CourtListener 10733930•Robert Edward Battaile v. Texas Elections Division, Hon. Jane Nelson; Texas Secretary of State; Jeffrey Travillion, Travis County Commissioner
Robert Edward Battaile v. Texas Elections Division, Hon. Jane Nelson; Texas Secretary of State; Jeffrey Travillion, Travis County Commissioner
CourtListener 10733930Txctapp15Oct 31, 2025
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ACCEPTED
15-25-00142-CV
FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
10/31/2025 9:57 AM
No. 15-25-00142-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
CLERK
In the Court of Appeals FILED IN
15th COURT OF APPEALS
for the Fifteenth Judicial District AUSTIN, TEXAS
______________________________ 10/31/2025 9:57:26 AM
CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk
R OBERT E DWARD B ATTAILE ,
Appellant,
v.
T EXAS E LECTIONS D IVISION ; H ON . J ANE N ELSON ; T EXAS S ECRETARY
OF S TATE , ET AL .,
Appellee.
______________________________
On Appeal from the 459th Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas
Honorable Jan Soifer Presiding
______________________________
JOINT APPELLEES’ BRIEF FOR TEXAS SECRETARY OF
STATE JANE NELSON AND TRAVIS COUNTY
COMMISSIONER JEFFREY TRAVILLION
______________________________
1
KEN PAXTON Roy Adams
Attorney General of Texas Texas Bar No. 24133175
BRENT WEBSTER Assistant Attorney General
First Assistant Attorney General Office of the Attorney General
RALPH MOLINA General Litigation Division
Deputy First Assistant Attorney General P.O. Box 12548, Capitol Station
AUSTIN KINGHORN Austin, Texas 78711-2548
Deputy Attorney General for Litigation (512) 475-4104 | Fax: (512) 320-
KIMBERLY GDULA 0667
Chief, General Litigation Division roy.adams@oag.texas.gov
COUNSEL FOR SEC. OF STATE
DELIA GARZA
County Attorney, Travis County Cynthia W. Veidt
P. O. Box 1748 State Bar No. 24028092
Austin, Texas 78767 cynthia.veidt@traviscountytx.gov
Telephone: (512) 854-9513 Patrick M. Kelly
Facsimile: (512) 854-4808 State Bar No. 11228000
pat.kelly@traviscountytx.gov
COUNSEL FOR TRAVIS CNTY.
COMM’R JEFFREY TRAVILLION
ORAL ARGUMENT IS CONDITIONALLY REQUESTED
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
Pursuant to Rule 38.1(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure,
Appellees herein provide this Court with the following list of parties and the
names and addresses of all trial and appellate counsel:
Plaintiff-Appellant Robert Edward Battaile
Pro se
Attorney for Plaintiff-
Appellant (trial and
appeal)
2
Defendant-Appellee Texas Elections Division; Hon. Jane
Nelson; Texas Secretary of State, et al.
Attorney for Defendant -
Roy Adams
Appellee (trial and appeal)
Office of the Attorney General
General Litigation Division
P.O. Box 12548, Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
Phone (512) 475-4104
Fax (512) 320-0667
roy.adams@oag.texas.gov
Defendant-Appellee Travis County Commissioner Jeffrey
Travillion
Attorney for Defendant-
Appellee (trial and appeal) Cynthia W. Veidt
cynthia.veidt@traviscountytx.gov
Patrick M. Kelly
pat.kelly@traviscountytx.gov
Assistant Travis County Attorneys
Travis County Attorney’s Office
P.O. Box 1748
Austin, Texas 78767
Phone: (512) 854-9513
Fax (512) 854-4808
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ............................................... 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................ 4
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ...................................................................... 6
STATEMENT OF THE CASE .................................................................. 13
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENTS................................. 13
ISSUES PRESENTED (RESTATED) ....................................................... 14
STATEMENT OF FACTS ......................................................................... 14
STANDARD OF REVIEW ....................................................................... 16
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENTS........................................................ 18
ARGUMENTS ......................................................................................... 19
I. The Trial Court’s Judgment Regarding Appellees Should Be
Affirmed Because Battaile Waived Review of The Reasons for Dismissal.
19
II. Battaile Lacked Standing to Bring Claims Against Appellees. ........... 23
A. There is No Judiciable Controversy Between Battaile and Either
Appellee................................................................................................. 23
B. Battaile Fails to Establish Traceability. ........................................... 25
4
C. Battaile Fails to Establish Redressability. ........................................ 26
D. Battaile Cannot Assert Third Party Rights. ..................................... 28
III. Appellees Have Sovereign Immunity From Battaile’s Claims. ....... 30
1. Secretary Nelson is Entitled to Sovereign Immunity. ................. 30
2. Commissioner Travillion is Entitled to Sovereign Immunity
and/or Legislative Immunity. ............................................................ 31
3. Battaile Fails to Identify Any Waiver of Sovereign and/or
Legislative Immunity. ........................................................................ 32
D. Battaile’s Failure to Comply with Section 233.006(b)’s Thirty-Day
Deadline is a Fatal Jurisdictional Defect.................................................. 34
PRAYER .................................................................................................. 37
Certificate of Compliance ....................................................................... 39
5
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Barham v. Turner Constr. Co. of Tex.,
803 S.W.2d 731 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1990, writ denied) ....................... 13
Britton v. Tex. Dept. of Criminal Justice,
95 S.W.3d 676 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.) .............. 17
Brooks v. Mass Mktg., Ltd.,
No. 03-07-00658-CV, 2010 WL 1404739 (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 6,
2010, pet. denied) ................................................................................ 15
Bullock v. Calvert,
480 S.W.2d 367 (Tex. 1972) ................................................................. 21
City of El Paso v. Heinrich,
284 S.W.3d 366 (Tex. 2009) ............................................................... 28
City of Houston v. Bryant,
516 S.W.3d 47 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017, pet. denied) ...... 31
Concerned Cnty. Involved Dev., Inc. v City of Houston,
209 S.W.3d 666 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. denied)26
Dallas Cnty. Mental Health v. Bossley,
968 S.W.2d 339 (Tex. 1998).................................................................27
Equistar Chems., LP v. ClydeUnion DB, Ltd.,
579 S.W.3d 505 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2019, pet. denied). 17
6
Eriksen v. Nelson
No. 15-24-00059-CV, 2025 WL 351632 (Tex. App. [15th Dist.] Jan. 30,
2025) .................................................................................................... 31
Escondido Res. II, LLC v. Las Tinajas Minerals, Ltd.,
No. 04-20-00132-CV, 2020 WL 7753986 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Dec.
