Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. (n/K/A Fleming, Nolen & Jez L.L.P.) & George Fleming v. Charles Kirklin, Stephen Kirklin, Paul Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458 (Tex. App. 2015). · Go Syfert
Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. (n/K/A Fleming, Nolen & Jez L.L.P.) & George Fleming v. Charles Kirklin, Stephen Kirklin, Paul Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458 (Tex. App. 2015). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
36 citation events (36 in the last 25 years) across 1 distinct court.
Strongest positive: Larry Maxwell v. Sipra Boyd (texapp, 2025-08-14)
Treatment trajectory · 2015 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2015 2020 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 21 distinct citers. How cited ↗
cited Cited as authority (rule) Larry Maxwell v. Sipra Boyd
Tex. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Maria Cristina Chirolla Donnelly v. John P. Donnelly, Eric Donnelly, & Mark Donnelly
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
See McNally v. Guevara, 52 S.W.3d 195, 196 (Tex. 2001) (concluding judgment in which court did not dispose of defendant’s request for attorney’s fees did not dispose of all claims and parties and was interlocutory); Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 461 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied) (same).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Dennis Lothar Daenekas v. Melony Thorpe
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
CODE ANN. 51.014(a)(12); Fleming & Associates, L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied) (per curiam) (“[T]he courts of appeals do not have jurisdiction over an interlocutory appeal from an order granting a motion to dismiss under chapter 27 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.”); see also Verde Energy Sols.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Brian Hunter v. Janet Renee Mobley
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
See In re CAS Cos., LP, 422 S.W.3d 871, 874-75 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2014, no pet.) (letter ruling may constitute appealable order if, among other factors, “it requires no further action to Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001) (subject to mostly statutory exceptions, appeal may only be taken from final judgment that disposes of all parties and claims); Fleming & Assocs. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied) (per curiam) (noting no statute authorizes an appeal from interlocutory order granting TCPA motion to dismiss).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Nelly Suarez Garcia v. Lorrie Semler
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Fleming & Assocs. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Exxon Mobil Corporation v. Trade Exploration Corp., Bryan C. Wagner, and Duer Wagner, III
Tex. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
See Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001); Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Eureka Holdings Acquisitions, L.P. v. Marshall Apartments, LLC
Tex. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
An interlocutory appeal may be taken from an order that “denies a motion to dismiss filed under Section 27.003,” id. § 51.014(a)(12), but not from an order that grants a TCPA motion, see Pulliam, 2017 WL 1404745 , at *1; Trane US, Inc. v. Sublett, 501 S.W.3d 783, 786 (Tex. App.— Amarillo 2016, no pet.); Flynn v. Gorman, No. 02-16-00131-CV, 2016 WL 4699198 , at *1 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Sept. 8, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op.); Fleming & Assocs, L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied); Schlumberger Ltd. v. Rutherford, 472 S.W.3d 881, 887 (Te…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Bishara Dental PLLC v. Outfront Media LLC, Outfront Media Group LLC, Formerly Known as CBS Outdoor LLC, Claudio Iannitelli, Gary Shapley, Allan D. Goldstein, Shawn Morgan, Track Down, Inc.
Tex. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
P. 42.3(a); Fleming & Associates, L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 461 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Joseph K. Watts v. Stewart A. Feldman, Individually, the Feldman Law Firm LLP, Rapid Settlements, Ltd.,et Al.
Tex. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
See McNally v. Guevara, 52 S.W.3d 195, 196 (Tex. 2001) (concluding judgment in which court did not dispose of defendant’s request for attorney’s fees did not dispose of all claims and parties and was interlocutory) (per curiam); Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 461 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Winston Nguyen v. Vuong Pham and I Buy Beauty, LLC D/B/A Fastboy Marketing
Tex. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
Anglin Co., Inc. v. Tipps, 842 S.W.2d 266, 272 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding); Fleming & Assocs. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460-61 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied) (order granting TCPA motion to dismiss without addressing outstanding attorney’s fees is an unappealable interlocutory order).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Larry Chambers and Abie Wolf v. Ricardo Rivera and Cimarron Conyers
Tex. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
See Trane US, Inc. v. Sublett, 501 S.W.3d 783, 785-86 (Tex.App.—Amarillo 2016, no pet.); Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460-61 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied); Schlumberger Ltd. v. Rutherford, 472 S.W.3d 881, 886 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015, no pet.).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Dr. George F. Moricz v. Pamela K. Long and Stacy A. Long, Individually and as Husband and Wife, and Nichole Hamilton
