Gilleland shown us, any contention he made to the trial court that the non-jury hearing violated the right to jury trial specifically granted under article one, section fifteen of the Texas Constitution, or under Société Internationale. Gilleland has therefore waived these contentions on appeal. Tex. R. App. P. 52(a).

Having waived his direct claim to a jury trial under the Texas Constitution, Gilleland is forced to argue that his right to a jury trial resides in the notion of federal or state due process. The requirements of federal and state due process include notice calculated to afford a party a fair opportunity to appear and defend his interests and a reasonable opportunity to be heard on the merits of his case, with the right to introduce evidence and obtain a judicial finding based on that evidence. Fuentes v. Shevin, 407 U.S. 67 (1972); Cunningham v. Parkdale Bank, 660 S.W.2d 810, 813-14 (Tex. 1983); MJR Fin., Inc. v. Marshall, 840 S.W.2d 5, 10 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1992, no writ).

Gilleland cites no authority, and we find none, that the right to due course of law under the Texas Constitution encompasses the right to a jury trial at a sanction hearing. The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure clearly give the trial court authority to assess sanctions for filing groundless pleadings and for abusing discovery. Tex. R. Civ. P. 13, 215. Trial without a jury in pursuance of the law and practice of the state is not incompatible with due process of law guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment of the United States Constitution. Wooten v. Dallas Hunting & Fishing Club, Inc., 427 S.W.2d 344, 346 (Tex. Civ. App.--Dallas 1968, no writ). On the ground that due process does not mandate a jury trial at a sanction hearing, we reject Gilleland's claim in point twenty-one that Dubuisson presented no evidence that Gilleland was not entitled to a jury trial. Because neither the federal nor state guarantee of due process mandates a jury trial in this case, we also overrule points two and forty-eight.

ACTIONS TAKEN BEYOND THE TRIAL COURT'S JURISDICTION

In points of error forty-six and forty-seven, Gilleland complains of post-judgment orders that the trial court signed on March 4 and March 5, 1993. In the order signed March 4, the trial court struck as a Rule-13 sanction Gilleland's "Objection to Decision on Plaintiff's Motions To Quash" and "Motion To Suppress Fraudulent Deposition Transcript Prepared by C.S.R. Linda Cameron" and ordered Gilleland to pay $500.00 in attorney's fees. In the order signed March 5, the court overruled Gilleland's objection to the March 4 order, struck all other motions that Gilleland had filed, and enjoined Gilleland from filing any further motions in the case. As to the March 4 order, the transcript contains only the last page of an order that is signed on March 4 and bears no file-mark. Gilleland relies on a signed, but not file-marked, copy of the order attached to his objection to the order. Although we do not believe that Gilleland has presented a sufficient record showing error in the March 4 order, in the absence of any complaint from Dubuisson we will refer to the copy attached to Gilleland's objection.

We consider on our own motion the trial court's jurisdiction to sign the two orders. After the trial court signed the judgment on January 14, 1993, Gilleland filed a motion objecting to it. Because the trial court did not rule on this motion, the court retained plenary power over its judgment for 105 days or until April 29, 1993. Tex. R. Civ. P. 329b(e), (g). Gilleland, however, perfected his appeal to this Court on January 19, 1993. ⁽²⁾ Once the appeal was perfected, this Court acquired exclusive jurisdiction over the appeal subject only to the trial court's power, until April 29, to modify its judgment or grant a new trial. Tex. R. Civ. P. 329b(e); Robertson v. Ranger Ins. Co., 689 S.W.2d 209, 210 (Tex. 1985); Crawford v. Kelly Field Nat'l Bank, 724 S.W.2d 899, 900 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1987, no writ); Stein v. Frank, 575 S.W.2d 399, 400 (Tex. Civ. App.--Dallas 1978, no writ).