30, 2020, no pet.) ................................................................................. 15
Grant v. Espiritu,
470 S.W.3d 198 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2015, no pet.) ............................ 25
Hampton v. Equity Tr. Co.,
607 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. App.—Austin 2020, pet. denied) ...................... 15, 17
Heckman v. Williamson Cnty.,
369 S.W.3d 137 (Tex.2012) ................................................................. 26
Herring v. Houston Nat’l Exch. Bank,
253 S.W.3d 813 (Tex.1923) ................................................................. 28
Huey v. Huey,
200 S.W.3d 851 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, no pet.).............................. 14
In re A.B.,
267 S.W.3d 564 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.)............................. 24
In re C.D.E.,
533 S.W.3d 367 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, no pet.)....... 24
7
In re C.J.M.S.,
269 S.W.3d 206 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008) ......................................... 24
In re Tex. Dep’t of Criminal Justice,
710 S.W.3d 731 (Tex. Crim. App. 2025) .............................................. 26
Irisson v. Lone Star Nat’l Bank,
No. 13-19-00239-CV, 2020 WL 6343336 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi—
Edinburg Oct. 29, 2020, no pet.) ......................................................... 14
Kowalski v. Tesmer,
543 U.S. 125 (2004) ............................................................................ 26
Lane v. Ross,
151 Tex. 268 (1952) .............................................................................. 21
Loya Ins. Co. v. Avalos,
610 S.W.3d 878 (Tex. 2020) ............................................................... 20
Maldonado v. Johnson,
No. 04-18-00599-CV, 2018 WL 4517551 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Sept.
21, 2018, no pet.) ................................................................................. 33
Marin Real Estate Partners, L.P. v. Vogt,
373 S.W.3d 57 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2011, no pet.) ....................... 14
Marshall v. Maropco, Inc.,
714 S.W.3d 724 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2025, pet. filed) ....... 13
8
Meyers v. JDC/Firethorne, Ltd.,
548 S.W.3d 477 (Tex. 2018) ..................................................... 13, 20, 23
Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Garcia,
372 S.W.3d 629 (Tex. 2012) .................................................................27
Neeley v. West Orange–Cove CISD,
176 S.W.3d 746 (Tex. 2005) ................................................................ 26
Nichols v. Seei,
97 S.W.3d 882 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.) .............................. 32
Nueces Cnty. v. Ferguson,
97 S.W.3d 205 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.) ................. 28
Nw. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Carroll Indep. Sch. Dist.,
441 S.W.3d 684 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2014, pet. denied) .............. 32
Oliphant Fin. LLC v. Angiano,
295 S.W.3d 422 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.).............................. 17
Reata Const. Corp. v. City of Dallas,
197 S.W.3d 371 (Tex. 2006) ................................................................ 28
Rivas v. Pitts,
684 S.W.3d 849 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2023, pet. granted) ..................... 17
S.W. ex rel. A.W. v. Arlington Indep. Sch. Dist.,
435 S.W.3d 414 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2014, no pet.).................. 15, 17
9
Salazar v. Gonzales,
931 S.W.2d 59 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 1996, no writ)............. 33, 34
Sepulveda v. Medrano,
323 S.W.3d 620 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, no pet.) ............................. 34
Skelton v. Yates,
119 S.W.2d 91 (Tex. 1938) ................................................................... 33
Tesoro Petroleum Corp. v. Nabors Drilling USA, Inc.,
106 S.W.3d 118 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet. denied) ... 13
Tex. A&M Univ. Sys. v. Koseoglu,
233 S.W.3d 835 (Tex. 2007) ................................................................27
Tex. Ass’n of Bus. v. Tex. Air Control Bd.,
852 S.W.2d 440 (Tex. 1993)................................................................ 25
Tex. Dep’t of Crim. Justice v. Miller,
51 S.W.3d 583 (Tex. 2001) .................................................................. 29
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dep't v. Sawyer Trust,
354 S.W.3d 384 (Tex. 2011) ................................................................ 26
Velzer v. ZB, Nat’l Ass’n,
No. 01-19-00161-CV, 2019 WL 6204909 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
Nov. 21, 2019, pet. denied) ................................................................... 14
Ward v. Ward,
10
No. 12-11-00368-CV, 2012 WL 2513668 (Tex. App.—Tyler June 29, 2012,
no pet.) ................................................................................................. 15
Weatherly v. Fulgham,
153 Tex. 481 (1954)............................................................................... 21
Weiderman v. City of Arlington,
480 S.W.3d 32 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2015, pet. denied) ................ 23
Zamarron v. Shinko Wire Co., Ltd.,
125 S.W.3d 132 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2003 pet. denied) ... 19
Zurita v. Lombana,
322 S.W.3d 463 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2010 pet. denied) ... 19
Statutes
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.001(2) .............................................. 29
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.001(3)(B) & (D) ............................... 29
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.021 ................................................... 29
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.052 ................................................... 29
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.055 ................................................... 29
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.056 ................................................... 29
Tex. Elec. Code § 232.007 ...................................................................... 33
Tex. Elec. Code § 232.008(c)(2) ........................................................32, 33
Tex. Elec. Code § 233.006(b) ............................................................ 31, 32
11
Tex. Elec. Code § 67.003(c) .................................................................... 32
Tex. Gov’t Code § 22.002(c) ................................................................... 24
Tex. Gov’t Code §§ 31.045, 31.166 ........................................................... 21
Tex. Gov't Code § 22.220(d) ................................................................... 25
Tex. Gov't Code § 22.221(c-1) ................................................................. 25
Tex. Gov't Code § 311.034........................................................................27
Tex. Gov't Code §§ 22.220, 22.221 ....................................................24, 25
Tex. Transp. Code § 451.052(c) .............................................................. 28
Rules
TEX. CONST. art. IV, § 1 ........................................................................... 24
TEX. CONST. ART. IV, § 21 ......................................................................... 21
TEX. CONST. art. IV, §§ 1 and 21 ...............................................................27
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(f) .............................................................................. 19
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i) .............................................................................. 13
12
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Nature of the Case: Although Battaile loosely identifies numerous
causes of action, the substance of his appeal
challenges the outcome of a mayoral election
that he lost. He alleges that the election was
affected by fraud and contends that the Texas
Secretary of State, as the chief elections officer,
has a duty to overturn the results of that
election. Battaile further complains about
discretionary decisions made by various
government officials, including but not limited
to Travis County Commissioner Jeffrey
Travillion, but lacks standing to challenge such
decisions and has failed to articulate any viable
waiver of immunity by which the trial court and
this Court may exercise jurisdiction over such
claims.
