Panel Opinions by Justice Higley

Hobbs v. Van Stayern (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] Nov. 2, 2006)(Higley)
[family law,
SAPCR, same sex relationship, adoption, standing as parent]
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Justice Higley
(Before Justices Nuchia, Jennings and Higley)
01-05-00632-CV Julie Ann Hobbs v. Janet Kathleen Van Stavern
Appeal from 306th District Court of Galveston County

Temporary Injunction in Divorce Cannot Be Appealed
    
Marley v. Marley (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Oct 27, 2006)(Higley)
[family law, divorce, temporary orders unappealable, controlled by Family Code, not by statute authorizing
interlocutory appeals in civil cases]
DISMISS APPEAL: Justice Higley
Before Justices Jennings, Hanks and Higley
01-05-00992-CV        Frank E. Marley, Jr. v. Connie A. Stirgus Marley
Appeal from 387th District Court of Fort Bend County (Hon. Brenda Mullinix)                                 
The proceeding in this case is a suit for divorce. Section 6.502 of the Family Code provides the trial court with
jurisdiction to enter temporary orders. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 6.502. The temporary orders are interlocutory. Beard
v. Beard, 49 S.W.3d 40, 69 (Tex. App.—Waco 2001, pet. denied). Section 6.507 precludes appeal of those orders.
Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 6.507.

Requirements for Setting Aside of Default Judgment Satisfied - Courthouse Closure  Due to
Hurricane Evacuation Extends Filing Deadline

Garcia v. Vera (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Oct 5, 2006)(Higley)
[
default judgment, family law, paternity suit, motion for new trial, extension of filing deadline]
REVERSE TC JUDGMENT AND REMAND CASE TO TC FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS: Opinion by Justice Higley
(Before Justices Nuchia, Jennings and Higley)
01-05-01161-CV Lucas Martinez Garcia v. Leticia Maria Vera
Appeal from
245th District Court of Harris County
We conclude that Garcia met the requirements of Craddock. When these requirements have been met, the trial court
abuses its discretion if it denies a defaulting defendant a new trial.

Denial of Special Appearance Reversed

PPC Sterom v. Yuma Expl. Co. (Tex.App. - Houston [1st Dist.] Oct 5, 2006)(Higley)
[in personam jurisdiction, special appearance, general jurisdiction, minimum contacts
REVERSE TC JUDGMENT AND RENDER JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley
(Before Justices Nuchia, Jennings and Higley)
01-06-00414-CV PCC Sterom S.A. v. Yuma Exploration Company and Production Company, Inc., in its individual
capacity and on behalf of Palace Exploration Company, Liberty Energy Corporation and Bonray, Inc.
Appeal from 61st District Court of Harris County (
Hon. John Donovan)
We hold that the trial court in this case does not have specific or general personal jurisdiction over Sterom.
Therefore, the trial court erred when it denied Sterom’s special appearance. Accordingly, we reverse the order of the
trial court and render judgment dismissing appellees’ claims against Sterom.

De Leon v. Hernandez (Tex.App.- Houston [1st. Dist.] Aug 31, 2006, pet denied 4/20/07)(Higley)(workplace death)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley
Before Justices Nuchia, Jennings and Higley
01-03-00806-CV        Tomas De Leon as Administrator, et al v. Francisco Hernandez, et al
Appeal from Probate Court No 2 of Harris County

June 22, 2006: Declaratory judgment and attorneys’ fee award in feud between neighbors over
use of land as airfield

Graves v. Diehl (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] June 22, 2006)(Higley)
[dispute between neighbors over low overflight aircraft; UDJA, nonsuit;
Rule 13 sanctions reversed;
award of attorney’s fees under UDJA reversed, declaratory judgment reversed, no longer a justiciable controversy]
REVERSE TC JUDGMENT AND RENDER JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley
Before Justices Jennings, Hanks and Higley
01-00-00412-CV Robert Graves and Barbara Graves v. Ronald Diehl and Constance Diehl
Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County (
Hon. Susan Elizabeth Criss)

