Texas Court of Appeals, 15th District, 2025

Charles Lewis v. Dan Willems

Charles Lewis v. Dan Willems
Texas Court of Appeals, 15th District · Decided April 21, 2025
Charles Lewis v. Dan Willems

Opinion

Appellate Docket Number: FILED!~ Appellate Case Style: 15th COURT eF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAs Vs. Companion Cases : Amended/Corrected Statement CLERK DOCKETING STATEMENT (Civil) Appellate Court: (to be filed in the court of appeals upon perfection of appeal under TRAP 32) NOTE: Because space for additionalparties I attorneys is limited on this form, you can include the information on a separate document. As per TRAP 32.1 and 9.4, please include party s name and the name, address, email address, telephone number, fax nwnber, ifany, and State Bar Number ofthe party's lead counsel. Ifthe party is not represented by an attorney, that party's name, address, telephone number, Jax number should be provided.

Pe~o? Organization 1 Lead Attorney Name: Chctrl e.s Le11v J,t;' Name: -P.m-Se S'u.J Turi~ Bar No. f If Pro Se '!rty, _enter the foll?wing inf~rmatio(I: _ Firm/Agency: Address: to I f?d13 \Ni Id wood lllne Address 1: City/State/Zip: GJ enn Hel ghtsjlei-a.s 1s1s,I~ddress 2: Tel. Cf7:J ·<ii'?J.f ~5(;)•7'(Ext. Fax: City/State/Zip: Email: charle-,-5 ,e , lewis t 9bo@fjma//, Con, 1----,-.--..,....-,,,,--~..,....,...,-.,....,,,...--,,..,,,...,~-,---,,-,--...,..,-,.....,...,.-,---,....,, Tel. Ext. Fax: F~n::.:.c\~~~"" J \',-a~""~' ;:. "'•'".e~·"1=fa=~-n-"- ·J'--' \ A'.-"'~'.=tt=tf"'-'r~'-•••-.;:.,,...,..:.L:1Ca........~='-'-~= - = : , : ; ~~ - - - ' - " ~ Email: Lead Attorney -------------------- Lead Attorney Name: Name: Bar No. Finn/Agency: Address 1: NA Bar No. Firm/Agency: Address 1: Address 2: Address 2: City/State/Zip: City/State/Zip: Tel. Ext. Fax: Tel. Ext. Fax: Email: Email: Lead Attorney Lead Attorney Name: Name: Bar No. Bar No. Finn/Agency: Firm/Agency: Address 1: Address 1: Address 2: Address 2: City/State/Zip: City/State/Zip: Tel. Ext. Fax: Ext. Fax: Tel. Email: Email: Person Organization Lead Attorney -~- ,j I Name: vOJ1. I ! en1 Name: Pro Se Bar No. If Pro Se Party, enter the followinfJ!~{'!,fmation: Firm/Agency: r, 1 -!1~,D Address: ,--, 1 Address 1: ·-,.._ • I ..

City/State/Zip: L)C.d I US) Address 2: Tel.;2Ji.f-T?C/ _tf £.;,~~- Fax: City/State/Zip: Email: Tel. Ext. Fax: Email:

Lead Attorney Lead Attorney Name: Name: Bar No. Bar No. Firm/Agency: Firm/Agency: Address 1: Address 1: Address 2: Address 2: City/State/Zip: City/State/Zip: Tel. Ext. Fax: Tel. Ext. Fax: Email: Email:

Lead Attorney Lead Attorney Name: Name: Bar No. Bar No. Firm/Agency: Firm/Agency: Address 1: Address 1: Address 2: Address 2: City/State/Zip: City/State/Zip: Tel. Ext. Fax: Tel. Ext. Fax: Email: Email:

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Nature of Case (Subject matter or type of case): Date Order or Judgment signed: /~ ~- Type of Judgment: Date Notice of Appeal filed in Trial Court: If mailed to the Trial Court clerk, also give the date mailed: Interlocutory appeal of appealable order: ~;~ __/ , No If yes, please, spe~fy_statutQ~ or other basis on which interloc~ory order is appea!able ~ee TRAP 28): F \~< }~ l)L~ ,[ .·..,., /\-(~ II .-v p l{jt,,(A L) ..

