Cecile Erwin Young, in Her Official Capacity as the Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc.; And Aetna Better Health of Texas, Inc. v. Cook Children's Health Plan, Texas Children's Health Plan, Superior Health Plan, Inc., and Wellpoint Insurance Company

ACCEPTED
15-24-00114-CV
FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
10/2/2025 11:45 AM
NO. 15-24-00114-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
CLERK
FILED IN

In the Fifteenth District
15th COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM

Court of Appeals CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk

Cecile Erwin Young, in Her Official Capacity as Executive Commissioner of
the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Molina Healthcare of
Texas, Inc., and Aetna Better Health of Texas, Inc.,
Appellants,
v.
Cook Children’s Health Plan, Texas Children’s Health Plan, Superior Health
Plan, Inc., and Wellpoint Insurance Company,
Appellees.

On Appeal from Cause No. D-1-GN-24-003839, In the 455th Judicial District
Court of Travis County, Texas / Honorable Laurie Eiserloh, Presiding Judge

APPELLEES’ FIRST UNOPPOSED JOINT MOTION FOR EXTENSION
OF TIME TO FILE RESPONSE BRIEFS ON THE MERITS

Appellees Cook Children’s Health Plan, Texas Children’s Health Plan,

Superior Health Plan, Inc., and Wellpoint Insurance Company (collectively,

“Appellees”) file this First Unopposed Joint Motion for Extension of Time to File

Response Briefs on the Merits. In support, Appellees show the following:

1. On August 8, 2025, this Court issued an order directing Appellants to

file their opening briefs on the merits on or before August 28, 2025. This Court also
directed Appellees to file their response briefs on the merits on or before 20 days

after the date that the latest Appellant’s brief is filed. Id.

2. On August 13, 2025, Appellant Cecile Young, in Her Official Capacity

as the Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services

Commission (“the Executive Commissioner”) filed a motion requesting a 30-day

extension of time to file her opening brief on the merits until September 29, 2025.

Appellees did not oppose the Executive Commissioner’s motion. Molina and Aetna

did not take a position on the Executive Commissioner’s motion but indicated a

preference that the briefing schedules be aligned for all Appellants.

3. On August 19, 2025, this Court granted the Executive Commissioner’s

motion and extended the deadline for filing the Executive Commissioner’s opening

brief on the merits to September 29, 2025.

4. On August 20, 2025, Appellants Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc.

(“Molina”) and Aetna Better Health of Texas Inc. (“Aetna”) filed a motion

requesting a 30-day extension of time to file their opening briefs on the merits until

September 29, 2025 “to maintain a single deadline for all appellants’ briefs.”

Appellees did not oppose Molina and Aetna’s motion. The Executive Commissioner

also did not oppose Molina and Aetna’s motion.

5. On August 20, 2025, this Court granted Molina and Aetna’s motion and

extended the deadline for filing their opening briefs on the merits to September 29,

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2025.

6. On September 29, 2025, the Executive Commissioner, Molina, and

Aetna each filed an opening brief on the merits.

7. Based on this Court’s August 8, 2025 order, Appellees’ response briefs

on the merits are currently due on October 20, 2025.

8. Appellees respectfully request that this Court grant a 30-day extension

of the deadline to file their response briefs on the merits to November 19, 2025.

9. Appellees respectfully submit that good cause exists for the above

extension where counsel for Appellees have been or will be engaged in the

following:

Counsel for Cook Children’s Health Plan

• Preparing for an oral argument in No. 03-24-00201-CV,
Meritage Homes of Texas, LLC v. Walther Family Limited
Partnership et al., in the Third Court of Appeals on October 3,
2025; and

• Preparing a merits brief in No. 05-25-00726-CV, City of Plano,
et al. v. Plano Housing Authority, et al., In the Fifth Court of
Appeals, due on October 29, 2025.

Counsel for Texas Children’s Health Plan

• Preparing extensive post-trial briefing in Cause No. 2021-02657,
EnvTech, Inc. v. USA DeBusk, LLC, In the 129th Judicial District
Court of Harris County, Texas; and

• Preparing for a temporary injunction hearing in Cause No. D-1-
GN-25-008233, Performance Sailcraft Pty Limited v. Laser

3
Class Association, Inc., et al., In the 261st Judicial District Court
of Travis County, Texas, set for October 9, 2025.