Trial Court: Cause No. D-1-GN-25-00719
Honorable Jan Soifer
459th District Court
Travis County, Texas
Trial Court Disposition: The trial court granted the Texas Secretary of
State’s Plea to the Jurisdiction and dismissed
the case with prejudice. CR 550. The trial court
also granted Travis County Commissioner
Jeffrey Travillion’s Plea to the Jurisdiction and
Chapter 13 Motion to Dismiss and dismissed
the case with prejudice. CR 552.
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENTS
In his Brief, Battaile requests oral arguments. Appellees do not believe
that oral arguments will assist the Court. The jurisdictional issues involve
black-letter principles that will not benefit from argument. Appellees
13
therefore respectfully ask that this Court deny oral argument and set the case
for submission on the briefs as quickly as the Court’s docket will allow. But if
the Court grants oral arguments, Appellees ask to participate.
ISSUES PRESENTED (RESTATED)
I. The trial court’s judgment regarding the Texas Secretary of State
(“Secretary Nelson”) and Travis County Commissioner Jeffrey
Travillion (“Commissioner Travillion”) should be affirmed because
Battaile waived review of the reasons for dismissal.
II. Battaile lacked standing to bring claims against Secretary Nelson and
Commissioner Travillion.
III. Secretary Nelson and Commissioner Travillion have sovereign
immunity from Battaile’s claims. Commissioner Travillion is also
entitled to legislative and/or official immunity from Battaile’s claims.
IV. Battaile failed to comply with the statutory 30-day deadline required
to contest the City of Manor mayoral election results.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
This appeal arises from the trial court’s dismissal of Battaile’s election
contest challenging the results of the November 5, 2024 City of Manor
mayoral and city council elections. App. Brief at 6; CR. 26, 34.1 Battaile was
1 References to the Clerk’s Record filed on August 19, 2025, in the Third District Court of Appeals are
14
a candidate for mayor. CR. 49, 53. After losing the election, he sought to void
and set aside the election results for Mayor and City Council Places 1, 3, and
5. CR. 164-67. Battaile further contended that Texas Secretary of State Jane
Nelson possessed authority to overturn the election results. Id. at 36, 39, 42,
476, 573. After a hearing on the Secretary’s Plea to the Jurisdiction [CR 210-
222]], the trial court granted the plea and dismissed the case with prejudice
for lack of jurisdiction. RR.2 at 23: 9-25; 24: 1-2. CR. 550.
In the trial court, Battaile filed suit pursuant to a Statement of Inability
to Afford Payment of Court Costs. CR. 8-20. Battaile’s claims concerning
Commissioner Travillion involved his disagreement with the
Commissioner’s legislative decisions as a single member of the Travis County
Commissioners Court and the Capital Metro Board of Directors. See CR. 451-
475 at 451-454 (citing portions of CR. 33-172). The trial court dismissed
Battaile’s claims with prejudice both for lack of jurisdiction and because the
claims were groundless and without merit under Chapter 13 of the Texas
Civil Practice and Remedies Code. CR. 552. On appeal, Battaile complains
about the actions of numerous government officials that he deems “Real
Parties in Interest”, including Commissioner Travillion. App. Brief at 4.
However, the only substantive reference to Commissioner Travillion, Travis
included as “CR.” References to the Supplemental Clerk’s Record filed on October 3, 2025, in the Fifteenth
District Court of Appeals are included as “SCR.”
15
County, or Capital Metro is Battaile’s requested “Transit/Cap Metro/Travis
County Relief”. Id. at 13. Therefore, Battaile has not addressed any of the
grounds for dismissal asserted in Commissioner Travillion’s Plea to the
Jurisdiction and Chapter 13 Motion to Dismiss. CR. 451-475.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
“Appellate courts reviewing a challenge to a trial court’s subject matter
jurisdiction review the trial court’s ruling de novo.” Meyers v.
JDC/Firethorne, Ltd., 548 S.W.3d 477, 486 (Tex. 2018).
Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 38.1(i) requires that an appellant’s
brief “contain a clear and concise argument for the contentions made, with
appropriate citations to authorities and to the record.” Marshall v. Maropco,
Inc., 714 S.W.3d 724, 756 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2025, pet. filed);
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i). “This is not done by merely uttering brief conclusory
statements, unsupported by legal citations.” Id. (citing Tesoro Petroleum
Corp. v. Nabors Drilling USA, Inc., 106 S.W.3d 118, 128 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet. denied); see also Barham v. Turner Constr.
Co. of Tex., 803 S.W.2d 731, 740 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1990, writ denied)
(appellant bears burden of discussing his assertions of error).
