ACCEPTED 15-25-00061-CV FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 9/22/2025 12:00 AM NO. 15-25-00061-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE CLERK FILED IN IN THE COURT OF APPEALS 15th COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, TEXAS 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk FRANCESCA OKONKWO, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, DIVISION OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION, IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY, AND FORT BEND COUNTY, Appellants, v. JOSHUA DAVID HEILIGER, INDIVIDUALLY, AND ON BEHALF OF THE ESTATE OF LAUREN BRITTANE SMITH, DECEASED, AND ON BEHALF OF DEATH BENEFITS BENEFICIARIES JOSHUA DAVID HEILIGER AND EMMA DESTINY HEILIGER, Appellees ON APPEAL FROM TRIAL COURT CAUSE NO. 2024-78536 TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS THE HONORABLE KRISTEN B. HAWKINS, PRESIDING JUDGE APPELLANT FORT BEND COUNTY’S REPLY BRIEF

Dean G. Pappas Mary M. Markantonis Texas Bar No. 15454375 Texas Bar No. 12986800 [email protected] [email protected] Marilyn G. Allen Texas Bar No. 24025225 [email protected] Dean G. Pappas Law Firm, PLLC 8588 Katy Freeway, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77024 Telephone: 713-914-6200 Telecopier: 713-914-6201 COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT FORT BEND COUNTY ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED NO. 15-25-00061-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, TEXAS

FRANCESCA OKONKWO, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, DIVISION OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION, IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY, AND FORT BEND COUNTY, Appellants, v. JOSHUA DAVID HEILIGER, INDIVIDUALLY, AND ON BEHALF OF THE ESTATE OF LAUREN BRITTANE SMITH, DECEASED, AND ON BEHALF OF DEATH BENEFITS BENEFICIARIES JOSHUA DAVID HEILIGER AND EMMA DESTINY HEILIGER, Appellees

ON APPEAL FROM TRIAL COURT CAUSE NO. 2024-78536 TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS THE HONORABLE KRISTEN B. HAWKINS, PRESIDING JUDGE APPELLANT FORT BEND COUNTY’S REPLY BRIEF

TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS: Relator Fort Bend County files this Reply to Appellee’s Response to FORT BEND COUNTY’S Amended Brief as follows: I.

The Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion in Oteka during the pendency of the cases filed in this matter. Based upon that opinion, Fort Bend County filed a Reply Brief to Appellee’s Response to Fort Bend’s Amended Petition for Writ of Mandamus in Case No. 15-25-00102-CV to address Univ. of Tex. Rio Grande Valley v. Oteka, 715 S.W.3d 731 (Tex. 2025).

Fort Bend now incorporates by reference as if fully set out in this case No. 15-25-00061-CV its Reply Brief in Case No 15-25-00102-CV and adopts, incorporates and relies upon its arguments and authority contained therein.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITY CONSIDERED, the Appellant Fort Bend County prays that this Court accepts and considers this Reply to the Response of Appellee Joshua David Heiliger, et al, and reverses the April 2, 2025 Order Granting Temporary Injunction and Setting Trial on Merits and renders judgment that this case be dismissed and for such further and other relief to which it may be entitled.

Respectfully submitted, DEAN G. PAPPAS LAW FIRM, PLLC By: /s/ Mary M. Markantonis Dean G. Pappas Texas Bar No. 15454375 [email protected] Mary M. Markantonis Texas No.12986800 [email protected] Marilyn J. Allen Texas Bar No. 24025225 [email protected] 8588 Katy Freeway, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77024 Telephone: 713-914-6200 Telecopier: 713-914-6201 ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT FORT BEND COUNTY

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE This reply brief complies with the length limitations of TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i)(3) because this reply brief consists of 180 words as determined by Microsoft Word Count, excluding the parts of the reply brief exempted by TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i)(1).

/s/ Mary M. Markantonis Mary M. Markantonis CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of this Reply Brief was served on all counsel of record by using the Court’s e-filing system on the 20th day of September, 2025, addressed as follows: Via eFile through the electronic filing manager Russell L. Morris Pablo A. Franco Andrew W. Bruce McBryde Franco, PLLC 11000 Richmond Avenue, Suite 350 Houston, Texas 77042 Attorneys for Joshua Heiliger, Individually and on Behalf of the Estate of Lauren Brittane Smith, Deceased, and on Behalf of Death Benefits Beneficiaries Joshua David Heiliger and Emma Destiny Heiliger, Appellee

Via eFile through the electronic filing manager Ken Paxton Brent Webster Ralph Molina James Lloyd Ernest C. Garcia Sherlyn Harper Office of the Attorney General of Texas Travis Street, Suite 1520 Houston, Texas 77002 James Z. Brazell Assistant Attorney General, Administrative Law Division P.O. Box 12548, Capital Station Austin, Texas 78711-2548 Attorneys for Francesca Okonkwo, Administrative Law Judge in her official capacity, Appellant

Via eFile through the electronic filing manager LaVerne Chang Lovett Blvd. Houston, Texas 77006 Attorney for Greater Houston Psychiatric Associates, PLLC, Real Party in Interest

/s/ Mary M. Markantonis Mary M. Markantonis

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.

Hope Furlow on behalf of Mary Markantonis Bar No. 12986800 [email protected] Envelope ID: 105869313 Filing Code Description: Brief Requesting Oral Argument Filing Description: Appellant Fort Bend County's Reply Brief Status as of 9/22/2025 7:28 AM CST Case Contacts Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Lisa Teachey 24056416 [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Laverne Chang 783819 [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Marilyn Allen 24025225 [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Mary Markantonis 12986800 [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Dean Pappas 15454375 [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Andrew Bruce 24113627 [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Russell Morris 24099150 [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Hope Burnett-Furlow [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Pablo Franco 24121625 [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Catherine Hughes [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Sherlyn Harper [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT James Z.Brazell [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT Meridith Fischer [email protected] 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT