Cecile Erwin Young, in Her Official Capacity as the Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc.; And Aetna Better Health of Texas, Inc. v. Cook Children's Health Plan, Texas Children's Health Plan, Superior Health Plan, Inc., and Wellpoint Insurance Company
Opinion
ACCEPTED 15-24-00114-CV FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 6/30/2025 11:44 AM NO. 15-24-00114-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE CLERK FILED IN In the Fifteenth District 15th COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM Court of Appeals CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk
Cecile Erwin Young, in Her Official Capacity as Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc., and Aetna Better Health of Texas, Inc., Appellants, v. Cook Children’s Health Plan, Texas Children’s Health Plan, Superior Health Plan, Inc., and Wellpoint Insurance Company, Appellees.
On Appeal from Cause No. D-1-GN-24-003839, In the 455th Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas / Honorable Laurie Eiserloh, Presiding Judge
JOINT STATUS REPORT
On November 12, 2024, this Court entered an order abating this appeal until July 2, 2025 – 30 days after the end of the 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature. See 11/12/24 Order. In its order, the Court stated that “[t]he appeal will be reinstated on this Court’s active docket on July 3, 2025.” Id. The Court directed Appellants and Appellees to file a joint status report on or before June 30, 2025,
“informing the Court about the status of the appeal and requesting any necessary reinstatement and/or dismissal.” Id. In accordance with the Court’s order, the undersigned, on behalf of their respective clients, inform the Court that no resolution of the issues forming the basis of this appeal has been reached at this time and request that the Court reinstate the appeal on July 3, 2025.
In addition, the undersigned, on behalf of their clients, inform the Court that one or more parties intend to file a motion to dismiss Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc. (“Molina”), and Aetna Better Health of Texas, Inc. (“Aetna”) as parties to this appeal. The parties jointly propose that any such motion(s) be filed on or before July 10, 2025, with response(s) due on or before July 24, 2025. The motion(s) and response(s) will also address the parties’ position on a merits briefing schedule. All parties jointly request that the Court set a merits briefing schedule after receiving the response(s) to the motion(s) and suspend any merits briefing deadlines until the schedule is set.
Respectfully submitted, NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP ALEXANDER DUBOSE & JEFFERSON
By /s/ Susan Feigin Harris By /s/ Amy Warr Susan Feigin Harris Amy Warr State Bar No. 06876980 State Bar No. 00795708 [email protected] [email protected] Warren S. Huang Anna M. Baker State Bar No. 00796788 State Bar No. 00791362 [email protected] [email protected] 1550 Lamar, Suite 2000 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 1450 Houston, Texas 77010 Austin, Texas 78701-2709 Telephone: (713) 651-5151 Telephone: (512) 482-9300 Paul D. Trahan Karen C. Burgess State Bar No. 24003075 State Bar No. 00796276 [email protected] [email protected] NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP Katie Dolan-Galaviz San Jacinto Boulevard, Suite 1100 State Bar No. 24069620 Austin, Texas 78701 [email protected] Telephone: (512) 474-5201 BURGESS LAW PC West 13th Street Thomas A. Coulter Austin, Texas 78701-1825 [email protected] Telephone: (512) 482-8808 State Bar No. 04885500 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP Matthew P. Gordon 9th Street, NW, Suite 1100 [email protected] Washington, D.C. 20001 Admission Pro Hac Vice Telephone: (202) 662-0200 PERKINS COIE LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Counsel for Appellee Texas Children’s Seattle, Washington 98101-3099 Health Plan Telephone: (206) 359-8000 Counsel for Appellee Plaintiff Cook Children’s Health Plan
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP
By /s/ Stacy R. Obenhaus By /s/ Richard B. Phillips, Jr. Robert F. Johnson III Richard B. Phillips, Jr. State Bar No. 10786400 State Bar No. 24032833 [email protected] [email protected] Congress Avenue, Suite 3000 One Arts Plaza Austin, Texas. 78701 1722 Routh Street, Suite 1500 Telephone: (512) 542-7000 Dallas, Texas 75201 Telephone: (214) 964-9500 Michelle Y. Ku State Bar No. 24071452 Karen D. Walker [email protected] Pro Hac Vice Application Forthcoming Stacy R. Obenhaus [email protected] State Bar No. 15161570 Tiffany Roddenberry [email protected] Pro Hac Vice Application Forthcoming FOLEY & LARDNER LLP [email protected] 2021 McKinney, Suite 1600 HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP Dallas, Texas 75201 315 South Calhoun Street, Suite 600 Telephone: (214) 999-3000 Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Telephone: (850) 425-5612 Benjamin J. Grossman Admission Pro Hac Vice Counsel for Appellee Superior [email protected] Health Plan, Inc. FOLEY & LARDNER LLP East College Avenue, Suite 900 Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Telephone: (850) 222-6100 Counsel for Appellee Wellpoint Insurance Company
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Ken Paxton Attorney General Brent Webster First Assistant Attorney General Ralph Molina Deputy First Assistant Attorney General Austin Kinghorn Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation Kimberly Gdula Chief, General Litigation Division
