James C. Mosser & Mosser Law PLLC v. Mims

Bob Pemberton, Justice

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TOM GREEN COUNTY, 340TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. C-13-0102-C
, HONORABLE JAY K. WEATHERBY, JUDGE PRESIDING MEMORANDUM OPINION

James C. Mosser and his law firm, Mosser Law PLLC, appeal a final order imposing sanctions based on findings that they violated Rule 13 of the Rules of Civil Procedure and Chapter 10 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. The sanctions were addressed to the representation by Mosser and the firm of Ben Melton in pursuit of claims against Bob Mims in the same underlying litigation addressed in our recent opinion in Melton v. CU Members Mortgage. As with the summary-judgment order in Melton, the sanctions order here was premised (at least in part) on a view that limitations barred certain claims asserted on Melton's behalf—a view subsequently rejected by the Texas Supreme Court's intervening decision in Wood v. HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Although there were alternative grounds for the sanctions order, we cannot presume the district court would have exercised its discretion the same way with the benefit of Wood's guidance. Accordingly, we must reverse the sanctions order (as with the summary judgment in Melton) and remand for further proceedings.

/s/_________

Bob Pemberton, Justice Before Chief Justice Rose, Justices Pemberton and Bourland Reversed and Remanded Filed: May 3, 2017