The motions that led to the court's orders, including Gilleland's "Objection to Decision on Plaintiff's Motions To Quash" and "Motion To Suppress Fraudulent Deposition Transcript Prepared by C.S.R. Linda Cameron," and Dubuisson's responsive motions to strike and to impose sanctions, are ancillary to the trial court's judgment. Although the purpose of the orders signed March 4 and 5 was to stop Gilleland from filing the numerous post-judgment motions he continued to file, the trial court's power to modify its judgment did not extend to rendering orders on these ancillary matters. First State Bank & Trust Co. v. Vector Corp., 427 S.W.2d 958, 960 (Tex. Civ. App.--Waco 1968, writ ref'd n.r.e.); Littlejohn v. Carroll, 342 S.W.2d 622, 623 (Tex. Civ. App.--Waco 1961, no writ). Cf. Arndt v. Farris, 633 S.W.2d 497, 499 (Tex. 1982) (discussing trial court's continuing jurisdiction to enforce its judgment). Once Gilleland perfected his appeal, the trial court lost the authority even to file Gilleland's ancillary motions. Littlejohn, 342 S.W.2d at 623. We therefore do not address the merits of points forty-six and forty-seven. We hold that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to sign the March 4 and 5 orders, including the order that Gilleland pay $500.00 in attorney's fees, and that the orders are consequently void.

In points of error fifty-eight, fifty-nine, and sixty-three, Gilleland complains of various actions the trial court took at hearings on February 16 and March 4, 1993. Each act complained of occurred at hearings the trial court held after it had lost jurisdiction of the case. For the reasons discussed above, we do not address the merits of points fifty-eight, fifty-nine, and sixty-three. ⁽³⁾ We hold on our own motion that the actions Gilleland complains of at the hearings on February 16 and March 4 were taken beyond the court's jurisdiction and were void.

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

In point of error seven, Gilleland argues that the trial court erred in not filing findings of fact and conclusions of law after hearings held January 8, February 16, and March 4, 1993. On January 8, the trial court heard the sanction motion that led to the judgment; on February 16, the court heard Dubuisson's "Motion To Strike and for Rule 13 Sanctions"; and on March 4, the court heard Gilleland's "Exception to Decision of Judge Meurer and Motion for Rehearing and Submission of Evidence."

We first consider the absence of findings related to the January 8 sanction hearing. The trial court struck Gilleland's pleadings and assessed attorney's fees based on Rules 13 and 215 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. After the trial court signed the sanction order, Gilleland requested findings of fact and filed a notice of past due findings within the time required by Rules 296 and 297. Tex. R. Civ. P. 296, 297. Rule 13 requires the particulars of good cause for imposing sanctions to be stated in the sanction order. This requirement is mandatory and replaces the traditional findings of fact and conclusions of law that normally are filed after a nonjury trial on the merits. GTE Communications Sys. Corp. v. Curry, 819 S.W.2d 652, 654 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1991, orig. proceeding).

The trial court here recited in the sanction order its findings of good cause to strike Gilleland's pleadings and assess attorney's fees. Because these fact findings are meant to replace traditional findings of fact, the trial court had no duty to file separate findings pursuant to Rule 296. See generally Cooks v. City of Gladewater, 808 S.W.2d 710, 714 (Tex. App.--Tyler 1991, no writ) (rules 296 through 299 do not apply to venue hearings; rules specifically applicable to venue hearings govern). To the extent that the sanction order is based on Rule 13, therefore, the court did not err in refusing to file separate findings of fact and conclusions of law.

To the extent that the sanction order is based on Rule 215, we likewise determine that the court did not err in refusing to file findings. Although the supreme court has stated that findings may help in reviewing sanctions, it has expressly declined to require trial courts to make written findings when discovery sanctions are imposed. Chrysler Corp., 841 S.W.2d at 852; TransAmerican, 811 S.W.2d at 919 n.9. We therefore find no error in the trial court's refusal to file findings after it granted Dubuisson's sanction motion.

The hearings held February 16 and March 4 occurred after the trial court had lost jurisdiction of the cause. Because any action the trial court took at these hearings is void, its failure to file findings of fact is moot. We overrule point seven.

MISCELLANEOUS POINTS OF ERROR

In his first point of error, Gilleland complains that the trial court refused to let him present evidence during a hearing on January 4, 1993. Assuming that we can review this claim in light of the incomplete statement of facts, Gilleland failed to object during the hearing to the exclusion of evidence, obtain a ruling from the trial court, and make an offer of proof. Tex. R. App. P. 52; Tex. R. Civ. Evid. 103. Because Gilleland has waived this claim for review, we overrule point one.

