Gov. Perry Appoints Christopher as Justice of the 14th Court of Appeals
December 2, 2009. AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Tracy Christopher of Houston as justice of the 14th District Court of Appeals for a term to expire at the next general election.
Christopher is judge of the 295th District Court of Harris County, a position she has held for 15 years. She is a member of the Texas Bar Association, Texas Bar Foundation and Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee, and chair of the State Bar-Pattern Jury Charge Oversight Committee. She is also a member and past co-chair of the Houston Bar Association Administration of Justice Committee and a volunteer for the Texas Children’s Hospital, Red Mass Planning Committee and Night Court-Houston Bar. She is also a past volunteer troop leader for the Houston Girl Scouts of America and badge leader for the Houston Boy Scouts of America. Christopher received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Hughes v. Bay Area Montessori Houston, Inc. (Tex.App. - Houston [14th Dist.] Dec. 31, 2009)(Frost) (interlocutory appeal, professional malpractice suit) This interlocutory appeal arises out of an architecture-malpractice case. An architect and architectural firm sought dismissal of a school’s claims against them on the basis that the school claimant failed to comply with the certificate- of-merit statute. The trial court denied their motion to dismiss without stating the basis for the denial. In a single issue, the architect and architectural firm assert that the trial court incorrectly applied section 150.002 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code because the affidavit filed by the school allegedly did not contain a mandatory element. Because the school’s cause of action accrued before the legislature amended the certificate-of-merit statute to permit an interlocutory appeal from the denial of a motion to dismiss, this court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal. DISMISSED: Opinion by Justice Frost Before Justices Brock Yates, Frost and Brown 14-09-00410-CV Brad Hughes and Bay Architects, Inc. ("BAI") v. Bay Area Montessori House, Inc. Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Tracy Kee Christopher
Dissent by Keyes in Authorlee v. Tuboscope Vetco International, Inc. (Tex. App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 2, 2008)(Keyes)(would hold that their individual settlement agreements and the agreed judgment are void as against public policy and must be set aside. Dissenting member of the court would reverse the case and remand to the trial court for a new trial) OPINION DISSENTING TO THIS COURT'S JUDGMENT: Dissenting Opinion by Justice Evelyn Keyes Before Justices Nuchia, Keyes and Higley 01-06-00719-CV Anthony Authorlee, Dexter Burnett, Robert Derousselle, John Henry Young, Jerome Stubblefield and Floyd Moran v. Tuboscope Vetco International, Inc.; AMF Incorporated; and Minstar, Inc.--Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
Grace Memorial Baptist Church v. Harris County (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 28, 2008) (Guzman) (property tax exemption claim not viable in tax suit, tax protest statute exclusive remedy) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Guzman Before Justices Frost, Seymore and Guzman 14-07-00447-CV Grace Memorial Baptist Church a/k/a Grace Baptist Church n/k/a Church of the Lord Jesus Christ v. Harris County, on Behalf of Itself and on Behalf of The Harris County Education Department, The Port of Houston Authority of Harris County, HCFCD, HCHD; City of Houston; HISD, Harris County Education District; and Houston Community College System Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Tracy Kee Christopher
Pride International, Inc. v. Bragg (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 3, 2008)(Bland) (employment law, severance pay dispute) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Bland Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Jennings and Bland 01-07-00188-CV Pride International, Inc. v. Paul A. Bragg Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
Simplified Development Corp. v. Garfield (Tex.App. - Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 14, 2008)(subst. op. by Anderson) (breach of contract, jury trial, admission of evidence, damages) AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED & REMANDED IN PART: Opinion by Justice Anderson Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Anderson and Seymore 14-06-00526-CV Simplified Development Corp. and James P. Cashiola v. Jon Garfield Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County (Judge Tracy Kee Christopher)
Simplified Development Corp. v. Garfield (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 6, 2007)(Anderson) (employment law, breach of contract) AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED & REMANDED IN PART: Opinion by Justice Anderson Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Anderson and Seymore 14-06-00526-CV Simplified Development Corp. and James P. Cashiola v. John Garfield Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County (Hon. Tracy Kee Christopher)
Elloway v. Pate (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 1, 2007)(Hudson)(business organization law, shareholder class action, breach of fiduciary duty, standing, derivative, jury instruction) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Hudson Before Justices Brock Yates, Anderson and Hudson 14-06-00062-CV Peter Elloway, On Behalf of Himself and All Others Similarly Situated v. Donna C. Pate, In her capacity as Independent Executor of the Estate of James L. Pate, James J. Postl, Terry L. Savage, H. John Greeniaus, Brent Scowcroft, Lorne R. Waxlax, Forrest R. Haselton, C. Berdon Lawrence, and Gerald B. Smith Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County (Hon. Tracy Kee Christopher)
Daimler Chrysler Ins. Co. v. Apple (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 25, 2007)(Alcala) (insurance coverage dispute, breach of contract, BoC) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Alcala Before Justices Taft, Jennings and Alcala 01-05-01115-CV Diamler Chrysler Insurance Company f/k/a Chrysler Insurance Company v. Jack Apple, Jr. and Greenspoint of Dodge of Houston, Inc. Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County (Hon. Tracy Christopher)
In Re Vaughan (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Sep. 18, 2007)(per curiam)(cost bond for appeal) MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Per Curiam Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Frost 14-07-00686-CV In Re: Aubrey Vaughan Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County (Judge Tracy E. Christopher)
Choice Acquisition No. Two Inc. v. Noesi (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 7, 2007)(Guzman) (real estate law, title dispute, apartment complex) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Guzman (Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Guzman) 14-06-00973-CV Choice Acquisitions No. Two Inc. and Lior Avni v. Hector Noesi & Josefina Alcantar-- Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County (Judge Tracy Kee Christopher)
Abraham v. Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Jun. 28, 2007)(Hedges) (toxic tort, causation issue) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Chief Justice Hedges Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Hudson and Edelman 14-06-00419-CV Clarence Abraham, Et Al v. Union Pacific Railroad Co. Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County (Honorable Tracy Kee Christoper)
Hon. Tracy K.Christopher [Former] Judge of the 295th District Court in Harris County, Texas Houston Opinions