Counsel for Superior Health Plan, Inc.

• Preparing a merits brief in No. 05-25-00768-CV, Miller v. Dunn,
et al., In the Fifth Court of Appeals, due on October 8, 2025;

• Preparing responses to a motion to disregard jury finding, motion
for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and motion for new
trial in Cause No. 2020-32320, Bestway Oilfield, Inc. v. Cox, In
the 270th District Court, Harris County, Texas, set for hearing on
October 14, 2025;

• Preparing a merits brief in Nos. 25-2204 and 25-2312, Cockerill,
et al. v. Corteva, Inc., et al., In the United States Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit, due on October 14, 2025; and

• Preparing a petition for review in No. 25-0863, Southern
Cornerstone, Inc. v. Crown Colony Improvement Association,
Inc., In the Supreme Court of Texas, due on October 29, 2025.

Counsel for Wellpoint Insurance Company

• Preparing a merits brief in No. 05-24-01447-CV, Kinder Morgan
Treating LP v. North Park Advantage Walden MRU, LLC, In the
Dallas Court of Appeals, due on October 14, 2025; and

• Preparing a petition for review for filing in the Supreme Court of
Texas from No. 05-24-00043-CV, Estate of Manley, In the
Dallas Court of Appeals, due on October 23, 2025.

10. Good cause further exists where Appellants have filed three separate,

lengthy opening briefs on the merits for which it will require significant time for

Appellees to properly respond. See Executive Commissioner’s Opening Brief

(14,918 words); Molina’s Opening Brief on the Merits (14,189 words); Aetna’s

Opening Brief on the Merits (13,142 words). Appellants’ briefs also include new

4
arguments that have not been previously raised below or in this Court.

11. This motion is filed not for the purpose of delay but so that justice may

be done.

12. Counsel for Appellees have conferred with counsel for Appellants

regarding the relief requested in this motion. Appellants do not oppose the relief

requested in this motion.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons herein, Appellees Cook Children’s Health Plan, Texas

Children’s Health Plan, Superior Health Plan, Inc., and Wellpoint Insurance

Company respectfully request that this Court: (1) grant Appellees’ First Unopposed

Joint Motion for Extension of Time to File Response Briefs on the Merits; (2) extend

the deadline for Appellees to file their response briefs on the merits to and including

November 19, 2025; and (3) grant Appellees any and all other relief to which they

are entitled.

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Respectfully submitted,

NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP ALEXANDER DUBOSE & JEFFERSON

By /s/ Warren S. Huang By /s/ Amy Warr
Susan Feigin Harris Amy Warr
State Bar No. 06876980 State Bar No. 00795708
susan.harris@nortonrosefulbright.com awarr@adjtlaw.com
Warren S. Huang Anna M. Baker
State Bar No. 00796788 State Bar No. 00791362
warren.huang@nortonrosefulbright.com abaker@adjtlaw.com
1550 Lamar, Suite 2000 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 1450
Houston, Texas 77010 Austin, Texas 78701-2709
Telephone: (713) 651-5151 Telephone: (512) 482-9300

Paul D. Trahan Karen C. Burgess
State Bar No. 24003075 State Bar No. 00796276
paul.trahan@nortonrosefulbright.com kburgess@burgesslawpc.com
NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP Katie Dolan-Galaviz
98 San Jacinto Boulevard, Suite 1100 State Bar No. 24069620
Austin, Texas 78701 kgalaviz@burgesslawpc.com
Telephone: (512) 474-5201 BURGESS LAW PC
404 West 13th Street
Thomas A. Coulter Austin, Texas 78701-1825
tom.coulter@nortonrosefulbright.com Telephone: (512) 482-8808
State Bar No. 04885500
NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP Matthew P. Gordon
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 1100 mgordon@perkinscoie.com
Washington, D.C. 20001 Admission Pro Hac Vice
Telephone: (202) 662-0200 PERKINS COIE LLP
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900
Counsel for Appellee Texas Children’s Seattle, Washington 98101-3099
Health Plan Telephone: (206) 359-8000

