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 7/16/2025 6:59 PM No. 15-24-00114-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE CLERK FILED IN 15th COURT OF APPEALS IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTEENTH DISTRICT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS TEXAS 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM 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 HEALTHPLAN, INC., AND WELLPOINT INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellees.
On Appeal from the 455th Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas Cause No. D-1-GN-24-003839
MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION OF MATTHEW P. GORDON
TO THE HONORABLE FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS: I, Matthew P. Gordon, respectfully file this motion for pro hac vice admission, to appear before this Court as counsel on behalf of Appellee Cook Children’s Health Plan (“Cook Children’s”). Under the authority of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas, and in support of this motion, I declare the following:
1. I am an attorney at the law firm and business address below: Perkins Coie LLP 1301 Second Avenue, Suite 4200 Seattle, WA 98101-3804 Telephone: (206) 359-8000 2. I am associated with Amy Warr and Karen C. Burgess, who will serve as local counsel in this case. Amy Warr and Karen C. Burgess are practicing attorneys and active members in good standing of the State Bar of Texas under Bar Nos. 00795708 and 00796276, respectively. Karen C. Burgess is a partner with the law firm and business address listed below: Burgess Law PC West 13th Street Austin, TX 78701-1825 Telephone: (512) 482-8808 Amy Warr is a partner with the law firm and business address listed below: Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP Congress Avenue, Suite 1450 Austin, Texas 78701-2709 Telephone: (512) 482-9300 3. I was admitted pro hac vice in the 353rd Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas in the matter of Cook Children’s Health Plan v. Cecile Erwin Young.
4. I am an active member in good standing with the highest court of the State of Washington.
5. I have not been the subject of disciplinary action in the last five years by the bar or courts of any jurisdiction where I have been licensed.
6. I have not been denied admission to any state or federal court during the last five years.
7. I am familiar with the State Bar Act, the State Bar Rules, and the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct governing the conduct of the members of the State Bar of Texas. I will at all times abide by and comply with these rules so long as this case is pending and I have not withdrawn as counsel from the proceeding.
8. Attached to this motion is a copy of the non-resident acknowledgment letter and proof of payment issued by the Board of Law Examiners (Exhibit A), and a copy of Amy Warr and Karen Burgess’s Motion in Support which is filed concurrently with this motion (Exhibit B).
PRAYER For these reasons, I ask the Court to grant my motion pro hac vice and allow me to appear before this Court until the conclusion of this case.
Respectfully submitted, July 16, 2025 /s/ Matthew P. Gordon (pro hac vice application pending) Email: [email protected] PERKINS COIE LLP 1301 Second Avenue, Suite 4200 Seattle, WA 98101-3804 Telephone: (206) 359-3486 ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE COOK CHILDREN’S HEALTH PLAN
CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE I hereby certify that on July 16, 2025, I conferred with counsel for all parties regarding this motion. Counsel for all parties confirmed that the motion is unopposed.
/s/ Matthew P. Gordon Matthew P. Gordon
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on July 16, 2025, a true and correct copy of the foregoing was served via electronic service through eFileTexas e-filing system on all parties through counsel of record listed below:
Ken Paxton Cheryl Joseph LaFond Attorney General of Texas [email protected] Brent Webster Jason R. LaFond First Assistant Attorney General [email protected] William R. Peterson SCOTT, DOUGLAS & MCCONNICO LLP Solicitor General 303 Colorado Street, Suite 2400 William F. Cole Austin, Texas 78701 Principal Deputy Solicitor General Telephone: (512) 495-6300 State Bar No. 24124187 [email protected] Counsel for Molina Healthcare of Cory A. Scanlon Texas, Inc. Assistant Solicitor General State Bar No. 24104599 [email protected] Joseph R. Knight Thomas Bevilacqua [email protected] Assistant Attorney General EWELL, BROWN, BLANKE & KNIGHT Jennifer Cook LLP Assistant Attorney General 111 Congress Ave., 28th Floor Stephanie A. Criscione Austin, Texas 78701 Assistant Attorney General Telephone: (512) 770-4010 OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Counsel for Aetna Better Health of Texas, Inc. P.O. Box 12548 Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711-25848 Telephone: (512) 475-4104 Facsimile: (512) 320-0667 Counsel for Appellant Cecile Erwin Young, In Her Official Capacity as Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Susan