Unopposed motion to transfer appeal to avoid conflict of interest denied by newest member of First Court of Appeals, Justice Russell Lloyd

In one of his first official acts as a member of the First Court of Appeals, freshman Justice Russell Lloyd on January 15, 2015 denied a motion to transfer a case from the First to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, which was filed to avoid a conflict of interest. The motion was not objected to by the other party in the appeal. Both appellate courts sit in Houston, and hear cases from the same counties, which are assigned randomly to one or the other.  
 
Attorney Orjanel Lewis requested the transfer after an appeal in which his firm - RADACK AND BORUNDA, P.C. -  represents a medical malpractice plaintiff who had summary judgment entered against her by a Harris County District Court was assigned to the First Court of Appeals. The transfer was sought because Jeremy Radack, a name partner and shareholder of the law firm that handles the appeal for the unsuccessful plaintiff in the trial court, is the son of Sherry Radack, the First Court's Chief Justice.

In denying the motion in a short order, Judge Lloyd acted individually, rather for the court. He did not give a reason, other than to cite to the rules governing transfer, disqualification, and recusal.

 RADACK AND BORUNDA, P.C. - Public Information 

Attorneys are notoriously loath to file recusal motions against sitting judges because they do not want to question the impartiality of a judge before whom they may appear in the future, and make themselves unpopular.

Justice Russell Lloyd took office January 1, 2015, replacing Jim Sharp, who lost his re-election bid. Justice Lloyd does not yet have an official biography on the First Court of Appeal's website (as of 1/21/2015).  Attorney Russell T. Lloyd's profile on file with the State Bar of Texas was last certified on 04/17/2014 and reflects that he practiced law as a solo. He received his law license in 1978 after earning his law degree from the University of Texas that same year. Judge Lloyd's LinkedIn profile provides much more detailed information about his background.

Lawyer-Legislator Ronald E. Reynolds has another lawsuit coming his way

Attorney and State Representative Ronald E. Reynolds in yet more legal trouble: Client turns tables, gets another lawyer, and sues Reynolds   

State Representative Ronald E. Reynolds, who is battling charges of barratry, more commonly known as ambulance-chasing, in Montgomery County, just got another case added to his active docket. This one, too, is a case in which he finds himself as the defendant, albeit in a civil suit, rather than a criminal one. Reynolds, a personal injury attorney, is being accused of having injured a client, -- injured a client financially -- that is. The client is now suing Reynolds and his lawfirm. Not for barratry, but for allegedly settling her auto-PI case without her knowledge or consent, and for keeping the settlement funds. That, according to a lawsuit filed January 15, 2015  in Harris County District Court alleging fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and legal malpractice.

The plaintiff alleges that her signature was forged on the settlement check issued by the insurance company in the amount of $7,350, and that she did get any of the money. In her petition, she seeks punitive damages in addition to actual damages, and asks for a trial by jury.

The case is numbered 2015-02344 and was assigned to the 189th District Court, which is presided over by Judge Bill Burke. The plaintiff is represented by GALOW & SMITH, P.C., an Austin-based lawfirm. A junior attorney, Justin Studdard a/k/a  Justin Eugene Studdard, who received his law degree from Texas Southern University in Houston in 2012, signed the petition.

NOTE: This is a report of the filing of a civil lawsuit and the allegations made in the petition. The "facts" stated in legal pleadings are merely allegations. Although facts must be pleaded in good faith, it is the purpose of the court proceeding to find out if they are true, and whether they entitle the plaintiff to a remedy, typically in the form of money damages, and if so, in what amount.