May 11, 2006

Stockton v. Mitchell Mortgage (Tex.App. - Houston [1st Dist.] May 11, 2006)(Higley)
[
real estate law, breach of earnest money contract, summary judgment]
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley
Before Justices Nuchia, Hanks and Higley
01-04-00831-CV John Stockton v. Mitchell Mortgage Company, L.L.C.
Appeal from 240th District Court of Fort Bend County (Hon. Thomas R. Culver, III)

May 4, 2006

ASEP v Cole (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] May 4, 2006)(Higley)
[
Breach of employment contract, attorneys fees challenge failed, fee factors, appellate fee award modified to make it
contingent on prevailing party status]
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley
Before Justices Taft, Keyes and Hanks)
01-03-00816-CV ASEP USA, Inc. v. Michael D. Cole
Appeal from
270th District Court of Harris County (Hon. Brent Gamble)

McKnight v. Brown (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] April 13, 2006)(Higley)
[Abuse of process, false imprisonment, Section 1983 claim, proof of damages, no evidence, insufficient, conclusory
affidavit)(prior successful habeas proceeding in 14thCoA, imprisonment for failure to pay attorneys fees,
imprisonment for debt,
contempt of court]
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Laura Higley
Before Justices Taft, Higley and Bland
01-05-00689-CV John Frank McKnight v. Marshall Davis Brown, Jr.
Appeal from
133rd District Court of Harris County (Hon. Lamar McCorkle)

Pin Oak Center v. Travelers Lloyds Ins. Co. (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] March, 2006, no pet.)(Higley)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley
Before Justices Taft, Higley and Bland
01-05-00530-CV Pin Oak Centre, Ltd. v. The Travelers Lloyds Insurance Company
Appeal from 11th District Court of Harris County (
Judge Mark Davidson)

Hamlett v. Hamlett and OAG (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb.2, 2006)(Higley)(family law appeal, bill of review,
restricted appeal)
DISMISS APPEAL: Opinion by Justice Higley
Before Justices Taft, Higley and Bland
01-04-01097-CV Christopher Hamlett v. Janice Hamlett and Office of the Attorney General
Appeal from
245th District Court of Harris County (Hon. Annette Galik)

McKowen v. Ragston  (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 11, 2006)(Higley)
[
health care liability claim, medical malpractice, challenge to affidavit]
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley
Before Justices Nuchia, Jennings and Higley)
01-06-00665-CV Robert L. McKowen, M.D. v. Mitchell Ragston, Sr. and Mitchell Ragston, Jr., Individually And As
Personal Representatives For The Estate of Golden Ragston, Deceased
Appeal from 80th District Court of Harris County (
Judge Kent C. Sullivan)

LINKS TO OPINIONS BY OTHER JUSTICES

Chief Justice Sherry Radack
Justice Elsa Alcala
Justice Jane Nenninger Bland
Justice Evelyn Keyes
Justice George Hanks, Jr
Justice Terry Jennings
Justice Sam Nuchia
Justice Timothy Taft
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2006 Opinions by Justice Laura Carter Higley
First Court of Appeals (Texas)
Also see --> 2007 Opinions by Justice Laura C. Higley

2006 Opinions by Judges
on the
First Court of Appeals
sitting in Houston, Texas

Chief Justice Sherry Radack
Justice Tim Taft
Justice Sam Nuchia
Justice Terry Jennings
Justice Evelyn Keyes
Justice Elsa Alcala  
Justice George C. Hanks, Jr.
Justice Laura Carter Higley
Justice Jane Bland

2006 Opinions by Judges on
the
Fourteenth Court of Appeals
in Houston, TX

Chief Justice Adele Hedges
Justice John Anderson
Justice Richard Edelman
Justice Wanda Fowler
Justice Eva M. Guzman
Justice J. Harvey Hudson
Justice Charles W. Seymore
Justice Kem Thompson Frost
Justice Leslie Brock Yates