Feigin Harris Rich Phillips [email protected] [email protected] Warren S. Huang One Arts Plaza [email protected] 1722 Routh Street, Suite 1500 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US, LLP Dallas, Texas 75201 1550 Lamar, Suite 2000 Houston, Texas 77010 Theresa Wanat Telephone: (713) 651-5151 [email protected] HOLLAND & KNIGHT, LLP Paul Trahan 811 Main Street, Suite 2500 [email protected] Houston, Texas 77002 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US, LLP Telephone: (713) 821-7000 San Jacinto Boulevard, Suite 1100 Austin, Texas 78701 Karen D. Walker Telephone: (512) 474-5201 [email protected] HOLLAND & KNIGHT, LLP Thomas A. Coulter 315 S. Calhoun Street, Suite 600 [email protected] Tallahassee, Florida 32301 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US, LLP Telephone: (850) 425-5612 9th Street, NW, Suite 1000 Washington, D.C. 20001 James E. Cousar Telephone: (202) 662-0200 [email protected] HOLLAND & KNIGHT, LLP Jeff J. Wurzburg 98 San Jacinto Blvd [email protected] Austin, Texas 78701 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US, LLP Telephone: (512) 469-6112 Texas State Bar No. 24105140 W. Houston Street, Suite 1800 Counsel for Appellee Superior Health Plan, Inc. San Antonio, Texas 78205 Telephone: (210) 224-5575 Counsel for Appellee Texas Children’s Health Plan
Robert F. Johnson III [email protected] FOLEY & LARDNER, LLP Congress Avenue, Suite 3000 Austin, Texas 78701 Telephone: (512) 542-7000 Michelle Y. Ku [email protected] Brantley A. Smith [email protected] FOLEY & LARDNER, LLP, 2021 McKinney, Suite 1600 Dallas, Texas 75201 Telephone: (214) 999-3000 Benjamin J. Grossman, [email protected] FOLEY & LARDNER, LLP E. College Ave., Suite 900, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Telephone: (850) 222-6100 Counsel for Appellee Wellpoint Insurance Company f/k/a Amerigroup Insurance Company
/s/ Amy Warr Amy Warr
EXHIBIT A Board of Law Examiners Appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas July 09, 2025
Matthew P. Gordon Via: E-Mail
Acknowledgment Letter Non-Resident Attorney Fee According to Texas Government Code §82.0361, "a nonresident attorney requesting permission to participate in proceedings in a court in this state shall pay a fee of $250 for each case in which the attorney is requesting to participate." This Acknowledgement Letter serves as proof that the Board of Law Examiners has received $250 in connection with the following matter: Non-resident attorney: Matthew P. Gordon Case: 15-24-00114-CV Texas court or body: IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
After satisfying the fee requirement, a non-resident attorney shall file a motion in the Texas court or body in which the non-resident attorney is requesting permission to appear. The motion shall contain the information and statements required by Rule 19(a) of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas. The motion must be accompanied by this Acknowledgment Letter and by a motion from a resident practicing Texas attorney that contains the statements required by Rule 19(b).
The decision to grant or deny a non-resident attorney's motion for permission to participate in the proceedings in a particular cause is made by the Texas court or body in which it is filed.
For more information, please see Rule 19 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas and §82.0361, of the Texas Government Code, which can be found on the Board's website.
MAILING ADDRESS TELEPHONE: 512- 463-1621 - FACSIMILE: 512- 463-5300 STREET ADDRESS Post Office Box 13486 WEBSITE: www.ble.texas.gov 205 West 14th Street, Ste.500 Austin,Texas 78711-3486 Austin, Texas 78701 EXHIBIT B No. 15-24-00114-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
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 HEALTHPLAN, INC.; AND WELLPOINT INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellees.
On Appeal from the 455th Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas Cause No. D-1-GN-24-003839
MOTION IN SUPPORT OF MATTHEW P. GORDON’S PRO HAC VICE
TO THE HONORABLE FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS: We, Karen C. Burgess and Amy Warr, file this Motion in Support of nonresident attorney Matthew P. Gordon’s request for admission Pro Hac Vice and, in support, respectfully show the following: 1. We are associated with Matthew P. Gordon of the law firm Perkins Coie LLP on this case. We are employed as attorneys on this case representing Appellee Cook Children’s Health Plan and will personally participate in the proceedings.
2. We are practicing attorneys and members in good standing with the State Bar of Texas. Our State Bar numbers, office addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses are included below our signatures.
3. Matthew P. Gordon is a reputable attorney in good standing in his state and we recommend that the Court permit him to appear in the above-captioned proceeding before the Court.
For these reasons, we respectfully ask the Court to grant Matthew P. Gordon’s Motion Pro Hac Vice and grant him permission to appear before this Court in this proceeding.