Tex. App. · 2017 · confidence medium
CODE ANN. § 51.014; Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied); Schlumberger Ltd. v. Rutherford, 472 S.W.3d 881, 886 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015, no pet.). 4 Moricz also argued that the statements made in the demand letters were subject to an absolute judicial privilege.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kent Flynn D/B/A Flynn & Company and D/B/A SFC Services v. Peter Gorman
Tex. App. · 2016 · confidence medium
Code Ann. § 27.008 (b) (West 2015). 7 Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.— Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. filed); Schlumberger Ltd. v. Rutherford, 472 S.W.3d 881, 886 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015, no pet.); see Tex. Civ.
discussed Cited "see" Adrian Lindeen v. Michael Kelley
Tex. App. · 2025 · signal: see · confidence high
See Fleming & Assocs. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458 , 460–61 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied) (dismissing interlocutory appeal of order granting TCPA motion to dismiss because there was no final judgment); WIKD, LLC v. Gomez, No. 05-24-00710-CV, 2024 Tex. App. LEXIS 5600 , at *2–3 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 6, 2024, no. pet.) (mem. op.) (dismissing interlocutory appeal of order granting TCPA motion to dismiss where the issue of attorney’s fees remained pending); Garcia v. Semler, No. 05-20-00761-CV, 2021 Tex. App. LEXIS 2788 , at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 13, 3 2021, no …
cited Cited "see" Jason Millon and Brayden Millon v. Stephanie Elizabeth Minchew, Cheryl Lynne Minchew, John Edward Minchew, Sherri Lynne Lyday, Blake Justin Lyday, and Krista Lynne Guthrie
Tex. App. · 2024 · signal: see · confidence high
See Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied).
cited Cited "see" Daniela Villarreal v. Egna Leon and Julio Leon
Tex. App. · 2023 · signal: see · confidence high
See Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied).
discussed Cited "see" Trane US, Inc. v. Sublett
Tex. App. · 2016 · signal: see · confidence high
See Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460-61 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied) (finding orders granting motions to dismiss which also provided that attorney’s fees and sanctions would “be considered at a later date” were interlocutory and not appealable); Horton v. Martin, No. 05-15-00015-CV, 2015 WL 3657901 , 2015 Tex.App.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Sharon Bayus, Individually and Derivatively on Behalf of Innovative Alternatives, Inc. v. Dennis Stetzel, Individually, Amber Cyr, Individually, Stacy Dickson, Individually, Sean Armistead, Individually and Constance Austin, Individually
Tex. App. · 2024 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See Trane US, Inc. v. Sublett, 501 S.W.3d 783, 786 (Tex. App.— Amarillo 2016, no pet.) (dismissing appeal from order granting TCPA motion to dismiss where trial court had not yet ruled on request for mandatory attorney’s fees); see also Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.— 2 Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied) (“[T]he courts of appeals do not have jurisdiction over an interlocutory appeal from an order granting a motion to dismiss under chapter 27 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.”).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Olubunmi Ajanaku v. Mardan Dadashev
Tex. App. · 2019 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Id. at *1; see also Fleming & Associates, L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied); Tex. Civ.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Sandra Geis v. Madisun Kenzi Geis and Paige Lauren Geis
Tex. App. · 2019 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Bally Total Fitness Corp. v. Jackson, 53 S.W.3d 352, 352 (Tex. 2001); see also Fleming & Associates, L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 461 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied) (per curiam) (“A summary judgment that does not dispose of attorneys’ fees is not a final, appealable order.”).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Inwood Forest Community Improvement Ass'n v. Arce
Tex. App. · 2015 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., Fleming & Assocs., L.L.P. v. Kirklin, 479 S.W.3d 458, 460 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, n. pet. h.) (per curiam); Schlumberger Ltd. v. Rutherford, 472 S.W.3d 881, 886 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2015, no pet.) ((holding that no statutory authority provides for an interlocutory grant of a motion to dismiss under § 27,003); Roll-N-Rock, Inc. v. Patison, 2015 WL 5098520 , at *1 (Tex.App.-Dallas Aug. 31, 2015, no pet. h.) (mem.op.) (“A party may appeal from an interlocutory order that grants a motion. to dismiss filed pursuant to Section 27.003 only upon final judgment.”).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
FLEMING & ASSOCIATES, L.L.P. N/K/A Fleming, Nolen & Jez L.L.P. and George Fleming, Appellants
v.
Charles KIRKLIN, Stephen Kirklin, Paul Kirklin, and the Kirklin Law Firm, P.C., Appellees
NO. 14-15-00238-CV, NO. 14-15-00369-CV.
Court of Appeals of Texas.
Oct 29, 2015.
479 S.W.3d 458
2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 11087
Sylvia Davidow, Houston, TX, for appellant., Paul S. Kirklin, Charles B;, Kirklin, Stephen R. Kirklin,- Houston, TX, for appellee.
Frost, Christopher, Donovan.
Cited by 30 opinions  |  Published