Accelerated Appeal (See TRAP 28): (Yes) No ,__,,<'

If yes, please specify statutoQ'. or other basis on which appeal is accelerated: r- r> /\ \ J I ,, [- 1~,./4- (/l .L.,) Parental Termination or Child Protection? (See TRAP 28.4): Permissive? (See TRAP 28.3): Yes No If yes, please specify statutory or other basis for such status:

Agreed? (See TRAP 28.2): Yes (~ If yes, please specify statutory or other basis for such status:

Appeal should receive precedence, preference, or priority under statute or rule?

If yes, please specify statutory or other basis for such status:

,,-,"' Does this case involve an amount under $100,000? Yes /Nol Judgment or Order disposes of all parties and issues? Yes i @) Appeal from final judgment? Q No Does the appeal involve the constitutionality or the validity of a statute, rule, or ordinance?

Motion for New Trial: Yes No If yes, date filed: Motion to Modify Judgment: Yes No If yes, date filed: Request for Findings of Fact and Conclu~ions ~--.·.,_ of Law: \~J No If yes, date filed: Motion to Reinstate: Yes No If yes, date filed: Motion under TRCP 306a: Yes No If yes, date filed: ---·--- Other: {' Yei-) No ¾___,__,..,.--~·,

If Other, please specify: (. . . ... . . -..\ Was Statement of Inability to Pay Court Costs filed in the trial court? (To~ ""---~-- No If yes, date filed: Was a Motion Challenging the Statement filed in the trial court? Yes (ti~"' ....____. / If yes, date filed: Was there any hearing on appellant's ability to afford court costs?

Hearing Date: Yes f~ Did trial court sign an order under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145?

Date of Order: Yes § If yes, trial court finding: Challenge Sustained Overruled

Has any party to the ---- court's judgment filed for protection in bankruptcy which might affect this appeal?

Yes (N6\ -.J If yes, please attach a copy of the petition.

Date bankruptcy filed: Bankruptcy Case Number:

Court: 00fJt1-l-v Ceo,-,{- ctj- County: Dct \ \ Ct S Trial Court Clerk: District County Trial Court Docket No. (Cause No.~ . d- -~4 -0'10gs- /-; r\ Was Clerk's record requested? Yes S If yes, date requested: .

Trial Court Judge (who.tried or disposed of the case): 1 c.c,c.:r--!-'•~- li'.,,,u.•!,, .."l i~ If no, date it will be requested: Ctr ~,J-e ,,;e..,_,_,, Name: kirry I='Ffe,q e,ru. I cl Were payment arrangements made with clerk?

Address 1: V)~W) rn <L. ~~- Yes ~ Indigent Address 2: (Note: No request required under TRAP 34.S(a),(b).)

City/State/Zip: O,S J Tel.~ llf Ext. Fax: Email: f.,;, Reporter's or Recorder's Record Is there a Reporter's Record?, @ No Was Reporter's Record requested? Yes fN~ ~ If yes, date requested: Ifno, date it will be requested: earl 112.~f Was the Reporter's Record electronically recorded?

Were payment arrangements made with the court reporter/court recorder? Yes Indigent

Court Reporter Court Recorder Court Reporter Court Recorder Official Substitute Official Substitute ii l ' \ Name: (ff e\lV1Ct(l,l \,, 0r'+1 Name: Address 1: {tl,iv Address 1: Address 2: Address 2: City/State/Zip: City/State/Zip: Tel. Ext. Fax: Tel. Ext. Fax: Email: Email:

·~· Supersedeas bond filed? ~ No If yes, date filed: If no, will file? Yes No

Will you request extraordinary relief (e.g., temporary or ancillary relief) from this Court?

