No. 05-02-01683-CV

In the Court of Appeals

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

 

UDO BIRNBAUM

Defendant, Counter-claimant, Third Party Plaintiff - Appellant

 

vs.

 

THE LAW OFFICES OF G. DAVID WESTFALL, P.C.

Plaintiff, Counter Defendant - Appellee

 

G. DAVID WESTFALL

Third Party Defendant, Sanction Movant - Appellee

 

CHRISTINA WESTFALL

Third Party Defendant, Sanction Movant - Appellee

 

STEFANI PODVIN

Third Party Defendant, Sanction Movant - Appellee

 

Appeal from the 294^th Judicial

 District Court of Van Zandt County, Texas

The Honorable Paul Banner, by assignment

Trial cause no. 00-00619

------------------------------

Appellant's [RCP Rule 298] Response and Objection  to

Appellees' Motion to Allow the Filing of the Trial Judge's

Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law

These Findings of "bad faith", just made, have no support in the trial court record,

 and are in direct conflict with a prior determination of "well-intentioned"

------------------------------

 

Because of the harm and prejudice that could be caused by Judge Banner's belated Findings and Conclusions, I PETITION THAT THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT BE PRESENTED TO THE ENTIRE PANEL IN THEIR CONSIDERATION UPON THE ENTIRE APPEAL. (One original and SIX copies are being provided)

            I petition for such regardless of this Court's ruling on Appellees' Motion, as their Motion, and this Response relates directly to the matters on Appeal.  (lawlessness)

           

UDO BIRNBAUM, Pro Se

540 VZ CR 2916

Eustace, TX 75124

(903) 479-3929

 

 

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

 

The Law Offices of G. David Westfall, P.C.[1]       Frank C. Fleming[2]

Plaintiff, Counter-defendant                               PMB 305, 6611 Hillcrest Ave.

                                                                             Dallas, Texas 75205-1301

                                                                             (214) 373-1234

                                                                             (214) 373-3232 (fax)

 

Udo Birnbaum[3]                                                  Udo Birnbaum, pro se

Defendant, Counter-claimant,                            540 VZ 2916

Third party plaintiff                                           Eustace, Texas 75124

(903) 479-3929

(903) 479-3929 fax

 

G. David Westfall[4]                                              Frank C. Fleming

Third party defendant

 

Stefani Podvin[5]                                                   Frank C. Fleming

Third party defendant

 

Christina Westfall[6]                                              Frank C. Fleming

Third party defendant

 

Hon. Paul Banner[7], trial judge

 

 

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

 

Appellant's [RCP Rule 298] Response and Objection  to

Appellees' Motion to Allow the Filing of the Trial Judge's

Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law

These Findings of "bad faith", just made, have no support in the trial court record,

and are in direct conflict with a prior determination of "well-intentioned"

 

 

To this Honorable Appeals Court:

      Please forgive my trying to address this matter at a little higher and concise level. Details can be found on your computer docket sheet and my previous briefs and motions.

 

Introduction and summary

      1.   The essence of this Response and Objection is that Appellees' motion to allow the trial judge to now make findings is a continuation of their lawlessness in the trial court:

·        These new Findings were belatedly crafted to paint me as some sort of monster.

·        These new Findings are not supported by the trial court record .

·        These new Findings are not supported by the rules and law that apply to sanctions.

·        These new Findings are in conflict with the trial record[8] of "well-intentioned"

·        These new Findings come as a surprise, and may cause harm to Appellant, lest this [RCP Rule 298] Response and Objection be presented in its entirety to the entire panel for consideration of this entire Appeal.  (SIX copies provided)

 

Background

      2.   The essence of my Appeal Brief (April 23, 2003) was that I was not given due process in the trial court. Judge Paul Banner had a jury sitting there, but he did not use it [9].  Also that the two (2) judgments against me were each unlawful.

      3.   The essence of my Reply Brief (July 17, 2003) was that Appellees' contentions in their Response Brief (June 20, 2003) do not "fit", i.e. they were quoting something out of a law book that sounds good, but that their answers do not "fit" the appeals issues.  Also that they were lying[10] when they told this Appeals Court that they were at that time (June 20, 2003) in the process of having Judge Banner make Findings.  (as indicated by their now bringing "findings")

 

      4.   I submitted Appellant's Motion to Have the Trial Judge Produce Findings and Conclusions (Aug. 5, 2003) as to how Judge Banner came up with his two judgments[11] totaling $122,000.  My motion was denied.  Appellees had not responded.

     

      5.   Next the Appellees come into this Appeals Court with Appellees' Response to Appellant's [DENIED] Motion to have Trial Judge Produce Findings and Conclusions (Sept. 24, 2003), asking that "the Court allow[12] Judge Banner to file his Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in this matter, etc.", with their letter[13] to Judge Banner  and a proposed[14] eight (8) page vituperation[15] ("finding", Exhibit "A") they have concocted out of thin air to paint me as some sort of monster to the judicial system.  My response letter[16] to Judge Banner gives details. (attached)

 

      6.   On September 30, 2003 I filed Motion for Recusal of Judge Banner[17] to put an end to the sudden backstage maneuvering. (My motion summarizes the events).