Respectfully submitted, July 16, 2025 /s/ Amy Warr Amy Warr State Bar No. 00795708 [email protected] ALEXANDER DUBOSE & JEFFERSON LLP Congress Avenue, Suite 1450 Austin, Texas 78701-2709 Telephone: (512) 482-9300 Facsimile: (512) 482-9303 /s/ Karen C. Burgess Karen C. Burgess State Bar No. 00796276 Email: [email protected] Katie Dolan-Galaviz State Bar No. 24069620 Email: [email protected] BURGESS LAW PC West 13th Street Austin, TX 78701-1825 Telephone: (512) 482-8808
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE COOK CHILDREN’S HEALTH PLAN
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on July 16, 2025, a true and correct copy of the foregoing was served via electronic service through eFileTexas e-filing system on all parties through counsel of record listed below:
Ken Paxton Cheryl Joseph LaFond Attorney General of Texas [email protected] Brent Webster Jason R. LaFond First Assistant Attorney General [email protected] William R. Peterson SCOTT, DOUGLAS & MCCONNICO LLP Solicitor General 303 Colorado Street, Suite 2400 William F. Cole Austin, Texas 78701 Principal Deputy Solicitor General Telephone: (512) 495-6300 State Bar No. 24124187 [email protected] Counsel for Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc. Cory A. Scanlon Assistant Solicitor General State Bar No. 24104599 Joseph R. Knight [email protected] [email protected] Thomas Bevilacqua EWELL, BROWN, BLANKE & KNIGHT Assistant Attorney General LLP Jennifer Cook 111 Congress Ave., 28th Floor Assistant Attorney General Austin, Texas 78701 Stephanie A. Criscione Telephone: (512) 770-4010 Assistant Attorney General OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY Counsel for Aetna Better Health of Texas, Inc. GENERAL P.O. Box 12548 Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711-25848 Telephone: (512) 475-4104 Facsimile: (512) 320-0667 Counsel for Appellant Cecile Erwin Young, In Her Official Capacity as Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Susan Feigin Harris Rich Phillips [email protected] [email protected] Warren S. Huang One Arts Plaza [email protected] 1722 Routh Street, Suite 1500 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US, LLP Dallas, Texas 75201 1550 Lamar, Suite 2000 Houston, Texas 77010 Theresa Wanat Telephone: (713) 651-5151 [email protected] HOLLAND & KNIGHT, LLP Paul Trahan 811 Main Street, Suite 2500 [email protected] Houston, Texas 77002 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US, LLP Telephone: (713) 821-7000 San Jacinto Boulevard, Suite 1100 Austin, Texas 78701 Karen D. Walker Telephone: (512) 474-5201 [email protected] HOLLAND & KNIGHT, LLP Thomas A. Coulter 315 S. Calhoun Street, Suite 600 [email protected] Tallahassee, Florida 32301 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US, LLP Telephone: (850) 425-5612 9th Street, NW, Suite 1000 Washington, D.C. 20001 James E. Cousar Telephone: (202) 662-0200 [email protected] HOLLAND & KNIGHT, LLP Jeff J. Wurzburg 98 San Jacinto Blvd [email protected] Austin, Texas 78701 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US, LLP Telephone: (512) 469-6112 Texas State Bar No. 24105140 W. Houston Street, Suite 1800 Counsel for Appellee Superior Health Plan, Inc. San Antonio, Texas 78205 Telephone: (210) 224-5575 Counsel for Appellee Texas Children’s Health Plan
Robert F. Johnson III [email protected] FOLEY & LARDNER, LLP Congress Avenue, Suite 3000 Austin, Texas 78701 Telephone: (512) 542-7000 Michelle Y. Ku [email protected] Brantley A. Smith [email protected] FOLEY & LARDNER, LLP, 2021 McKinney, Suite 1600 Dallas, Texas 75201 Telephone: (214) 999-3000 Benjamin J. Grossman, [email protected] FOLEY & LARDNER, LLP E. College Ave., Suite 900, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Telephone: (850) 222-6100 Counsel for Appellee Wellpoint Insurance Company f/k/a Amerigroup Insurance Company /s/ Amy Warr Amy Warr
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.
Stacey Jett on behalf of Amy Warr Bar No. 795708 [email protected] Envelope ID: 103234337 Filing Code Description: Motion Filing Description: Pro Hac Vice Motion (M. Gordon) Status as of 7/17/2025 7:39 AM CST Case Contacts Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Michaelle Peters [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Julie Wright [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Amanda DoddsPrice [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Karen Burgess 796276 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Mark Emery 24050564 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Robert Johnson 10786400 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Richard Phillips 24032833 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT J McCaig 24070083 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Michelle Ku 24071452 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Joseph Knight 11601275 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Amy Warr 795708 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Warren Huang 796788 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Paul Trahan 24003075 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Susan Harris 6876980 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Anna Baker 791362 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Maria Williamson [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Mandy Patterson [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Michelle Joyner [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT William FCole [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Abril Rivera [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Nancy Villarreal [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Kristin Hernandez [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM 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.
Stacey Jett on behalf of Amy Warr Bar No. 795708 [email protected] Envelope ID: 103234337 Filing Code Description: Motion Filing Description: Pro Hac Vice Motion (M. Gordon) Status as of 7/17/2025 7:39 AM CST Case Contacts Kristin Hernandez [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Thomas Coulter 4885500 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Victoria Gomez [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Jessie Johnson [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Benjamin Grossman [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Cory Scanlon [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Cheryl LaFond 24104015 [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT David Johns [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Jennifer Cook [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Juliana Bennington [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Jonathan Hawley [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM ERROR Reina A.Almon-Griffin [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Trisha Marino [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Perkins Docketing Team [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Katie Dolan-Galaviz [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Karen Walker [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Tiffany Roddenberry [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Stacey Obenhaus [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Jason R.LaFond [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Matthew Gordon [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT Stacey Jett [email protected] 7/16/2025 6:59:11 PM SENT
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.