Carolyn Barnes, Individually and as Next Friend of William Zimmer Barnes and Charles Austin Lee Bednorz v. Calvin R. Sulak Lt. Wayne Lock Sgt. Ralph Fisher R.C. Nichols And Williamson County Sheriff's Department
Carolyn Barnes appealed a summary judgment related to her claims against the Williamson County Sheriff's Department and its employees following her arrest in 1997. She alleged violations of common-law, statutory, and constitutional provisions during her arrest and jailing. The court affirmed the take-nothing judgment against Barnes's claims, primarily due to her failure to timely file a summary-judgment response and present evidence. However, the court reversed the award of attorney's fees as sanctions against Barnes, concluding that there was no evidence her lawsuit was groundless, brought in bad faith, or to harass.