OPINION

PER CURIAM

These are attempted appeals from orders signed February 24, 2015 and April 6, 2015. Because the orders do not dispose of all parties and all claims and because no statute provides for- an appeal from either of these interlocutory orders, we dismiss the appeals for want of jurisdiction. See Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191,195 (Tex.2001).

BACKGROUND

On September 17, 2014, Fleming & Associates (“F & A”) filed an original petition naming as defendants Charles Kirklin, Stephen Kirklin, Paul Kirklin, and the Kirklin Law.Firm, P.C. (collectively, the “Kirklin Parties”), and Don Jackson, Jeffrey W. Chambers, and Ware, Jackson, Lee & Chambers, L.L.P. (collectively the “Jackson Parties”). The suit arises out of diet drug litigation in which F & A handled the claims of over 8,000 clients. F & A alleged that after the case settled, the Kirklin Parties and the Jackson Parties solicited F & A’s former clients to pursue civil litigation against F & A and George Fleming concerning settlement expenses.

Appeal of Motion to Dismiss

On December 9, 2014, the Jackson Parties filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to the Texas Citizens’ Participation Act[*460] (TCPA), also, known as an Anti-SLAPP motion to .dismiss. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 27.005. The Jackson Parties alleged that Fleming and F & A filed their suit for the purpose of attempting to “chill and stifle [the Jackson Parties] arid others from exercising their TCPA-protected constitutional rights to take the actions necessary to file and pursue legitimate claims against Fleming and F & A.” On December 11, 2014, the Kirk-lin Parties also filed, an Anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss on similar grounds.

On February 24, 2015, the trial court signed three orders:

• . denying ,the Kirklin Parties’ TCPA motion to dismiss against F & A;
• granting the Kirklin Parties’. TCPA motion to dismiss against Fleming; and
• granting the Jackson Parties’ TCPA motion to dismiss against F & A and Fleming.

Both orders granting the TCPA motions to dismiss contain a handwritten notation, “Attorneys’ fees & sanctions will-be considered at .a later date.”

On March 11,'2015, Flefning and F & A appealed the trial court’s orders granting the TCPA motions to dismiss in cause number 14-15-00238-CV. On March 30, 2015, the trial court denied the Kirklin Parties’ request for attorneys’"fees and sanctions. The Kirklin Parties filed a notice of cross-appeal in cause number 14-15-00238-CV challenging that order.. .Neither side appealed the denial of a TCPA motion. .

In general, Texas appellate courts have jurisdiction only over final jridg-ments: Rusk State Hosp. v. Black, 392 S.W.3d 88, 92 (Tex.2012). An exception to this rule exists, however, when a statute authorizes an interlocutory appeal. CMH Homes v. Perez, 340 S.W.3d 444, 447 (Tex. 2011). Appellate courts have jurisdiction to consider immediate appeals of interlocutory orders only if a statute explicitly provides appellate jurisdiction. Stary v. DeBard,, 967 S.W.2d 352, 352-53 (Tex.1998) (per curiam).