 

      7.   Now (October 6, 2003) Appellees come into this Appeals Court with Appellees' Motion to Allow The Filing of the Trial Judge's Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law, accompanied by an Exhibit "A", a seven (7) page[18] signed Finding and Conclusions.

 

      8.   Attached to this Response and Objections are copies of the rapid-fire documents being  put before Judge Banner, with my handwritten notations thereto. I am also providing a copy of Judge Banner's prior determination regarding my conduct during the entire proceeding:  "well-intentioned". (Judge Banner's last words, just after he sanctioned me $62,000 for having made a civil RICO claim)

 

Regarding Judge Banner's latest Findings

      9.   This groundless Finding now being flashed by Appellees has no particularity or specificity or detail whatsoever, only a general condemnation for my having made a "RICO civil conspiracy claim". (their phrase for "civil RICO", I presume). The real issue in this Appeals Court, however, is how Judge Banner arrived at the TWO (2) judgments.

     

      10. In his Finding, again and again Judge Banner now finds violations of "§ 9.000 et seq. Civ. Prac. Rem. Code, § 10.000 et seq. Civ. Prac. Rem. Code, Rule 13, T.R.C.P., and/or the common law of Texas".

      As shown below, NONE of this law applies to the facts in this case. Also note that §9.000 et seq. Civ. Prac. Rem. Code is the only statutory provision that allows attorney fees for an entire proceeding (Judge Banner's sanction of $62,000).

     

      11. Regarding § 9.000 et seq. Civ. Prac. Rem. Code:

·         Section §9.000 et seq. of course only applies to "injury, property damage, or death", under any cause of action, and to TORT causes of action (my pleading was civil RICO, statutory law).

·          Section §9.000 also specifically excludes Texas DTPA claims (a mini-RICO).  Also it has a 90-day  "safe-harbor" provision, and applies only after a determination of "frivolous pleadings", which Judge Banner never made, except now in this Finding, after everything is finished!  I had of course asked for appointment of an auditor, to show that the "collection" suit against me was frivolous. 

·          Also it specifically states that section $9.000 does not apply if Rule 13 is involved.

·         (This section is also the only one that allows attorney fees for the entire proceeding, after a "frivolous lawsuit" determination, which there was not, and opportunity to withdraw an supposedly offending pleading).

·         So much for monetary sanctions under §9.000 et seq.

 

      12. Regarding §10.000 et seq. Civ. Prac. Rem. Code:

·         Section §10.000 et seq. only applies to attorney fees in obtaining a §10.000 sanctions

·         Sanctions under §10.000 require the naming of the conduct which violated §10.000, which the Sanctions Order did not. (It gave NO REASON WHATSOEVER)

·         So much for monetary sanctions under §10.000 et seq. 

 

      13. Regarding T.R.C.P. Rule 13:

·         This Rule states that "No sanctions under this rule may be imposed except for good cause, the particulars of which must be stated in the sanctions order".

·         No "particulars" were stated in the Sanction Order of $62,000  (nor in this Finding)

·         The "appropriate sanctions available" are those under Rule 215-2b, which only include the court issuing Orders (of which there were none), and payment for damages caused for violation of an ORDER (of which there was none)

·         So much for monetary sanctions under T.R.C.P. Rule 13.

 

      14. Regarding "and/or the common law":

·         The "common law" does not provide for the imposition of sanctions.

 

 

Regarding the trial court record

      15.  The trial record, however, gives the true reason Judge Banner PUNISHED[19] me $62,000, namely for making a civil RICO pleading when I was sued:

"[A]lthough Mr. Birnbaum may be well-intentioned and may believe that he had some kind of real claim as far as RICO there was nothing presented to the court in any of the                                            proceedings since I've been involved that suggest he had any basis in law or in fact to support his suits against the individuals, and I think -- can find that such sanctions as I've determined are appropriate."    Close of hearing on Motion for Sanctions, July 30, 2002. (attached)

 

Note:

·        My civil RICO claim was against "the individuals", i.e. that "The [three] Westfalls" were using their Law office as a RICO "enterprise". (More precise language in my Brief). This was the only claim I made against "the individuals"

·          Again note, that I was found "well-intentioned".

·          Also note, there is no record of anything other than "well-intentioned" in the entire proceeding, except this newest Finding which Judge Banner is trying to now bring to this Appeals Court.

