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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. 14-18-00274-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 17, 2020

Dr. Louis Patino, D.C. Dr. Stephen Wilson, M.D. And Dr. Gary Craighead, D.C. v. Texas Department of Insurance-Division of Workers' Compensation Commissioner Cassandra J. Brown and Dr. Donald Patrick, in Their Official and Individual Capacities State Office of Administrative Hearings, Texas Chief Administrative Law Judge Cathleen Parsley in Her Official Capacity Tommy Broyles, in His Official Capacity The State of Texas And the Attorney General of the State of Texas

Three doctors, Patino, Wilson, and Craighead, appealed the dismissal of their claims against the Texas Department of Insurance-Division of Workers’ Compensation and other state entities. The doctors were excluded from the state's workers' compensation approved doctor list between 2004 and 2007, leading to administrative penalties and a subsequent lawsuit. The trial court dismissed their claims for lack of jurisdiction, asserting immunity. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal of claims challenging final agency orders due to unexhausted administrative remedies and collateral attack immunity. However, the court reversed the dismissal of the doctors' constitutional challenges to the Workers’ Compensation Act and ultra vires claims against the Commissioner, concluding these claims were properly pleaded and not barred by sovereign immunity.

Physician ExclusionAdministrative LawJudicial ReviewSovereign ImmunityUltra Vires ClaimsConstitutional ChallengeDue Process RightsProfessional LicensingGovernment RegulationTexas Labor Code
References
24
Case No. 03-15-00285-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 01, 2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. And Audi of America, Inc. v. John Walker III, in His Official Capacity as Chairman of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board The Honorable Michael J. O'Malley, the Honorable Penny A. Wilkov, in Their Official Capacities as Administrative Law Judges for the State Office

This case involves an appeal filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Audi of America, Inc. (Appellants) against John Walker III, Chairman of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board, and Administrative Law Judges Michael J. O'Malley and Penny A. Wilkov (Appellees). Appellants sought injunctive relief in district court to prevent Appellees from proceeding with an allegedly ultra vires remand of an administrative contested case after a Proposal for Decision (PFD) had been issued. The district court dismissed the lawsuit based on governmental immunity and failure to exhaust administrative remedies. Appellants argue that Appellees' actions, including ordering the remand and reopening evidence, exceeded their statutory authority under the Administrative Procedure Act and Texas Occupations Code, making governmental immunity inapplicable and exhaustion of remedies unnecessary.

Administrative LawUltra Vires ActsGovernmental ImmunityExhaustion of RemediesJudicial ReviewAgency AuthorityState Office of Administrative HearingsRemandContested CasesStatutory Interpretation
References
31
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 09, 1984

Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital v. Justice

Joseph Justice, an employee of Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital, suffered a heart attack while working, leading to a worker's compensation claim. A jury found his heart attack was work-related, causing total temporary incapacity for 370 weeks, and that the hospital failed to provide reasonable medical care. Despite the jury's initial finding on wages, the trial court disregarded it, ruling that Justice's average daily wage qualified for the maximum compensation rate. Justice died after the verdict but before the judgment was signed. The hospital appealed, challenging the court's wage determination and a perceived improper argument by Justice's counsel, but the appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding the wages conclusively proved and the argument error waived.

Worker's CompensationHeart AttackTemporary IncapacityJury VerdictTrial Court DiscretionAverage Weekly Wage CalculationMaximum Compensation RateJudgment Non Obstante VeredictoImproper ArgumentWaiver of Error
References
6
Case No. Z docket
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 29, 2007

Matter of Administration for Children's Servs. v. Silvia S.

The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) filed a motion in Family Court, Queens County, seeking an order to compel the respondent, Silvia S., to produce her psychological, psychiatric, and medical records. ACS argued that these records were necessary to investigate allegations of child neglect involving Silvia S. and her child, Daniel C., following incidents related to her seizure disorder, homelessness, and postpartum depression. The court, presided over by Judge Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson, denied the motion. The judge found that ACS had not demonstrated a meritorious cause of action for neglect and was improperly seeking pre-petition disclosure to determine if a cause of action existed. The court also emphasized the need for confidentiality under HIPAA and Mental Hygiene Law § 33.13, concluding that the interest of justice did not outweigh the respondent's need for privacy given the lack of a stated cause of action and no harm to the child.

Child NeglectMedical Records DisclosurePsychiatric RecordsPsychological RecordsPre-Petition DisclosureCPLR 3102(c)Family Court Act § 1038(d)HIPAAMental Hygiene Law § 33.13Confidentiality
References
9
Case No. 07-07-0039-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 15, 2008

Johnny Rodriguez v. Icon Benefit Administrators, Inc.

This is a dissenting opinion challenging a summary judgment granted in favor of ICON Benefit Administrators, Inc. The appellant, Johnny Rodriguez, Jr., had his initial claims against ICON dismissed with prejudice due to a procedural misstep (failure to obtain leave of court to add ICON as a defendant), which was affirmed on appeal. Subsequently, Rodriguez filed a new lawsuit against ICON, asserting similar and new claims. ICON successfully argued for summary judgment based on the doctrine of res judicata. The dissenting justice contends that the previous dismissal was not a judgment on the merits, thus res judicata should not apply, and due process rights were denied. The dissent would reverse the summary judgment and remand the case for further proceedings.