“The failure to provide substantive analysis of an issue or cite
appropriate authority or the record waives a complaint on appeal.” Id. (citing
16
Marin Real Estate Partners, L.P. v. Vogt, 373 S.W.3d 57, 75 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 2011, no pet.); Huey v. Huey, 200 S.W.3d 851, 854 (Tex. App.—
Dallas 2006, no pet.); see also Irisson v. Lone Star Nat’l Bank, No. 13-19-
00239-CV, 2020 WL 6343336, at *2-3 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi—
Edinburg Oct. 29, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.) (“When an appellant’s brief fails
to contain clear and concise argument for the contentions made with
appropriate citations to authorities, the appellate court is not responsible for
doing the legal research that might support a party’s contentions.”).
Additionally, it is a fundamental rule of appellate procedure that a
party waives error on appeal by failing to adequately brief all of the potential
grounds for a trial court’s orders. If an appellant’s opening brief fails to
address a ground for dismissal that was actually raised in a motion, and thus
could potentially be the basis for the trial court’s order, the party waives any
error with respect to dismissal on that basis. Texas appellate courts
uniformly apply this fundamental rule of appellate review. See, e.g., Velzer
v. ZB, Nat’l Ass’n, No. 01-19-00161-CV, 2019 WL 6204909, at *3 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] Nov. 21, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.); Escondido Res.
II, LLC v. Las Tinajas Minerals, Ltd., No. 04-20-00132-CV, 2020 WL
7753986, at *2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Dec. 30, 2020, no pet.); Ward v.
Ward, No. 12-11-00368-CV, 2012 WL 2513668, at *2 (Tex. App.—Tyler June
17
29, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.); S.W. ex rel. A.W. v. Arlington Indep. Sch.
Dist., 435 S.W.3d 414, 419 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2014, no pet.); Hampton
v. Equity Tr. Co., 607 S.W.3d 1, 6 (Tex. App.—Austin 2020, pet. denied).
Brooks v. Mass Mktg., Ltd., No. 03-07-00658-CV, 2010 WL 1404739, at *2
& n.2 (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 6, 2010, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
Both of these waiver principles apply to Battaile’s brief and mandate
that the Court affirm the dismissal orders irrespective of the merits.
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENTS
This appeal should be dismissed because Battaile fails on jurisdictional
and substantive grounds.
First, Battaile lacks standing. His pleadings and Brief identify no
specific act or omission by Secretary Nelson or Commissioner Travillion that
creates a justiciable controversy.
Second, as an officer of the Executive Department, the Secretary is
protected by sovereign immunity, and jurisdiction over such claims lies
exclusively with the Supreme Court of Texas. Similarly, Commissioner
Travillion, an elected official who performs legislative duties as a member of
two governmental entities–specifically, the Travis County Commissioners
Court and the Board of Directors for Capital Metro–is protected by both
sovereign and legislative immunity for actions that relate to his discretionary
18
decisions.
Finally, the Election Code bars this suit because a petition contesting
an election must be filed within thirty days of the election.2 Because the
election contest was untimely and jurisdictionally barred, it must be
dismissed and the trial court’s judgment affirmed.
ARGUMENTS
This Court should dismiss Battaile’s appeal or, alternatively, affirm the trial
court’s judgment in full.
I. The Trial Court’s Judgment Regarding Appellees Should Be
Affirmed Because Battaile Waived Review of The Reasons for
Dismissal.
Battaile’s claims against the Texas Secretary of State and
Commissioner Travillion were dismissed because Battaile lacked standing to
bring those claims and sovereign immunity barred such claims.3 In his Brief,
Battaile waived appellate review of these issues, and the Court should affirm
dismissal of claims against the Texas Secretary of State and Commissioner
Travillion on that basis alone.
The district court signed an order granting each Appellees’ Plea to the
Jurisdiction without specifying any particular portion of the plea. CR 550,
2 Additionally, neither Appellee is a proper defendant for Battaile’s election contest because they were not
candidates in, or otherwise involved with, the conduct of the City of Manor’s challenged election.
3 For Commissioner Travillion, Battaile’s claims were also barred by legislative immunity.
19
552. When that happens, an appellant must attack all of the reasons
presented in the plea, and if he fails to do so, the decision of the trial court
will be affirmed. “Generally, if an appellant fails to challenge all possible
grounds for a trial court’s ruling, we must accept the validity of the
unchallenged ground and affirm the adverse ruling.” Equistar Chems., LP v.
ClydeUnion DB, Ltd., 579 S.W.3d 505, 512 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
2019, pet. denied); see also Rivas v. Pitts, 684 S.W.3d 849, 857 (Tex. App.—
Dallas 2023, pet. granted); Hampton, 607 S.W.3d at 6. “If an independent
ground fully supports the complained-of ruling or judgment, but the
appellant assigns no error to that independent ground, we must accept the
validity of that unchallenged independent ground, and thus any error in the
grounds challenged on appeal is harmless because the unchallenged
independent ground fully supports the complained-of ruling or judgment.”
Oliphant Fin. LLC v. Angiano, 295 S.W.3d 422, 423–24 (Tex. App.—Dallas
2009, no pet.), citing Britton v. Tex. Dept. of Criminal Justice, 95 S.W.3d
676, 681 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.); see also S.W. ex rel.
A.W., 435 S.W.3d at 419.
In her Plea to the Jurisdiction, Secretary Nelson demonstrated that
Battaile lacked standing to bring claims against her because he did not
present a justiciable controversy, because he did not have interests adverse
20
to her, and because he did not present an injury that was fairly traceable to
the conduct of the Secretary or seek redress that the Secretary could provide.
CR. 511-14. Additionally, sovereign immunity deprived the court of subject
matter jurisdiction regarding claims against Secretary Nelson. CR. 514-16.
Commissioner Travillion similarly argued in his dispositive pleadings
that: (1) he was not a proper defendant for Battaile’s challenges to the City of
Manor’s election; (2) Battaile’s allegations concerning Commissioner
Travillion did not constitute conduct for which sovereign immunity is
waived; (3) Commissioner Travillion, as a single member of two different
legislative bodies, is not vicariously liable for any actions taken by either of
them; and (4) Battaile’s claims–which contain nothing more than mere
disagreement with several discretionary decisions made by various elected
officials4–were barred by sovereign immunity, legislative immunity and/or
official immunity. CR 451-473.
