MOTIONS TO ABATE AND MOTIONS TO STAY; PLEAS TO THE JURISDICTION; MOTIONS ON SPECIAL APPEARANCE

Presented and Written By:

JOHN ANDREW KAZEN

Co-authored by:

J. FRANCISCO TAMEZ

Kazen, Meurer & Prez, L.L.P. 211 Calle Del Norte, Ste. 100

Laredo, TX 78041 (956) 712-1600

State Bar of Texas ULTIMATE MOTIONS PRACTICE

September 20, 2013 Austin

CHAPTER 1

Motions to Abate and Motions to Stay; Pleas to the Jurisdiction; Motions on Special Appearance Chapter 1

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 1

II. SPECIAL APPEARANCES ................................................................................................................................... 1 A. Overview of Personal Jurisdiction Jurisprudence ........................................................................................... 1

1. Specific v. General Jurisdiction .............................................................................................................. 2 2. The Texas Long-Arm Statute .................................................................................................................. 2 3. Sliding Scale Analysis for Internet Commerce ....................................................................................... 2

B. The Procedural Requirements of Rule 120a .................................................................................................... 3 1. Special Appearance Must be Verified ..................................................................................................... 3 2. Time to Cure a Verification Defect ......................................................................................................... 3 3. Waiver of Special Appearance ................................................................................................................ 3 4. Defendants Motion to Continue Special Appearance Hearing .............................................................. 6 5. Scope of Discovery While Special Appearance is Pending .................................................................... 6 6. Plaintiffs Motion for Continuance ......................................................................................................... 7 7. Plaintiff May Amend Its Pleading Prior to the Hearing .......................................................................... 7

C. Burden of Proof at Hearing ............................................................................................................................. 7 1. Summary of Defendants Arguments to Contest Personal Jurisdiction .................................................. 8

III. PLEA TO THE JURISDICTION ............................................................................................................................ 8 A. Overview of Subject Matter Jurisdiction ......................................................................................................... 8

1. District Courts ......................................................................................................................................... 9 2. County Courts ......................................................................................................................................... 9

B. Plea to the JurisdictionProcedural Background ........................................................................................... 9 C. Evaluate the Plaintiffs Pleadings .................................................................................................................. 10 D. Timing the Filing of a Plea to the Jurisdiction .............................................................................................. 10 E. Evidentiary Issues .......................................................................................................................................... 10 F. Sovereign Immunity ...................................................................................................................................... 11 G. Pendant and Ancillary Jurisdiction ................................................................................................................ 11 H. Administrative Bodies ................................................................................................................................... 11

1. Primary vs. Exclusive JurisdictionAdministrative Agencies ............................................................ 12 I. Dismiss or Abate: Dominant and Concurrent Jurisdiction ........................................................................... 12 J. Interlocutory Appeal of an Order Denying a Plea to the Jurisdiction in Limited Circumstances. ................ 13

IV. MOTION TO ABATE .......................................................................................................................................... 13 A. Procedural Requirements............................................................................................................................... 13

1. Verification ........................................................................................................................................... 13 2. Pleading Requirements .......................................................................................................................... 13 3. Burden of Proof ..................................................................................................................................... 13 4. Effect of Sustaining a Plea in Abatement .............................................................................................. 14

B. Waiver ........................................................................................................................................................... 14 C. Abatement Based on a Defect in the Parties.................................................................................................. 14

1. Abatement is Not Available in Cases of Death or Dissolution ............................................................. 14 2. Abatement is appropriate to Cure other Defects in the Parties ............................................................. 15

D. Motion to Abate Distinguished from a Motion to Stay ................................................................................. 15 E. Motion to Abate Based on Dominant Jurisdiction ........................................................................................ 16

1. Background ........................................................................................................................................... 16 2. Exceptions to Abatement Based on Dominant Jurisdiction .................................................................. 17 3. Pleading and Proof Dominant Jurisdiction ......................................................................................... 18

F. Primary Jurisdiction of an Administrative Agency ....................................................................................... 19 G. Failure to Comply with Presuit Notice Requirements ................................................................................... 19

1. Deceptive Trade Practices Act .............................................................................................................. 19 2. Suit Against a Professional Employee of a School District .................................................................. 19 3. Healthcare Liability Claim .................................................................................................................... 19

H. Mandamus Relief May Be Available ............................................................................................................ 19

MOTIONS TO ABATE AND MOTIONS TO STAY; PLEAS TO THE JURISDICTION; MOTIONS ON SPECIAL APPEARANCETABLE OF CONTENTS