Bright Health Management, Inc. v. Cantilo & Bennett, L.L.P., Special Deputy Receiver of Bright Healthcare Insurance Company of Texas
Court
Court of Appeals of Texas
Decided
August 12, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
47%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
Appeal Dismissed and Memorandum Opinion filed August 12, 2025. In The Fifteenth Court of Appeals NO. 15-25-00092-CV BRIGHT HEALTH MANAGEMENT, INC., Appellant V. CANTILO & BENNETT, L.L.P., SPECIAL DEPUTY RECEIVER OF BRIGHT HEALTHCARE INSURANCE COMPANY OF TEXAS, Appellee On Appeal from the 455th District Court Travis County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. D-1-GN-23-008361 MEMORANDUM OPINION The underlying case is an insurance receivership proceeding under Chapter 443 of the Texas Insurance Code, in which the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) sought and placed Appellant Bright Health Management, Inc.’s subsidiary, Bright Health Insurance Company of Texas (BHICOT), into liquidation. Bright Health Management attempts to appeal the trial court’s May 6, 2025, order (the Order) that enforces a permanent injunction that was entered over two years ago and that requires Bright Health Management to produce certain books and records of BHICOT to the Special Deputy Receiver, Appellee Cantilo & Bennett, LLP (the Receiver). We issued a letter notifying the parties this appeal was subject to dismissal for want of jurisdiction because the record does not contain either a final judgment or an appealable interlocutory order unless any party filed a response showing meritorious grounds for continuing the appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a); Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 51.014(a); Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001). Both parties submitted briefing on jurisdiction. After reviewing the parties’ briefing, the record, and the applicable law, we conclude we do not have jurisdiction and dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. BACKGROUND In November 2023, the trial court signed an order appointing the Commissioner of the TDI as Liquidator of BHICOT and entered a permanent injunction ordering Bright Health Management to, among other things, promptly surrender BHICOT’s property to the Liquidator. The November 2023 order further authorized appointment of the Receiver to perform the Liquidator’s functions. Bright Health Management did not appeal the November 2023 order or the permanent injunction. A dispute later ensued regarding the practicalities and cost of turning over electronically stored documents that relate to BHICOT to the Receiver. The Receiver eventually filed a Motion to Enforce the Permanent Injunction and Bright Health Management filed a Response and Cross-Motion for Entry of Order 2 Governing Electronically Stored Information (ESI Cross-Motion). A hearing was held before the court-appointed Special Master, who issued a recommendation to the trial court. On May 6, 2025, the trial court confirmed the Special Master’s recommendation, granted the Receiver’s Motion to Enforce, denied Bright Health Management’s ESI-Cross Motion, and ordered Bright Health Management to produce certain categories of BHICOT documents to the Receiver. This appeal followed.1 DISCUSSION Bright Health Management first argues the Order is an appealable, interlocutory order because it “functions as a temporary injunction,” or alternatively, is an order that modifies an order appointing a receiver. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 51.014(a)(1), (a)(4). We disagree. The Order simply enforces the November 2023 permanent injunction that requires Bright Health Management to promptly surrender BHICOT’s property. It does not grant any modified or additional authority to the Receiver. Bright Health Management next argues the Order is a final judgment because it resolves all issues between Bright Health Management and the Receiver regarding production of documents. We disagree that this characterization of the Order, even if correct, renders the Order a final, appealable judgment. The underlying proceeding is an insurance receivership, and the Order does not dispose of all parties and claims in the receivership action. See Lehmann, 39 S.W.3d at 1 Bright Health Management contemporaneously filed a mandamus action challenging the Order, which we denied. In re Bright Health Mgmt., Inc., No. 15–25–00108–CV, 2025 WL 1872554, at *1 (Tex. App.—15th Dist. July 8, 2025, orig. proceeding). 3 195. There are certain discrete decisions by insurance receivership courts that are considered final, appealable judgments, but the Order at issue here is not one of those. See Tex. Ins. Code §§ 443.055 (order on petition commencing delinquency proceedings); 443.257(c) (final disposition of a disputed claim). Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. See Tex. R
Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
August 12, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Summary
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Case Overview
Case Name: Bright Health Management, Inc. v. Cantilo & Bennett, L.L.P., Special Deputy Receiver of Bright Healthcare Insurance Company of Texas
Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
Date: August 12, 2025
Jurisdiction: San Antonio (SA)
In this case, the Texas Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal by Bright Health Management, Inc. concerning a permanent injunction related to the liquidation of its subsidiary, Bright Health Insurance Company of Texas (BHICOT). The appeal arose from a trial court order enforcing the permanent injunction requiring the production of certain documents to the Special Deputy Receiver.
Key Legal Issues
- Jurisdictional Authority: Whether the trial court's order is a final judgment or an appealable interlocutory order.
- Insurance Receivership: The implications of the Texas Insurance Code in receivership proceedings.
Court's Decision
The Court of Appeals concluded that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal, as the order in question did not constitute a final judgment or an appealable interlocutory order. The appeal was dismissed for want of jurisdiction.
Legal Reasoning
The Court reasoned that:
- The May 6, 2025, order merely enforced a previously established permanent injunction from November 2023, which required Bright Health Management to surrender BHICOT’s property.
- The order did not modify or grant additional authority to the Receiver, thus failing to meet the criteria for an appealable interlocutory order under Texas law.
- The underlying receivership proceeding remains ongoing, meaning the order does not dispose of all claims or parties involved, which is necessary for a final judgment.
Key Holdings
- The appeal was dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.
- The May 6, 2025, order was not an appealable interlocutory order or a final judgment.
- Bright Health Management’s arguments regarding the nature of the order were rejected by the court.
Precedents and Citations
- Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 42.3(a): Addresses dismissal for want of jurisdiction.
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 51.014: Outlines appealable interlocutory orders.
- Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191 (Tex. 2001): Establishes criteria for final judgments in Texas.
Practical Implications
This case underscores the importance of understanding the jurisdictional limits within the Texas appellate system, particularly in insurance receivership contexts. Legal practitioners should be aware that:
- Permanent Injunctions: Once a permanent injunction is issued, subsequent enforcement orders may not be appealable unless they modify the original injunction.
- Insurance Receivership Proceedings: The complexities surrounding these proceedings necessitate careful navigation of both statutory and procedural requirements to ensure that appeals are properly grounded in jurisdictional authority.
- Document Production: Entities involved in receivership must comply with document production orders to avoid further legal complications.
This case serves as a reminder for legal professionals to meticulously assess the nature of trial court orders before pursuing appeals, particularly in specialized areas like insurance law.
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Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
August 12, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools