For contact Information including telephone numbers and address for this court and photo and of the
current presiding judge, Hon. Caroline Baker, go to ---> official web page for the 295th District Court
of Harris County | Mini-bio of appointed judge Caroline Baker, previously judge of the 151st District
Court |
Judge Tracy Christopher Replaces Eva Guzman on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals
TEXT OF GOVERNOR'S PRESS RELEASE:
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.
Also see separate page on --> Hon. Tracy Christopher, Justice on the 14th Court of Appeals
Some Appeals From Cases in Judge Christopher's District Court
Giannakopulos v. Eris (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 9, 2010)(Brown)
(presentment of claim as condition precedent in attorney's fees claim based on breach of contract)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Jeff Brown
Before Justices Brock Yates, Frost and Brown
14-08-00566-CV Illas Giannakopulos v. Bill Eris
Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
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
Perry v. UH-Downtown (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 1, 2009)(Bland)
(public employment - retaliatory discharge claim;
summary judgment for defendant university in race discrimination retaliation case affirmed)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Jane Bland
Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Bland and Massengale
01-08-00807-CV Jacqueline Perry v. University of Houston Downtown
Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
Azteck International Business Corporation v. UPI Communications (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Jul.
9, 2009)(Sharp) (finality issue, no final order from which appeal may be taken)(DWOJ)
DISMISS APPEAL: Opinion by Justice Sharp
Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Taft and Sharp
01-07-00907-CV Azteck International Business Corporation v. UPI Communications
Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
Green v. Harris County DA's Office (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Jun. 11, 2009)(Sharp) (Tex.App.-
Houston [1st Dist.] Jun. 11, 2009)(Sharp) (expunction petition denied, frivolous suit dismissal)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT:
Before Justices Taft, Bland and Sharp. Opinion by Jim Sharp
01-07-00917-CV Anthony Ray Green v. Harris County District Attorney's Office, County Clerk of
Harris County, and Sheriff of Harris County
Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
American Academy of Emergency Medicine v. Memorial Hermann Healthcare System (Tex.App.-
Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 29, 2009)(Jennings)(plea to the jurisdiction granted, subject matter
jurisdiction, declaratory judgment, associational standing)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Jennings
Before Justices Jennings, Hanks and Bland
01-08-00096-CV American Academy of Emergency Medicine and Humble Emergency Physicians, P.
A. v. Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, Inc., Team Health, Inc. and ACS Primary Care Physicians-
Southwest, P.A.--Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
TSU v. Gilford (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 8, 2009)(Wilson)
(TTCA, plea to the jurisdiction properly denied, University cases)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Senior Justice Davie Wilson
Before Chief Justice Radack, Judge Wilson, Justice Higley
01-08-00399-CV Texas Southern University v. Mary Gilford
Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy 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
Authorlee v. Tuboscope Vetco International, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 28, 2008)(Nuchia)
(challenge to agreed judgment, fraud claim, aggregate settlement claim, public policy)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Nuchia
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
Dissenting Opinion by Justice Keyes (would set aside settlement aside as against public policy)
ODL Services, Inc. v. Conoco Phillips Co. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 14, 2008)(Taft)
(arbitration, whether FAA applies, arbitrability, motion to stay arbitration, challenge to findings of fact)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Taft
Before Justices Taft, Jennings and Bland
01-08-00020-CV ODL Services , Inc. v. Conoco Phillips Company
Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
In re Kerry Beal (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] July 17, 2008)(untimely notice of appeal entails
dismissal of attempted appeal) DISMISSED: Per Curiam
Before Justices Brock Yates, Guzman and Brown
14-07-00530-CV In Re Kerry Beal
Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Tracy Kee Christopher
Goldberg v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] July 3, 2008)(Taft)
(disciplinary matter, jurisdiction re: disbarment where criminal conviction was overturned)
(appeal with separate opinion ---> cases with concurrence and/or dissent)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Taft
Before Justices Taft, Jennings and Bland
01-07-01104-CV Daniel Goldberg v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline, and State Bar of Texas
Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
Concurring Opinion by Justice Jennings
Schwartz v. The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] June
19, 2008)(Hanks) (health insurance coverage denial, delay in approval)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Hanks
Before Justices Nuchia, Hanks and Higley
01-07-00193-CV Rosa Schwartz v. The Insurance Company of The State of Pennsylvania, Gallagher
Bassett Services, Inc., and Belinda Ybarra
Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
Canales v. Womack (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] June 12, 2008)(Hanks)
(auto accident, collision, right of way, negligence, jury trial)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Hanks
Before Justices Nuchia, Hanks and Bland
01-07-00222-CV Autumn M. Canales v. Kevin H. Womack
Appeal from 333rd District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Tracy Christopher
Greenfield Energy Inc. v. Duprey (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 10, 2008)(Guzman)
(special appearance, foreign defendant, alter ego theory rejected, agency)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Guzman
14-07-00527-CV Greenfield Energy Inc., Greenfield Energy, Inc., and Greenfield Oil Trinidad, LTD. v.
Lawrence Duprey and CL Financial, LTD.
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 |
| Houston Opinions Harris County Civil Courts and Judges (Non-family) |