In his Brief, Battaile has not demonstrated standing or identified any
waiver of sovereign immunity for any of his claims, and cannot do so now,
because review of an appellate issue is waived by failing to raise it in the
original appellate brief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(f); see also Zurita v.
4
As to Commissioner Travillion, Battaile primarily complains that Capital Metro does not provide sufficient
bus service to the City of Manor’s general population. E.g., CR 453 (citing CR 33-172 at 81, 105, 116, 140-
142).
21
Lombana, 322 S.W.3d 463, 477 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2010 pet.
denied) (citing Zamarron v. Shinko Wire Co., Ltd., 125 S.W.3d 132, 139 (Tex.
App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2003 pet. denied)) (stating that issues not raised
until a reply brief are waived). Indeed, Battaile’s brief does not contain the
words “standing,” “traceability,” “redress” (or any variation of the word), or
“sovereign.” See generally App. Brief. Battaile also does not present any
argument that the trial court was incorrect in dismissing the claims against
the Texas Secretary of State or Commissioner Travillion because of standing
or sovereign immunity. Id. Similarly, as to Commissioner Travillion, Battaile
fails to even mention him in his brief other than as one of the “Real Parties
in Interest” (Brief at p. 4) and does not present any argument that the trial
court was incorrect in dismissing his claims against the Commissioner on the
basis of legislative and/or official immunity. Instead, Battaile’s Brief simply
makes the conclusory claim that this Court should “Order disclosure of
CapMetro/Travis County agreements[;] Require refund or accounting for
transit services not delivered (weekend service withheld)[; and] Mandate
free transit or special service to polling sites”. See Brief at p. 13. All of these
requests seek to compel governmental actions that are the subject of
discretionary policy decisions which Battaile lacks standing to assert. See CR
456-458, 459-463.
22
Accordingly, Battaile has waived any appellate review of the dismissal
of claims against the Texas Secretary of State and Commissioner Travillion,
and the dismissal of those claims should be affirmed.
Even if he had not waived appellate review, the dismissal should be
affirmed for the reasons that follow.
II. Battaile Lacked Standing to Bring Claims Against Appellees.
Standing is a fundamental requirement for subject matter jurisdiction.
Meyers v. JDC/Firethorne, Ltd., 548 S.W.3d 477, 484 (Tex. 2018). Standing
cannot be waived, and without it, the Court has no authority to hear Battaile’s
claim. Id. To establish standing, Battaile must, but did not, allege a concrete,
personal injury that is “fairly traceable” to Secretary Nelson’s and/or
Commissioner Travillion’s conduct and “likely to be redressed by the
requested relief.” Id. at 485.
A. There is No Judiciable Controversy Between
Battaile and Either Appellee.
As an initial matter, there must be a real and substantial controversy
between the parties at every stage of the legal proceedings. “To constitute a
justiciable controversy, there must exist a real and substantial controversy
involving genuine conflict of tangible interests and not merely a theoretical
dispute.” Loya Ins. Co. v. Avalos, 610 S.W.3d 878, 883 (Tex. 2020).
There is no justiciable controversy between Battaile and Secretary
23
Nelson and/or Commissioner Travillion because the Secretary and the
Commissioner lack the authority to resolve election disputes. The Secretary’s
duties are “strictly defined” in the Texas Constitution and the Texas Election
Code. See TEX. CONST. ART. IV, § 21; TEX. GOV’T CODE §§ 31.045, 31.166.
Secretary Nelson is not empowered to make factual determinations in such
matters. Weatherly v. Fulgham, 153 Tex. 481, 483 (1954); Lane v. Ross, 151
Tex. 268, 271, (1952) (The Secretary does not have the authority to resolve
election contests or disputes). Commissioner Travillion has no alleged duties
under the Texas Election Code regarding any elections conducted by the City
of Manor. CR 463-464.
The Texas Supreme Court explained that the Secretary of State, while
designated as the “chief election officer,” holds a role that is advisory and
administrative in nature, limited to promoting uniformity in the application
and interpretation of election laws. Bullock v. Calvert, 480 S.W.2d 367, 371
(Tex. 1972) (“The Secretary of State shall be the chief election officer of this
state, and it shall be his responsibility to obtain and maintain uniformity in
the application, operation and interpretation of the election laws.”).
Battaile’s attempt to expand the Secretary’s authority by requesting this
Court to void the mayoral election results ignores the limits on Secretary
Nelson’s authority. Importantly, Battaile acknowledges that Manor city
24
officials were in charge of administering the November 2024 mayoral
election, not Secretary Nelson or Commissioner Travillion. CR. 34, 36, 45,
47, 49.
Thus, there is no judiciable controversy between Battaile and the
Secretary or Commissioner Travillion concerning his election claims.
Similarly, there is no justiciable controversy between Battaile and
Commissioner Travillion concerning any other claims. See CR 453-454, 460-
464.
B. Battaile Fails to Establish Traceability.
Battaile’s Appeal Brief and his pleadings lack any specific allegations
that Secretary Nelson and/or Commissioner Travillion engaged in any
conduct – let alone an unlawful act – that caused him harm.
Battaile broadly challenges the election process but does not assert how
Secretary Nelson or Commissioner Travillion played any role in his alleged
injury. See generally App. Brief. Despite the length of Battaile’s Brief,
Secretary Nelson is mentioned by name only four times—once in the case
caption, once in the preamble, once in the identification of parties, and once
in the issues presented. Commissioner Travillion is named only once, as one
of the “Real Parties in Interest”. Brief at 4. Beyond these cursory references,
Battaile offers no factual allegations or legal arguments demonstrating that
25
his loss in the election is, in any way, traceable to the conduct of the Secretary
and/or Commissioner Travillion.
It appears that Battaile is dissatisfied with the election results, as well
as multiple other decisions made by various governmental bodies, but
dissatisfaction alone does not confer standing. Meyers, 548 S.W.3d at 484;
Weiderman v. City of Arlington, 480 S.W.3d 32, 37 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
2015, pet. denied). Courts do not adjudicate generalized grievances
unconnected to a defendant’s specific actions. Id. Because Battaile has not
alleged a direct causal link between his claimed injury and any action by
Secretary Nelson and/or Commissioner Travillion, he lacks standing.