Counsel for Appellee Plaintiff Cook
Children’s Health Plan

6
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP

By /s/ Stacy R. Obenhaus By /s/ Richard B. Phillips, Jr.
Robert F. Johnson III Richard B. Phillips, Jr.
State Bar No. 10786400 State Bar No. 24032833
rjohnson@foley.com rich.phillips@hklaw.com
600 Congress Avenue, Suite 3000 One Arts Plaza
Austin, Texas. 78701 1722 Routh Street, Suite 1500
Telephone: (512) 542-7000 Dallas, Texas 75201
Telephone: (214) 964-9500
Michelle Y. Ku
State Bar No. 24071452 Karen D. Walker
mku@foley.com Admission Pro Hac Vice
Stacy R. Obenhaus karen.walker@hklaw.com
State Bar No. 15161570 Tiffany Roddenberry
sobenhaus@foley.com Admission Pro Hac Vice
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP tiffany.roddenberry@hklaw.com
2021 McKinney, Suite 1600 HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP
Dallas, Texas 75201 315 South Calhoun Street, Suite 600
Telephone: (214) 999-3000 Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Telephone: (850) 425-5612
Benjamin J. Grossman
Of Counsel Counsel for Appellee Superior
bjgrossman@foley.com Health Plan, Inc.
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
106 East College Avenue, Suite 900
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Telephone: (850) 222-6100

Counsel for Appellee Wellpoint
Insurance Company

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CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE

Undersigned counsel for Appellee Texas Children’s Health Plan, on behalf of

Appellees, conferred with counsel for Appellants regarding the relief requested in

this motion. Appellants do not oppose the relief requested in this motion.

/s/ Warren S. Huang
Warren S. Huang

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

Undersigned counsel certifies that a copy of Appellees’ First Unopposed Joint

Motion for Extension of Time to File Response Briefs on the Merits was served in

compliance with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.5 via the electronic filing

manager or electronic mail on October 2, 2025, upon all counsel of record:

Ken Paxton
Attorney General of Texas
Brent Webster
First Assistant Attorney General
William R. Peterson
Solicitor General
William F. Cole
Principal Deputy Solicitor General
william.cole@oag.texas.gov
Cory A. Scanlon
Assistant Solicitor General
cory.scanlon@oag.texas.gov
Jeffrey A. Stephens
Assistant Solicitor General
Mohmed I. Patel
Assistant Attorney General
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
P.O. Box 12548 (MC 059)
Austin, Texas 78711-25848

Counsel for Appellant Cecile Erwin Young,
In Her Official Capacity as Executive
Commissioner of the Texas Health and
Human Services Commission

9
Joseph R. Knight Cheryl Joseph LaFond
jknight@ebbklaw.com clafond@scottdoug.com
EWELL, BROWN, BLANKE & KNIGHT LLP Jason LaFond
111 Congress Avenue, Suite 2800 jlafond@scottdoug.com
Austin, Texas 78701 SCOTT, DOUGLASS & MCCONNICO LLP
303 Colorado Street, Suite 2400
Mark J. Kessler Austin, Texas 78701
mkessler@taftlaw.com
TAFT STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP Counsel for Molina Healthcare of
41 South High Street, Suite 1800 Texas, Inc.
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6106

Counsel for Aetna Better Health of
Texas, Inc.

/s/ Warren S. Huang
Warren S. Huang

10
Automated Certificate of eService
This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system
on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing
certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a
certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Warren Huang on behalf of Warren Huang
Bar No. 796788
warren.huang@nortonrosefulbright.com
Envelope ID: 106366135
Filing Code Description: Motion
Filing Description: Motion
Status as of 10/2/2025 12:00 PM CST

Case Contacts

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Michaelle Peters mpeters@scottdoug.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Julie Wright julie.wright@nortonrosefulbright.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Amanda DoddsPrice amanda.price@squirepb.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Maria Williamson maria.williamson@oag.texas.gov 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Mandy Patterson mpatterson@adjtlaw.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Michelle Joyner mjoyner@scottdoug.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