Summary JudgmentRes JudicataClaim PreclusionIssue PreclusionCollateral EstoppelDismissal With PrejudiceProcedural DismissalDue ProcessAppellate ReviewFinal Judgment
References
16
Case No. 13-08-00269-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 22, 2009

Luzelma Campos, Betty Jo Gonzalez, and Misty Valero v. Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Community Justice Assistance Division, Nueces County Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, Nueces County Community Supervision and Corrections, and Nueces County Adult Probation Department

Appellants Luzelma Campos, Betty Jo Gonzalez, and Misty Valero appealed the trial court's grant of a plea to the jurisdiction in favor of appellees, including the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Nueces County entities. Appellants alleged federal civil rights violations and torts under the Texas Tort Claims Act, stemming from sexual harassment and assault during their incarceration. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal of the federal civil rights claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1983, determining that the appellees were state entities immune from such suits, and found claims for injunctive relief moot as appellants were no longer incarcerated. However, the court reversed the dismissal of claims under the Texas Tort Claims Act, remanding for further proceedings to allow discovery and amendment of pleadings regarding allegations of premise defect and the use of tangible personal property, consistent with prior rulings.

Plea to the JurisdictionSovereign ImmunityTexas Tort Claims ActFederal Civil RightsSection 1983Premise DefectTangible Personal PropertyNegligent Hiring and SupervisionSexual MisconductIncarceration Conditions
References
15
Case No. 01-02-00069-CV
Regular Panel Decision

the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division (TDCJ-ID) v. Bates, Linda Koetter

Linda Koetter Bates, an employee of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division (TDCJ), was injured in an accident with a TDCJ tractor while driving to work. After her workers' compensation claim was denied, Bates sued TDCJ under the Texas Tort Claims Act for negligence. TDCJ filed a plea to the jurisdiction, asserting Bates's exclusive remedy was under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act and that she had not exhausted administrative remedies, arguing the 'access doctrine' applied. The trial court denied TDCJ's plea. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's order, concluding that Bates's petition sufficiently stated a claim under the Tort Claims Act and that TDCJ's argument constituted an exclusive-remedy defense rather than a jurisdictional issue.

Texas Tort Claims ActSovereign ImmunityWorkers' Compensation ActExclusive RemedyPlea to JurisdictionInterlocutory AppealAccess DoctrineNegligenceSubject Matter JurisdictionAppellate Court
References
8
Case No. 2021 NY Slip Op 01376
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 09, 2021

Matter of Gesmer v. Administrative Bd. of the N.Y. State Unified Ct. Sys.

This case concerns the appeal of Supreme Court Justices Ellen Gesmer et al. against the Administrative Board of the New York State Unified Court System. The petitioners challenged the Board's denial of their certification for continued judicial service past the mandatory retirement age, a decision attributed to severe budgetary constraints stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Supreme Court initially annulled the Board's determination, citing a lack of individualized review. However, the Appellate Division, Third Department, reversed this decision, holding that the Board acted within its broad authority in considering the overall needs of the court system, including economic necessity. Consequently, the petition was dismissed, and the Board's denial of certification was upheld.

Judicial CertificationMandatory Retirement AgeBudgetary ConstraintsCOVID-19 Pandemic ImpactJudicial DiscretionCPLR Article 78 ProceedingDeclaratory Judgment ActionAppellate ReviewAdministrative LawAge Discrimination
References
14
Case No. 09-19-00101-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 12, 2019

Brian W. Justice v. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, on Behalf of the Registered Holders of Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I Trust 2007-AC2, Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2007-AV2

Brian W. Justice appealed the trial court's summary judgment in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, regarding a breach of contract and judicial foreclosure claim. Justice had defaulted on a promissory note, leading Wells Fargo to seek foreclosure on his property. Following a summary judgment for Wells Fargo, Justice, through an attorney, moved to set aside the judgment and for a new trial, arguing he lacked notice due to being out of state. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's decision, concluding that Justice failed to prove his failure to respond was not due to conscious indifference and that Wells Fargo had adequately demonstrated its status as the note holder. Additionally, the court ruled that Justice waived his objection to attorney's fees by not raising it at the trial level.

Summary Judgment AppealBreach of ContractJudicial ForeclosurePromissory Note DefaultHome EquityDefault JudgmentMotion for New TrialCraddock TestConscious IndifferenceHolder of Note
References
46
Case No. 15-25-00061-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 02, 2025

Francisca Okonkwo, Administrative Law Judge, Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation, in Her Official Capacity and Fort Bend County v. Joshua David Heiliger, Individually, and on Behalf of the Estate of Lauren Brittane Smith, and on Behalf of Death Benefits Beneficiaries Joshua David Heiliger and Emma Destiny Heiliger

Fort Bend County appeals a temporary injunction granted by a Harris County District Court, which prevents discovery of mental health records in an ongoing workers' compensation dispute. The underlying administrative case involves a claim for death benefits by Joshua Heiliger, whose spouse, Lauren Brittane Smith, was a paramedic. Heiliger asserts Smith's mental health condition and stress contributed to her death, thus placing her mental health at issue. The Division of Workers' Compensation's Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a subpoena for Smith's mental health records from her psychiatrist, Dr. John Marcellus. Heiliger bypassed the administrative process by obtaining the injunction in District Court. Fort Bend County argues the District Court erred in interfering with the Division's exclusive jurisdiction and that Heiliger failed to exhaust administrative remedies or demonstrate irreparable injury, as Texas law provides a qualified privilege for mental health records with exceptions relevant to this case.

Workers' CompensationTemporary InjunctionDiscovery DisputeMental Health RecordsSubpoena EnforcementAdministrative Law JudgeExclusive JurisdictionExhaustion of Administrative RemediesQualified PrivilegePatient-Litigant Exception
References
53
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