C. Battaile Fails to Establish Redressability.
Even assuming, arguendo, that Battaile has alleged an injury traceable
to Secretary Nelson and/or Commissioner Travillion—which he has not—he
nevertheless fails to demonstrate that the relief he seeks would redress that
injury.
Battaile asks the Court to void the results of the mayoral election, yet
his Brief does not articulate how such relief against Secretary Nelson and
Commissioner Travillion would remedy his claimed harm. See generally
App. Brief. Secretary Nelson and Commissioner Travillion did not
administer the election at issue or have any role in the canvass of that
26
election, and Battaile provides no explanation as to how a court order would
redress his alleged grievance. Id.
To the extent Battaile seeks an order compelling Secretary Nelson to
perform any specific act with respect to the mayoral election, this Court lacks
subject matter jurisdiction to grant that relief. See TEX. GOV’T CODE §
22.002(c). Secretary Nelson is a member of the Executive Department of the
State of Texas. See TEX. CONST. art. IV, § 1. Under Texas law, only the
Supreme Court of Texas possesses jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus,
injunctions, or other forms of mandatory relief compelling an officer of the
Executive Branch to perform a “judicial, ministerial, or discretionary act or
duty.” In re C.D.E., 533 S.W.3d 367 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015,
no pet.); In re C.J.M.S., 269 S.W.3d 206, 208 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008); In
re A.B., 267 S.W.3d 564, 565 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.). Because
Battaile has failed to satisfy the requirements of standing, and because this
Court lacks the jurisdictional authority to redress the alleged injury even if
standing were established, Battaile claim against Secretary Nelson must be
dismissed as a matter of law.
Similarly, in his Brief, Battaile cites to Texas Government Code §§
22.220 and 22.221 as the basis for this Court’s exercise of jurisdiction to
compel Commissioner Travillion to perform certain actions related to Travis
27
County and/or Capital Metro governance. But these statutes specifically state
that this Court does not have jurisdiction over claims arising out of Chapter
101 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code (i.e., the Texas Tort Claims
Act), which are the only claims asserted against Commissioner Travillion in
the court below. Id., § 22.221(c-1) (referencing § 22.220(d)).
D. Battaile Cannot Assert Third Party Rights.
To the extent that Battaile seeks to assert claims on behalf of the
citizens of Manor, his claims fail because he lacks standing to assert third-
party rights. “[O]ur Constitution opens the courthouse doors only to those
who have or are suffering an injury.” Grant v. Espiritu, 470 S.W.3d 198, 202
(Tex. App.—El Paso 2015, no pet.) (citing Tex. Ass’n of Bus. v. Tex. Air
Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d 440, 444 (Tex. 1993)). Here, Battaile complains
about the decisions, actions and/or inactions by various governmental
entities in a wide-ranging litany about what he believes those governmental
entities should have done differently. Nowhere does Battaile identify any
particular injury to himself or his specific property, merely allegations of
generalized “public harm”. In other words, because Battaile has not shown
that he personally suffered an injury traceable to any conduct by Secretary
Nelson or Commissioner Travillion; he attempts to raise generalized
grievances on behalf of the public. As a result, Plaintiff has no standing to
28
bring this suit and this Court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over such
claims. See, e.g., Heckman v. Williamson Cnty., 369 S.W.3d 137, 154-55
(Tex.2012); Texas Parks & Wildlife Dep't v. Sawyer Trust, 354 S.W.3d 384,
388-89 (Tex. 2011); Neeley v. West Orange–Cove CISD, 176 S.W.3d 746, 774
(Tex. 2005) (standing limits jurisdiction to cases involving a distinct injury
to the plaintiff); Concerned Cnty. Involved Dev., Inc. v City of Houston, 209
S.W.3d 666 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. denied) (group of
property owners not entitled to injunctive relief to prevent City from
permitting construction on neighbor’s property that caused no compensable
harm to their own property rights because they lacked standing).
Even if third-party standing were theoretically available, Battaile has
not satisfied its requirements. “Third-party standing requires at least two
additional showings: (1) that the party asserting the right has a ‘close’
relationship with the one who possesses the right, and (2) that there is a
‘hindrance’ to the possessor’s ability to protect its own interests.” In re Tex.
Dep’t of Criminal Justice, 710 S.W.3d 731, 735 (Tex. Crim. App. 2025) (citing
Kowalski v. Tesmer, 543 U.S. 125, 130 (2004)).
Battaile has not demonstrated either requirement. He has no “close
relationship” with the citizens of Manor sufficient to assert their rights, nor
has he shown any “hindrance” preventing those citizens from pursuing their
29
own remedies, should they believe their rights were violated. Accordingly,
Battaile lacks standing to assert claims on behalf of third parties, and his
attempt to do so must be rejected.
III. Appellees Have Sovereign Immunity From Battaile’s Claims.
Sovereign immunity is properly raised in a plea to the jurisdiction
because it “deprives a trial court of jurisdiction over lawsuits in which the
state or . . . governmental units have been sued, unless the state consents to
suit.” Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Garcia, 372 S.W.3d 629, 635–36
(Tex. 2012); Dallas Cnty. Mental Health v. Bossley, 968 S.W.2d 339, 341
(Tex. 1998). Texas Government Code § 311.034 further affirms that no
statute should be construed as waiving sovereign immunity unless the waiver
is explicit and unambiguous.
1. Secretary Nelson is Entitled to Sovereign Immunity.
“When a state official files a plea to the jurisdiction, the official is
invoking the sovereign immunity from suit held by the government itself.”
Tex. A&M Univ. Sys. v. Koseoglu, 233 S.W.3d 835, 844 (Tex. 2007). The
Secretary of State is a position created within the Executive Department of
the State of Texas. See TEX. CONST. art. IV, §§ 1 and 21. As such the Secretary
of State’s Office and the Secretary herself are protected by sovereign
immunity. Reata Const. Corp. v. City of Dallas, 197 S.W.3d 371, 374 (Tex.