William FCole William.Cole@oag.texas.gov 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Abril Rivera arivera@scottdoug.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Nancy Villarreal nancy.villarreal@oag.texas.gov 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Cory Scanlon cory.scanlon@oag.texas.gov 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

David Johns david@cobbjohns.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Jessie Johnson jessie.johnson@nortonrosefulbright.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Stacey Jett sjett@adjltaw.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Victor Hernandez victor.hernandez@oag.texas.gov 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Associated Case Party: Cook Children's Health Plan

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Karen Burgess 796276 kburgess@burgesslawpc.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Anna Baker 791362 abaker@adjtlaw.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Amy Warr 795708 awarr@adjtlaw.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Juliana Bennington jbennington@perkinscoie.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Jonathan Hawley jhawley@perkinscoie.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT
Automated Certificate of eService
This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system
on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing
certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a
certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Warren Huang on behalf of Warren Huang
Bar No. 796788
warren.huang@nortonrosefulbright.com
Envelope ID: 106366135
Filing Code Description: Motion
Filing Description: Motion
Status as of 10/2/2025 12:00 PM CST

Associated Case Party: Cook Children's Health Plan

Jonathan Hawley jhawley@perkinscoie.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Trisha Marino tmarino@perkinscoie.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Katie Dolan-Galaviz kgalaviz@burgesslawpc.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Perkins Docketing Team DocketSEA@perkinscoie.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Matthew Gordon mgordon@perkinscoie.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Associated Case Party: Texas Children's Health Plan

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Mark Emery 24050564 mark.emery@nortonrosefulbright.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Warren Huang 796788 warren.huang@nortonrosefulbright.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Paul Trahan 24003075 paul.trahan@nortonrosefulbright.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Susan Harris 6876980 susan.harris@nortonrosefulbright.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Thomas Coulter 4885500 tom.coulter@nortonrosefulbright.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Kayla Ahmed kayla.ahmed@nortonrosefulbright.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Associated Case Party: Wellpoint Insurance Company

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Robert Johnson 10786400 rjohnson@foley.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Michelle Ku 24071452 mku@foley.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Kristin Hernandez kristin.hernandez@foley.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Stacey Obenhaus sobenhaus@foley.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Benjamin Grossman bjgrossman@foley.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT
Automated Certificate of eService
This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system
on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing
certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a
certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Warren Huang on behalf of Warren Huang
Bar No. 796788
warren.huang@nortonrosefulbright.com
Envelope ID: 106366135
Filing Code Description: Motion
Filing Description: Motion
Status as of 10/2/2025 12:00 PM CST

Associated Case Party: Superior Healthplan Inc.

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Richard Phillips 24032833 Rich.Phillips@hklaw.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

J McCaig 24070083 meghan.mccaig@outlook.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Karen Walker karen.walker@hklaw.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Tiffany Roddenberry tiffany.roddenberry@hklaw.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Associated Case Party: Texas Health and Human Services

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Victoria Gomez victoria.gomez@oag.texas.gov 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Jennifer Cook Jennifer.Cook@oag.texas.gov 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Associated Case Party: Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc.

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Cheryl LaFond 24104015 clafond@scottdoug.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Jason R.LaFond jlafond@scottdoug.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Associated Case Party: Aetna Better Health of Texas, Inc.

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Joseph Knight 11601275 jknight@ebbklaw.com 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Associated Case Party: Cecile Erwin Young, Texas Health and Human Services
Automated Certificate of eService
This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system
on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing
certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a
certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Warren Huang on behalf of Warren Huang
Bar No. 796788
warren.huang@nortonrosefulbright.com
Envelope ID: 106366135
Filing Code Description: Motion
Filing Description: Motion
Status as of 10/2/2025 12:00 PM CST

Associated Case Party: Cecile Erwin Young, Texas Health and Human Services

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Cory Scanlon 24104599 cory.scanlon@oag.texas.gov 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Jeffrey Stephens jeff.stephens@oag.texas.gov 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT

Mohmed Patel mohmed.patel@oag.texas.gov 10/2/2025 11:45:23 AM SENT