. The Civil Practice and Remedies Code provides for interlocutory appeal of an order that “denies a- motion to dismiss filéd under Section 27.003.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(a)(12) (West 2015). Texas Civil. Practice and Remedies Code section 27.008(a) provides that “[i]f a court does not rule on a motion to dismiss under Section 27.003 in the time prescribed by Section 27.005, the motion is considered to have been denied by operation of law and the.moving party may appeal.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 57.008(a) (West 2015). Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 27.008(b), “[a]n appellate court shall expedite an appeal or other writ, whether interlocutory or not, from a trial court order on a motion to dismiss a legal action under Section 27.003 or from a trial court’s failure to rule on that motion in the time prescribed by Section 27.005.” Id. § 57.008(b). Nonetheless, no statute explicitly provides for an interlocutory appeal of an order that grants such a motion. See Schlumberger. Ltd. v. Rutherford, 472 S.W.3d 881, 887 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2015, no. pet. h.) (not yet released for publication); Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.008(a). Therefore, the courts of appeals do not have jurisdiction over an interlocutory appeal from an order granting á motion to dismiss under chapter 27 of the Téxas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. See Stary, 967 S.W.2d at 352-53; Schlumberger Ltd., 472 S.W.3d at 887-95; Shankles v. Gordon, No. 05-14-01444-CV, 2015 WL 3454429,- *1. (Tex.App.-Dallas Jun. 1, 2015, no. pet.) (mem.op.).

- Because the trial court’s orders granting the Kirklin Parties’ and the Jackson Parties’ TCPA motions to dismiss under chap[*461] ter 27 of the Texas- Civil Practice and Remedies Code are interlocutory, we lack jurisdiction over the TCPA appeal, and the cross-appeal. [1]

Appeal of Summary Judgment

On December 16, 2014, the Kirklin Parties filed a motion for traditional- and no-evidence summary judgment and Rule 13 sanctions. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 13. The Kirklin Parties argued F & A’s suit was groundless, brought in bad faith, and for the purpose of harassment.

On -April 6, 2015, the trial court signed an order granting the Kirklin Parties’ motion for summary judgments The record reflects that this is an interlocutory order. The order does not dispose of the Jackson Parties’ claims for attorneys’ fees. On April 21, 2015, F & A filed a notice of appeal seeking to challenge the summary judgment, which this court docketed as cause number 14-15-00369-CV.

The records before this court do not contain orders' ‘ severing claims asserted against the Jackson Parties as defendants, nor do the records contain orders addressing the Jackson Parties’ attorneys’ fees and sanctions. In response to this court’s notice of dismissal, appellants confirmed that the attorneys’ fees in both the TCPA dismissals and the summary judgment are to be decided at a later date. ..

A summary judgment that does not dispose of attorneys’ fees is.not a final, ap-pealable order. McNally v. Guevara, 52 S.W.3d 195, 195 (Tex.2001). Because the order on summary judgment does not dispose of all parties and all claims and because no statute explicitly provides for an appeal from this interlocutory order this court does not have jurisdiction over the summary judgment appeal.

Conclusion

Because there is no statutory authority for an interlocutory appeal of an order granting a TCPA motion to dismiss, we lack jurisdiction over appellants? appeal in cause number 14-15-00238-CV. The trial court’s order on summary judgment does not dispose of all claims and all parties, and because no statute explicitly provides for an appeal from this interlocutory order, we lack jurisdiction over appellants’ appeal in cause number 14-15-00369-CV. Accordingly, the appeals are ordered dismissed.

1

. In Jardin v. Marklund, 431 S.W.3d 765 (Tex, App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, no pet.), this court stated that “we have jurisdiction to review the trial court’s grant or denial of a motion to dismiss under the TCPA.” Id. at • 769. That case is distinguishable from the instant case because in that case, the appellant appealed the trial court’s denial of his motion to dismiss under the TCPA., Id. at 766. Therefore, the statement by the court that it had jurisdiction ovér the gránt of a motion to dismiss under the TCPA is dictum and we are not bound by it, See Edwards v. Kaye, 9 S.W.3d 310, 314 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist,] 1999, pet. denied). Direct Commercial Funding, Inc. v. Beacon Hill Estates', LLC, 407 S.W.3d 398 (Tex.App.-Houston . [14th Dist.] 2013, no pet.) is similarly distinguishable, In that case, the appellant attempted to appeal what it thought was the trial court’s order granting a motion to dismiss under the TCPA, Id, at 399. However, the defendant’s motion to dismiss was overruled by operation of law, and at the time, section 27.008(c) provided that an appeal had to be filed within 60 days. Before that time expired, the trial court purported to grant the motion to dismiss. Nevertheless, the notice of appeal was filed within 60 days of the denial, see'id. at 401 n. 3, 'and although the appellant referred in its notice -of appeal to the trial court’s later order, the appellant also stated that it sought an accelerated interlocutory appeal pursuant to section 27.008. See 'id. at 400. Moreover, this court held that the motion truly was denied by operation of law.