30
2006). Therefore, Secretary Nelson is entitled to sovereign immunity.
2. Commissioner Travillion is Entitled to Sovereign
Immunity and/or Legislative Immunity.
A suit against a public official in his official capacity is a suit against the
governmental entity itself. E.g., Herring v. Houston Nat’l Exch. Bank, 253
S.W.3d 813, 814-15 (Tex.1923); City of El Paso v. Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d 366,
373 (Tex. 2009); Nueces Cnty. v. Ferguson, 97 S.W.3d 205, 215 n. 11 (Tex.
App.—Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.). Commissioner Travillion was sued by
Battaile based upon actions taken as a member of the Travis County
Commissioners Court and the Board of Directors for Capital Metro. Travis
County is a political subdivision of the State of Texas and enjoys sovereign
immunity, both from suit and from liability, except insofar as the Texas
Legislature has provided a limited waiver of its sovereign immunity by way
of the Texas Tort Claims Act (“TTCA”) or specific statutes. Similarly,
CapMetro is a metropolitan rapid transit authority created under Chapter
451 of the Texas Transportation Code and is entitled to sovereign immunity
under the TTCA. See Tex. Transp. Code § 451.052(c).
Commissioner Travillion’s role as a member of these two legislative
bodies also entitles him to legislative immunity because Battaile’s claims
concern discretionary decisions made by those governing bodies regarding
31
how and where to allocate public resources. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code
¶¶ 101.001(2) (defining “employee” to include an officer or agent of a
governmental unit), 101.001(3)(B) & (D), 101.021 (defining limited scope of
exceptions to governmental immunity), 101.052 (legislative immunity),
101.055 (immunity for certain governmental functions), 101.056 (immunity
for discretionary decisions).
The trial court correctly determined that Commissioner Travillion is
entitled to sovereign immunity and/or legislative immunity, and Battaile has
not asserted otherwise in his Brief.
3. Battaile Fails to Identify Any Waiver of Sovereign
and/or Legislative Immunity.
Battaile has not identified any valid waiver of sovereign and/or
legislative immunity. The burden rests on Battaile to affirmatively establish
jurisdiction, yet he has not met this requirement. See Tex. Dep’t of Crim.
Justice v. Miller, 51 S.W.3d 583, 587 (Tex. 2001). Battaile has identified no
authority waiving sovereign and/or legislative immunity for the claims
asserted. RR Vol. 2 at 24:10-31:6 (as to Secretary Nelson), 35:9-37:17 and
65:23-66:4 (as to Commissioner Travillion).
Battaile’s filings—both in the trial court and on appeal—make clear that
he has wholly failed to confront, much less overcome, the Secretary’s or
32
Commissioner Travillion’s immunity defenses. Both Appellees’ Plea to the
Jurisdiction raised sovereign immunity as a bar to suit, and Commissioner
Travillion additionally raised legislative immunity. At the Plea hearing,
counsel for each Appellee reiterated that sovereign and/or legislative
immunity deprived the trial court of subject matter jurisdiction because
Battaile’s claims did not identify any waiver applicable to the Secretary or
Commissioner Travillion. Id.; RR Vol. 2 at 23:9-24:8 and 31:8-34:22.
Despite multiple opportunities—through his pleadings, arguments at the
Plea hearing, and now his Brief— Battaile has not engaged with this
threshold jurisdictional issue. See generally App. Brief.
Rather than offering any authority to rebut the application of sovereign
and/or legislative immunity, Battaile diverts the Court’s attention by
advancing broad and irrelevant grievances about alleged political influence
in the City of Manor. App. Brief at 2, 25-26. His Brief focuses almost entirely
on perceived wrongs suffered by the “citizens of Manor,” yet those arguments
are legally immaterial to the jurisdictional question before the Court. See
generally App. Brief.
In Eriksen v. Nelson, the court dismissed the plaintiff’s claims for
failing to present a viable constitutional challenge to an election law and
because sovereign immunity barred his claims. No. 15-24-00059-CV, 2025
33
WL 351632, at *7 (Tex. App. [15th Dist.] Jan. 30, 2025). Similarly, Battaile
seeks to invalidate an election based on allegations of election coercion under
the Texas Election Code but fails to assert a legally cognizable claim to
overcome sovereign immunity. See generally App. Brief. As in Eriksen,
where similar claims against the Secretary of State were dismissed, the same
reasoning applies here, warranting dismissal of Battaile’s claim.
D. Battaile’s Failure to Comply with Section 233.006(b)’s
Thirty-Day Deadline is a Fatal Jurisdictional Defect.
Even if Secretary Nelson or Commisioner Travillion was a proper party to an
election contest (and they are NOT), Battaile’s appeal would still need to be
dismissed because the claim is barred by the jurisdictional deadline imposed
under the Texas Election Code. Section 233.006(b) titled “Filing Period for
Petition,” mandates that “[] the contestant must file the petition not later
than the later of the 30th day after the date the election records are publicly
available . . . or the official result of the contested election is determined.”
TEX. ELEC. CODE § 233.006(b).
This statutory deadline is not a mere procedural formality—it is a strict
jurisdictional requirement that cannot be waived. “[T]he thirty-day deadline
by which the petition must be filed under section 233.006(b) is jurisdictional
and non-waiveable.” City of Houston v. Bryant, 516 S.W.3d 47, 51–52 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017, pet. denied) (citing Nichols v. Seei, 97
34
S.W.3d 882, 883 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.)). Courts have enforced
this deadline, finding that failure to comply constitutes a “fatal impediment.”
Nw. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Carroll Indep. Sch. Dist., 441 S.W.3d 684, 691 (Tex.
App.—Fort Worth 2014, pet. denied).
Under Texas Election Code § 67.003(c), titled “Time for Local
Canvass,” the City of Manor was required to conduct its canvass no later than
the 14th day after election day. TEX. ELEC. CODE § 67.003(c). Given that
election day occurred on November 5, 2024 (App. Brief at 6; CR. 26, 34),
thus the latest permissible date for the canvass was November 19, 2024. CR.
