CMG3, LLC D/B/A USA Foundation Repair v. Ismael Perez
Court
Court of Appeals of Texas
Decided
June 23, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
44%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
NUMBER 13-25-00248-CV COURT OF APPEALS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG CMG3, LLC D/B/A USA FOUNDATION REPAIR, Appellant, v. ISMAEL PEREZ, Appellee. ON APPEAL FROM THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 3 OF NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Chief Justice Tijerina and Justices West and Cron Memorandum Opinion by Justice Cron Appellant CMG3, LLC d/b/a USA Foundation Repair filed a notice of appeal from an order signed on April 30, 2025, denying reconsideration of an order disqualifying its counsel of record, Stephen P. Carrigan and Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC. On May 8, 2025, the Clerk of the Court notified appellant that it appeared that there was no final, appealable judgment, directed appellant to correct this defect, if possible, and advised appellant that the appeal would be dismissed if the defect was not corrected. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3. In response, appellant advised the Court that it would be filing a petition for writ of mandamus “to challenge the trial court’s order [at issue] in this appeal.” 1 Appellant did not otherwise correct the defect identified in the Clerk’s letter. See id. “Usually, only final judgments are subject to appeal.” Alexander Dubose Jefferson & Townsend LLP v. Chevron Phillips Chem. Co., 540 S.W.3d 577, 581 (Tex. 2018) (per curiam). Absent a timely filed notice of appeal from a final judgment or appealable interlocutory order, we do not have jurisdiction over an appeal. See Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001). An order disqualifying counsel is interlocutory in nature, and there is no statute providing for an interlocutory appeal of such an order. See, e.g., In re RSR Corp., 475 S.W.3d 775, 778 (Tex. 2015) (orig. proceeding) (“A party whose counsel is improperly disqualified has no adequate remedy by appeal.”); see also In re Guardianship of Bernsen, No. 13-20-00523-CV, 2021 WL 727391, at *1 (Tex. App.— Corpus Christi–Edinburg Feb. 25, 2021, no pet.) (mem. op.) (dismissing an appeal from an order disqualifying counsel for want of jurisdiction). Further, an order denying rehearing or reconsideration is not an independently appealable order. See State Office of Risk Mgmt. v. Berdan, 335 S.W.3d 421, 428 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg 2011, pet. denied); Digges v. Knowledge All., Inc., 176 S.W.3d 463, 464 (Tex. App.— 1 Appellant subsequently filed a petition for writ of mandamus in our appellate cause number 13- 25-00278-CV challenging the trial court’s original order disqualifying appellant’s counsel of record. By separate memorandum opinion issued on this same date, this Court denied relief in that cause. See In re CMG3, LLC, No. 13-25-00278-CV, 2025 WL ____, at *_ (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg June __, 2025, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.). 2 Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.); see also Martin v. Estell Acres, LLC, No. 03-23-00638- CV, 2023 WL 8355329, at *1 (Tex. App.—Austin Dec. 1, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.). The Court, having considered and fully considered the documents herein, is of the opinion that we lack jurisdiction over this appeal. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(a). JENNY CRON Justice Delivered and filed on the 23rd day of June, 2025. 3
Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 23, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Summary
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Case Overview
Case Name: CMG3, LLC D/B/A USA Foundation Repair v. Ismael Perez
Court: Court of Appeals of Texas, Corpus Christi – Edinburg
Date: June 23, 2025
The case involves an appeal filed by CMG3, LLC, operating as USA Foundation Repair, against Ismael Perez concerning an order that disqualified its counsel, Stephen P. Carrigan and Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC. The appeal was initiated following the denial of a motion for reconsideration of the disqualification order.
Key Legal Issues
- Jurisdiction: The primary legal question was whether the Court of Appeals had jurisdiction to hear the appeal regarding the disqualification of counsel.
- Final Judgment Requirement: The case also examined the requirement for a final judgment or an appealable interlocutory order to establish jurisdiction.
Court's Decision
The Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction, stating that the order disqualifying counsel is interlocutory and not subject to immediate appeal.
Legal Reasoning
The Court emphasized that:
- Final Judgments: Generally, only final judgments are appealable. The Texas Supreme Court has established that without a timely filed notice of appeal from a final judgment or an appealable interlocutory order, appellate jurisdiction does not exist.
- Interlocutory Orders: The order disqualifying counsel is classified as interlocutory, and there is no statute that allows for an interlocutory appeal of such orders. The Court referenced previous rulings that support this position, indicating that disqualification orders do not provide an adequate remedy through appeal.
Key Holdings
- The Court lacks jurisdiction over appeals from orders disqualifying counsel, as these are considered interlocutory.
- An order denying rehearing or reconsideration is not independently appealable.
- The appellant's failure to correct the jurisdictional defect led to the dismissal of the appeal.
Precedents and Citations
- Alexander Dubose Jefferson & Townsend LLP v. Chevron Phillips Chem. Co., 540 S.W.3d 577 (Tex. 2018)
- Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191 (Tex. 2001)
- In re RSR Corp., 475 S.W.3d 775 (Tex. 2015)
- State Office of Risk Mgmt. v. Berdan, 335 S.W.3d 421 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg 2011)
Practical Implications
This case underscores the importance of understanding the jurisdictional limitations surrounding appeals in Texas, particularly concerning interlocutory orders. Legal practitioners must be aware that:
- Disqualification Orders: Such orders cannot be appealed immediately, which may affect strategic decisions in litigation.
- Finality Requirement: Counsel must ensure that appeals are based on final judgments or appealable orders to avoid jurisdictional pitfalls.
In conclusion, CMG3, LLC's appeal was dismissed due to a lack of jurisdiction, reinforcing the legal principle that not all orders are subject to immediate appeal. This case serves as a critical reminder for legal professionals navigating the complexities of appellate jurisdiction in Texas.
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Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 23, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Additional information
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