If yes, briefly sta,te the basis for your i;equest: \N '<- l}?hou, \ d rnl)r, 1,~\ 11a,[ }Jc,l¾~ tv 1f},.,~,,f::::-,:) f)(iui _-po~~L JU \ ~' JJ 'f_, <.) e{(} pe r'1-if l If yes, who was the mediator?

What type of ADR procedure?

At what stage did the case go through ADR? Pre-Trial Post-Trial Other If other, please specify: Type of Case?

Give a brief description of the issue to be raised on appeal, the relief sought, and the applicable standard for review, if known (without prajpdice to th~right_to r~ise1addit~onaUssue~ or request~.itional relief); h ,6 /5 an i~1<:'.f1cd_. eV1cJ.-1,011 UA.e7i._ 'Srtl~ _o"P frs,pe.-'ty,Jh~✓ ftb;e,-r-v s , 0 1i . /i ,J 'in~'~1 r;·v.s+· _and tr;5 i,{rt-ed f/lrty nef! -S ~ k 001?7f1€/1S4,Tecl i72,r es e.at.~d" -fl? u.1 t v,.,hi:t 1;1,,_;-t C\,rL Jc-1 d{.trc1.,-t<-)\:'._':;; ..

1-.... ;"

How was the case disposed of?

I f t Summary of relief granted, including amount of money judgment, and if any, damages awarded.

If money judgment, what was the amount? Actual damages: Punitive (or similar) damages: Attorney's fees (trial): Attorney's fees (appellate): Other: If other, please specify: Will you challenge this Court's jurisdiction? ( ; ) No Does judgment have language that one or more pa9i~~take nothing"? C?i> No Does judgment have a Mother Hubbard clause? ( Yes ) No Other basis for finality: d '--'/ e~R~oiuff8ntM~diaHon- Continued··.··. • ,ilftif,tiliiitiie '-J)i\z~d ···4 th sth 6th . . sth • 1ot11 iit!(aJ,~:;.

Rate the complexity of the case (use 1 for least and 5 for most complex): 1 2 3 Please make my answer to the preceding questions known to other parties in this case? ( ---. ') Can the parties agree on an appellate mediator? \Yes/ '-.._/ No If yes, please give the name, address, telephone, fax, and email address: Name: -r- :-) ,· d / 'i • L '\ • ·, ' •, . s ('', ,rt / t-(} \J b C( :;,, ; (,, .. l_/Y)-eCt/(\;,1..,1- _) n~c t;_ •• t,, ( I Address: Telephone: Ext.

Fax: Email: Languages other than English in which the mediator should be proficient:

Name of the person filling out mediation section of docketing statement:

List an other Texas A Court: Docket: Style: Vs. Court: Docket: Style: Vs. Court: Docket: Style: Vs. Court: Docket: Style: Vs. Court: Docket: Style: Vs. Court: Docket: Style: Vs. The Courts of Appeals listed above, in conjunction with the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section Pro Bono Committee and local Bar Associations, are conducting a program to place a limited number of civil appeals with appellate counsel who will represent the appellant in the appeal before this Court.

The Pro Bono Committee is solely responsible for screening and selecting the civil cases for inclusion in the Program based upon a number of discretionary criteria, including the financial means of the appellant or appellee. If a case is selected by the Committee, and can be matched with appellate counsel, that counsel will take over representation of the appellant or appellee without charging legal fees. More information regarding this program can be found in the Pro Bono Program Pamphlet available in paper form at the Clerk's Office or on the Internet at http://www.tex-app.org. If your case is selected and matched with a volunteer lawyer, you will receive a letter from the Pro Bono Committee within thirty (30) to forty-five (45) days after submitting this Docketing Statement.

Note: there is no guarantee that if you submit your case for possible inclusion in the Pro Bono Program, the Pro Bono Committee will select your case and that pro bono counsel can be found to represent you. Accordingly, you should not forego seeking other counsel to represent you in this proceeding. By signing your name below, you are authorizing the Pro Bono committee to transmit publicly available facts and information about your case, including parties and background, through selected Internet sites and Listserv to its pool of volunteer app,eJlate attorneys.