In points of error ten, thirteen, and the remainder of points nine and fifty-four, Gilleland contends that the trial court erred in awarding Dubuisson attorney's fees as a sanction. Gilleland argues in points nine, ten, and fifty-four that he had no notice that the trial court would hear Dubuisson's request for attorney's fees at the sanction hearing. Gilleland argues in point thirteen that in the absence of any plea that attorney's fees be paid to the office of the Attorney General, the court erred in ordering them so paid. Gilleland has failed to see that the transcript contains Dubuisson's motion for sanctions. His first exhibit to the statement of facts from the sanction hearing, however, is a copy of the motion, without a file-mark. Dubuisson offered no objection to admitting this exhibit, on the assumption that it was an accurate copy of the motion. Although Gilleland has technically failed to present a sufficient record for review, we will refer to the copy of the motion admitted in evidence. See Petitt v. Laware, 715 S.W.2d 688, 690 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.).

In the sanction motion, Dubuisson expressly requests attorney's fees incurred in preparing for and attending the aborted deposition, preparing for and attending hearings on Gilleland's motions to quash and motion for protective order, and preparing the sanction motion. The motion also notifies all parties that a hearing was set for January 8, 1993. The attached certificate of service recites that Dubuisson served Gilleland with the motion on December 31, 1992. The motion therefore shows that Dubuisson notified Gilleland that he would seek attorney's fees as a sanction and that a setting had been obtained. It also shows that Gilleland received the required three-day notice of the setting. Tex. R. Civ. P. 21; see Tex. R. Civ. P. 215(1)(b).

Although Gilleland filed motions alleging that he had insufficient time to prepare a defense to Dubuisson's sanction motion, he requested the trial court to strike the sanction motion and to strike the non-jury setting in favor of a jury setting rather than to continue the hearing. Because Gilleland did not request a continuance, we determine that the court correctly refused to strike the motion and to strike the non-jury setting in order to give Gilleland more time to prepare.

The sanction motion does not request that attorney's fees be payable to the Office of the Attorney General. The court appears to have ordered that only those fees incurred by the assistant attorney general, one of the attorneys representing Dubuisson, be payable to the Office of the Attorney General. Ordering this method of payment without advance notice, if error, could not have harmed Gilleland. We therefore overrule points ten, thirteen, and that part of points nine and fifty-four dealing with lack of notice.

In point of error three, Gilleland argues that the trial court erroneously denied his motions to quash the taking of oral deposition and subpoena duces tecum. Gilleland asserts that at the hearing on his motions, the trial court did not consider his requests for a neutral location, a neutral court reporter, and a deposition on written questions. Even if Gilleland were correct in this assertion, the orders recite that the trial court fully considered each motion. We presume that the trial court read and considered each motion before rendering a decision on it. We overrule point three.

Gilleland claims in his twenty-third point of error that the trial court abused its discretion because he did not file a motion to quash the notice of intent to take oral deposition and subpoena duces tecum. Gilleland apparently objects to the court's considering his document a "motion." The title of Gilleland's requests to quash reads, "Affidavit--Motion To Quash Subpoena Duces Tecum and Motion To Quash Taking of Oral Deposition." Because Gilleland requested the court to take action on his behalf in this document, the trial court did not err in referring to it as a motion. We overrule point twenty-three.

In points of error twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-seven, twenty-eight, and thirty, Gilleland alleges that the trial court committed legal error in making two of the findings recited in the judgment. We do not find in the record, nor has Gilleland shown us, any place that Gilleland presented his contentions to the trial court. Because Gilleland cannot raise these points for the first time on appeal, we overrule points twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-seven, twenty-eight, and thirty. Tex. R. App. P. 52(a); Aero Energy, Inc. v. Circle C Drilling Co., 699 S.W.2d 821, 822 (Tex. 1985); City of Austin v. Daniels, 335 S.W.2d 753, 758-59 (Tex. 1960).