By /s/ Jennifer Cook Jennifer Cook Assistant Attorney General State Bar No. 00789233 [email protected] P.O. Box 12548 Austin, Texas 78711-2548 Telephone: (737) 230-4700 Facsimile: (512) 302-0667 Counsel for Appellant Cecile Erwin Young, In Her Official Capacity as Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
EWELL, BROWN, BLANKE & KNIGHT LLP SCOTT, DOUGLASS & MCCONNICO LLP
By /s/ Joseph R. Knight By /s/ Jason R. LaFond Joseph R. Knight Cheryl Joseph LaFond State Bar No. 11601275 State Bar No. 24104015 [email protected] [email protected] Congress Avenue, 28th Floor Jason R. LaFond Austin, Texas 78701 State Bar No. 24103136 Telephone: (512) 770-4010 [email protected] Colorado Street, Suite 2400 Counsel for Appellant Aetna Better Austin, Texas 78701 Health of Texas, Inc. Telephone: (512) 495-6300 Counsel for Appellant Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE The undersigned counsel hereby certifies that a copy of the Joint Status Report was served via the electronic filing manager or electronic mail in compliance with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.5 on June 30, 2025, upon all counsel of record.
/s/ Susan Feigin Harris Susan Feigin Harris
Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.
Warren Huang on behalf of Warren Huang Bar No. 796788 [email protected] Envelope ID: 102581599 Filing Code Description: Other Document Filing Description: Other Document Status as of 6/30/2025 12:13 PM CST Case Contacts Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Michaelle Peters [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Julie Wright [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Amanda DoddsPrice [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT David Johns [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Michelle Joyner [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Abril Rivera [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Jessie Johnson [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT
Associated Case Party: Cook Children's Health Plan Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Karen Burgess 796276 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Katie Dolan-Galaviz [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Matthew Gordon [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Amy Warr 795708 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Juliana Bennington [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Jonathan Hawley [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Reina A.Almon-Griffin [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Trisha Marino [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Perkins Docketing Team [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT
Associated Case Party: Wellpoint Insurance Company Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.
Warren Huang on behalf of Warren Huang Bar No. 796788 [email protected] Envelope ID: 102581599 Filing Code Description: Other Document Filing Description: Other Document Status as of 6/30/2025 12:13 PM CST Associated Case Party: Wellpoint Insurance Company Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Robert Johnson 10786400 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Michelle Ku 24071452 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Stacey Obenhaus [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Kristin Hernandez [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Benjamin Grossman [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT
Associated Case Party: Superior Healthplan Inc. Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Richard Phillips 24032833 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT J McCaig 24070083 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Karen Walker [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Tiffany Roddenberry [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT
Associated Case Party: Aetna Better Health of Texas, Inc. Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Joseph Knight 11601275 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT
Associated Case Party: Texas Health and Human Services Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Victoria Gomez [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Jennifer Cook [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.
Warren Huang on behalf of Warren Huang Bar No. 796788 [email protected] Envelope ID: 102581599 Filing Code Description: Other Document Filing Description: Other Document Status as of 6/30/2025 12:13 PM CST Associated Case Party: Texas Children's Health Plan Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Warren Huang 796788 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Paul Trahan 24003075 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Susan Harris 6876980 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Thomas Coulter 4885500 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT
Associated Case Party: Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc. Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Cheryl LaFond 24104015 [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT Jason R.LaFond [email protected] 6/30/2025 11:44:08 AM SENT
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.