Do you want this case to be considered for inclusion in the Pro Bono Program? f Ye~) No Do you authorize the Pro Bono Committee to c;b~tapt your trial counsel of reco~ctilfuis matter to answer questions the committee may have regarding the appeal? tes 1 No • ./ Please note that any such conversations woula be maintained as confidential by the Pro Bono Committee and the information used solely for the purposes of considering the case for inclusion in the Pro Bono Program.

If you have not previouslx filed a Statement of Inability to Pay Court Costs and attached a file-stamped copy of that Statement, does your ajpome exceed 200% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Poverty Guidelines? Yes 1' ~ These guidelines can be found in the Pro Bono Program Pamphlet as well as on the internet at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/06pove1ty.shtml. ,,;:-,,."-,.-, Are you willing to disclose your financial circumstances to the Pro Bono Committee? f es ) No ·\ /'"

If yes, please attach a Statement of Inability to Pay Court Costs completed and executed by the appellant or appellee.

Sample forms may be found in the Clerk's Office or on the internet at http://www.tex-app.org. Your participation in . the Pro Bono Program may be conditioned upon your execution of a Statement under oath as to your financial circumstances.

Give a brief description of the issues to be raised on appeal, the relief sought, and the applicable standard of review, if known (without prejudice to the right to raise additional issues or request additional relief; use a separate attachment, if nec.i::s~ary). ' '-rh.1 ;;;,,. ' ' y 1; " 'l" L,{_{/ -~- lrus1ee Date

Printed Name State Bar No.

Electronic Signature (Optional) Name

State Bar No. Certificate of Service Requirements (TRAP 9.5(e)): A certificate of service must be signed by the person who made the service and must state: (1) the date and manner of service; (2) the name and address of each person served, and if the erson served is a 's attorne the name of the Date Served: Manner Served: Manner Served: Name: Name: Bar No. Bar No. Firm/Agency: Firm/Agency: Address 1: Address 1: Address 2: Address 2: r1!

City/State/Zip: \ )e City/State/Zip: ,;,,, ~r;·.<~2 .0//j Tel...71. , _. i~ ,1 / Ext. Fax: Tel. Ext. Fax: '-/i lyUvJ Email: Email: Party: Date S.erved: 1-J -~-I I ' Date Served: Manner Served: Manner Served: Name: {\/\ Name: Bar No. Bar No. Firm/Agency: c{i,ll,.t,1- () f- l¾:·w-ec , k:ipn!Agency: Address 1: Address 1: Address 2: Address 2: City/State/Zip: /~ U 54-7 1~ f City/State/Zip: Tel. Ext. Fax: Tel. Ext. Fax: Email: Email: Party: c / 1-)<_ Party: Date Served: Manner Served: Name: Bar No. Firm/Agency: Address 1: Address 2: City/State/Zip: Tel. Ext. Fax: Email: Party: Date Served: 4 -- 7, ~ J Date Served: Manner Served: Manner Served: Name: 'l'\,, L.-'t.ln vv . Name: Address 1: f1> () Address 1: Address 2: Address 2: City/State/Zip: l):;t \\ C6 1 City/State/Zip: ~~lttf Ext. Tel. Ext.

Fax: _Fax: Email: Email: Date Served: 1-/ -/ r • I' Date Served: Manner Served: h1 C:ll J ( C Manner Served: Name: Kub-en /Vt 0 Name: Address 1: Address 1: Address 2: Address 2: City/State/Zip: Au ,)+, r~ } 1 '7 r City/State/Zip: Tel. Ext. Tel. Ext.

Fax: Fax: Email: Email: Date Served: Date Served: Manner Served: Manner Served: Name: Name: Address 1: Address 1: Address 2: Address 2: City/State/Zip: City/State/Zip: Tel. Ext. Tel. Ext.

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RECENEDfN 15th OOlJm OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS

APR 2 l 2025 CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE CLERK h-Hecn+t, ~ /) ftp~ _. .

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Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.