In point of error thirty-three, Gilleland claims that the trial court erred in finding that at the deposition Gilleland wrongfully refused to allow Dubuisson's attorneys to make appearances, state objections, or ask questions without interruptions and instructions from Gilleland. Gilleland argues that the deposition was held pursuant to Dubuisson's subpoena duces tecum, which stated that Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 200 and 201 would govern the deposition. Gilleland points out that neither of these rules authorizes appearances, objections, or questions.

We first note that the only copy of the subpoena duces tecum in the transcript is one without a file-mark and apparently attached to Gilleland's motion to quash the subpoena. Assuming that this copy is sufficient to present error, the attachment to the subpoena merely states that Gilleland is "notified, pursuant to Rules 200 and 201" that Dubuisson intends to take his deposition. The subpoena does not limit the deposition to the operation of Rules 200 and 201. Rule of civil procedure 204 expressly allows attorneys to make objections during a deposition. And allowing attorneys to state appearances for the record and to ask questions of the deponent without interruption, although no rule expressly permits it, is part of maintaining an orderly deposition. Because the trial court did not err in making the challenged finding, we overrule point thirty-three.

In points sixty-one and sixty-two, Gilleland complains of a statement the trial court made and of an exhibit introduced at a hearing held January 22, 1993. On that date, the court heard Gilleland's "Motion To Reduce Supersedeas Bond." ⁽⁴⁾ Gilleland alleges that the statement and exhibit evidence a prior conspiracy between the court and state attorneys. Having reviewed the statement and exhibit, we reject as without merit any claim that either shows a conspiracy. We overrule points sixty-one and sixty-two.

In points of error sixty-four through sixty-eight, Gilleland contends that the judge who rendered the sanction order erred in failing to disqualify herself even though her impartiality could reasonably be questioned. Gilleland first complained that the trial judge was biased against him after the trial court signed the judgment, in a motion objecting to the judgment and requesting a new trial. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18a sets out the procedural requirements for recusal, which include filing a verified motion to recuse at least ten days before the date set for the hearing. Assuming that Gilleland can justify the untimeliness of his complaint, he never asked in his motion that the judge be recused. Gilleland has therefore waived any error concerning the court's impartiality. Tex. R. App. P. 52(a). We overrule points sixty-four through sixty-eight.

CONCLUSION

We determine that the orders the trial court signed on March 4 and 5, 1993, are void because the trial court no longer had jurisdiction to sign them. We also determine that any action the trial court took at hearings on February 16 and March 4, 1993, is void as beyond the court's jurisdiction. Having considered each of Gilleland's remaining allegations of error, we affirm the trial court's sanction order striking Gilleland's pleadings, ordering Gilleland to pay attorney's fees of $10,354.90, and conditionally assessing him $150.00.

Before Justices Powers, Aboussie and B. A. Smith

Affirmed

Filed: January 18, 1995

Do Not Publish

1.   The remaining appellees are Olivia R. Eudaly; Alton F. Hopkins, Jr.; Mike Levi; Robert D. Lewis; Mary E. Mainster; Guy A. Sheppard; Fred K. Soifer; and Clark S. Willingham.

2.   On January 19, Gilleland filed a "Notice of Appeal." Although Gilleland, a private litigant, is not authorized to perfect appeal by notice of appeal, his notice constituted a bona fide attempt to invoke this Court's jurisdiction. Linwood v. NCNB Texas, 885 S.W.2d 102, 103 (Tex. 1994). Gilleland corrected the error by depositing cash in lieu of bond on February 1, 1993.

3.   We note, however, that in signing its judgment on January 14, 1993, the trial court implicitly disposed of all pending pre-judgment motions. Miller Brewing Co. v. Villarreal, 822 S.W.2d 177, 180 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1991), rev'd on other grounds, 829 S.W.2d 770 (Tex. 1992). And again, once Gilleland perfected his appeal to this Court, the trial court lost the authority to file ancillary motions. Littlejohn, 342 S.W.2d at 623.

4.   Although this hearing occurred after Gilleland had perfected his appeal, the trial court has continuing jurisdiction during the pendency of an appeal to order the amount and type of security for suspending the enforcement of a judgment. Tex. R. App. P. 47(k).