 

 

Regarding the Appeals Issue

(and the Finding I was trying to have Judge Banner make)

 

      16. The core of the issues in my Appeal is how Judge Banner arrived at the two (2) judgments against me.  As I asked in my Notice of Past Due Findings and Conclusions":

 

      "Your Honor, please let the record know what findings of fact, and conclusions of law you made to come up with the two judgments you awarded against me in this case:

·        How, upon a pleading of an unpaid open account, and absent a finding to you by an Auditor under RCP Rule 172 regarding such claimed unpaid open account, and absent a finding by a jury as to the state of the account, what findings of fact, and what conclusions of law did you make to award a judgment totaling $59,280.66 against me upon such pleading, an issue I had asked to be resolved by jury?

 

·        How upon my cross and counter claim under 18 U.S.C. § 1961, et seq. ("civil RICO"), against three (3) persons, and having dismissed such three (3) persons on November 13, 2001, what findings of fact and what conclusions of law did you now make, on August 21, 2002, so as to entitle these dismissed parties to a $62,885.00 second judgment against me, in the same case, on an issue I had asked to be resolved by jury?

 

 

      17. My Appellant's Brief shows in detail why the $62,000 Sanction Judgment is not only UNLAWFUL, but is a punitive (criminal, not "coercive") sanction, imposed on me without full due criminal process.[20]

       

Conclusion

      18. My briefs and motions detail a flagrant abuse of the judicial system against me. This is really a very simple case once one recognizes the pattern of FRAUD from start to finish, intrinsic and extrinsic, turning into retaliation by official oppression and unlawful judgments against pro se Birnbaum for having made a civil racketeering ("civil RICO") defense against a fraudulent suit by lawyers.

 

      19. It is clear what Appellees and their lawyer are up to now, namely trying to "undo" the finding of "well-intentioned", and blaming me for their sins of the whole proceedings. Please recognize that the evil is on their side of the telescope.

 

      20. This whole matter on me started with a fraudulent "beaver dam" case against me in 1995 (still in the 294th EIGHT (8) years later). Then this fraudulent case against me claiming an unpaid "open account" for legal fees.

 

      21. There is no underlying damage.  There is no underlying OPEN ACCOUNT. All fraudulent "legal fees" and more "legal fees" for "collecting" on fraudulent legal fees. It is past time to call on the U.S. Justice Department.

 

PRAYER

            WHEREFORE, Respondant/Appellant Birnbaum prays that this court deny Appellees' Motion and disallow the making by Judge Banner of Findings so contrary to the trial court record.

 

      I have provided, for this Court's consideration, Birnbaum's [RCP Rule 298] Response to Judge Banner's Findings. I provide such since I would under normal circumstances have a right and opportunity under RCP Rule 298 to request additional or amended findings of fact and conclusions of law.  Please forgive the somewhat rough and incomplete nature of that document.

 

      Because of the harm and prejudice that could be caused by Judge Banner's belated Findings and Conclusions, I PETITION THAT THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT BE PRESENTED TO THE ENTIRE PANEL IN THEIR CONSIDERATION UPON THE ENTIRE APPEAL. (One original and SIX copies are being provided)

            I petition for such regardless of this Court's ruling on Appellees' Motion, as their Motion, and this Response relates directly to the matters on Appeal.           (lawlessness)

           

 

______________________

UDO BIRNBAUM

540 VZ CR 2916

Eustace, Texas 75124

(903) 479-3929  phone

(903) 479-3929  fax

 

Attachments: 

1.      Trial court record of "well-intentioned" - caught by the court reporter

2.      Order on Motion for Sanctions -  $62,000 sanctions without ANY particularity

3.      Fleming's Sept. 24, 2003 fax to Judge Banner - with proposed Findings (really wild)

4.      Fleming's Sept. 29, 2003 fax to Judge Banner - with somewhat toned-down proposed  Findings

5.      My (Birnbaum) Sept. 30, 2003 Motion for Recusal of Judge Banner - filed 7:56 a.m. Oct. 1, 2003, and immediately also presented to the court-coordinator

6.      My (Birnbaum) Sept. 30, 2003 letter to Judge Banner - filed 8:27 a.m. and also immediately presented to the court-coordinator

7.      Judge Banner's Sept 30, 2003  8:52 a.m. fax to Fleming and Birnbaum.  (He could have simply mailed or faxed his signed Findings to the Clerk of Court)

8.      Fleming's Oct. 6, 2003 fax to this Appeals Court - with fax of signed Findings (This is the first time that I got semi-official notice of what Judge Banner had actually signed)

9.      Fleming's Oct 6, 2003 letter to the 294^th Clerk - with Findings - did not actually get filed ("signed with the clerk") until Oct. 8, 2003 12:14 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Certificate of Service

 

      This is to certify that on this the __13____ day of October, 2003 a copy of this document was sent by Regular Mail to attorney Frank C. Fleming at PMB 305, 6611 Hillcrest Ave., Dallas Texas 75205-1301.  A copy of this document has also been provided to Judge Paul Banner through Pam Kelly, Court Coordinator for the 294^th District Court in Canton, Texas.

 

___________________

Udo Birnbaum