516-17. Since the canvass occurred on or about November 19, 2024 (see CR.
477 with hyperlink to City of Manor’s official records), the deadline to file an
election contest under Texas Election Code § 233.006(b) was no later than
30 days thereafter. Battaile did not file his lawsuit until January 29, 2025 (71
days after the election). CR.516-17; see also CR.210, 452, 465, 618. This delay
exceeds the statutory filing window and, accordingly, deprives this Court of
subject matter jurisdiction.
Additionally, Battaile’s election claims were moot because he failed to
comply with Section 232.008(c)(2). None of the mayoral candidates in the
challenged November 2025 election received more than 50% of the vote so a
runoff election was required between the two candidates that received the
35
highest number of votes – Battaile was not one of those candidates. CR. 36-
37. The mayoral runoff election occurred on Saturday, December 14, 2024, a
date set by the Texas Secretary of State pursuant to Texas Election Code §
2.025. Battaile’s deadline to file a contest for this runoff election was
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 – 15 days after November 19, 2024, the date
on which the Manor City Council canvassed election results. See TEX. ELEC.
CODE § 232.008(c)(2). But Battaile did not file his petition within the
statutory timeframe to prevent the mayoral runoff election from occurring.
See id., § 232.007. “An election contest [also] becomes moot, and the issues
no longer justiciable, when a final judgment adjudging the validity or
invalidity of a candidate’s certificate of nomination is not entered in time for
election officials to comply with the statutory deadlines for preparing and
conducting the general election, or when absentee balloting has begun
during the pendency of the appeal.” Maldonado v. Johnson, No. 04-18-
00599-CV, 2018 WL 4517551 at *2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Sept. 21, 2018,
no pet.) (quoting Salazar, 931 S.W.2d 59, 60 & n.1 (Tex. App.—Corpus
Christi 1996, no writ) (citing authorities omitted). As a result, the trial court
properly found that his election contest claims were moot. See Skelton v.
Yates, 119 S.W.2d 91, 91–92 (Tex. 1938) (explaining that an election
commences once absentee balloting has begun, and dismissing relator’s
36
petition for writ of mandamus as moot because absentee balloting had
already begun); Salazar v. Gonzales, 931 S.W.2d 59, 60 (Tex. App.--Corpus
Christi 1996, no writ); Sepulveda v. Medrano, 323 S.W.3d 620, 624 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2010, no pet.). Alternatively, the trial court properly found that
Battaile’s claims concerning his eligibility to participate in the December
2025 mayoral runoff election were untimely and that the court therefore
lacked subject-matter jurisdiction over them.
PRAYER
This Court should dismiss Battaile’s Appeal because he lacks standing.
Even if he has standing, this Court should dismiss his Appeal or alternatively
reaffirm the trial court’s ruling because Battaile faces multiple jurisdictional
barriers, none of which have been adequately addressed in his Brief. The
Court should affirm the trial court’s orders dismissing Battaile’s claims
against Secretary Nelson and Commissioner Travillion because Battaile has
not identified any cognizable waiver of the Appellees’ respective immunity
defenses and has failed to assert any timely claims for relief within this
Court’s subject-matter jurisdiction.
Respectfully submitted,
KEN PAXTON
Attorney General of Texas
BRENT WEBSTER
37
First Assistant Attorney General
RALPH MOLINA
Deputy First Assistant Attorney General
AUSTIN KINGHORN
Deputy Attorney General for Civil
Litigation
KIMBERLY GDULA
Chief, General Litigation Division
/s/ Roy Adams
ROY ADAMS
Assistant Attorney General
Texas Bar No. 24133175
Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 12548 Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711-25848
(512) 475-4104 Fax: (512) 320-0667
roy.adams@oag.texas.gov
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE TEXAS
SECRETARY OF STATE JANE NELSON
DELIA GARZA
County Attorney, Travis County
P. O. Box 1748
Austin, Texas 78767
Telephone: (512) 854-9513
Facsimile: (512) 854-4808
By: /s/ Cynthia W. Veidt
CYNTHIA W. VEIDT
State Bar No. 24028092
cynthia.veidt@traviscountytx.gov
PATRICK M. KELLY
State Bar No. 11228000
pat.kelly@traviscountytx.gov
38
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE TRAVIS
COUNTY COMMISSIONER JEFFREY
TRAVILLION
Certificate of Service
I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing pleading
has been served on the Parties of record in accordance with TEX. R. APP. P.
9.5(b)(1), electronically through the court’s e service system:
/s/ Roy Adams
ROY ADAMS
Assistant Attorney General
Certificate of Compliance
This document complies with the typeface requirements of TEX. R. APP.
P. 9.4(e) because it has been prepared in a conventional typeface no smaller
than 14-point for text and 12-point for footnotes. This document also
complies with the word-count limitations of TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i), if
applicable.
/s/ Roy Adams
ROY ADAMS
Assistant Attorney General
39
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Victoria Gomez on behalf of Roy Adams
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Envelope ID: 107519832
Filing Code Description: Brief Requesting Oral Argument
Filing Description: 20251031_Battaile Joint Appellees Brief Final
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Jeffrey Hobbs 24012837 jhobbs@abaustin.com 10/31/2025 9:57:26 AM SENT
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Bar No. 24133175
victoria.gomez@oag.texas.gov
Envelope ID: 107519832
Filing Code Description: Brief Requesting Oral Argument
Filing Description: 20251031_Battaile Joint Appellees Brief Final
Status as of 10/31/2025 10:06 AM CST
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Associated Case Party: Jane Nelson
Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status
Roy Adams roy.adams@oag.texas.gov 10/31/2025 9:57:26 AM SENT
Victoria Gomez victoria.gomez@oag.texas.gov 10/31/2025 9:57:26 AM SENT
Associated Case Party: RobertEdwardBattaile
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Bar No. 24133175
victoria.gomez@oag.texas.gov
Envelope ID: 107519832
Filing Code Description: Brief Requesting Oral Argument
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