No.   04-0078

 

IN THE

SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS

AUSTIN, TEXAS

 

UDO BIRNBAUM,

Petitioner

 

vs.

 

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

Respondents

 

 

On appeal from the 5th Court of Appeals, Dallas

 

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

 

PETITION FOR REVIEW

(Appendix bound separately)

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

 

Question presented:

 

Whether the precedent of a Texas court actually assessing a FINE of $62,000 (or ANY fine), merely because the evidence did NOT prove a person's claim under  18 U.S.C. § 1964(c) "civil RICO", defeats the stated purpose of the [civil RICO] statute, and offends the Constitution

 

"[a] Congressional objective [in enacting civil RICO with treble damages] of encouraging civil litigation not merely to compensate victims but also to turn them into private attorneys general, supplementing Government efforts by undertaking litigation in the public good."  Rotella v. Wood et al., 528 U.S. 549 (2000),

 

"clearly established that filing a lawsuit was constitutionally protected conduct."  Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois, 497 U.S. 62, 73 , 76 n.8 (1990).

 

Udo Birnbaum, Pro Se

540 VZ 2916

Eustace, Texas 75124

(903) 479-3929

 

 

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

 

PETITIONER (Defendant, Counter-claimant, Third party plaintiff in Trial Court):

 

Udo Birnbaum, Pro Se

540 VZ 2916

Eustace, Texas 75124

(903) 479-3929

(903) 479-3929 fax

 

RESPONDENTS (Plaintiff, etc. in the trial court as indicated):

          (Same attorney in the trial court and the appeals court)

 

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

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

                                                                             Dallas, Texas 75205-1301

                                                                        (214) 373-1234

                                                                        (214) 373-3232 (fax)

 

G. David Westfall[2]                                            Frank C. Fleming

Third party defendant

 

Stefani Podvin[3]                                                 Frank C. Fleming

Third party defendant

 

Christina Westfall[4]                                            Frank C. Fleming

Third party defendant

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Identity of Parties and Counsel  ……………………………………………  ii

 

Table of Contents  ………………………………….………………………  iii

 

Index of Authorities  ………………………….……………………………  iv

 

Statement of the Case  ………………………………….………………….  v

 

Statement of Jurisdiction ……………………………………………………..  v

 

Issues Presented  ………………………………………………………….   vi

 

Points of Error   ……………………………………………………………..    vii 

    

Statement of Facts   …………………………………………………….…..      1

     Misstatements of facts by the Court of Appeals   ……………………     2

 

Summary of the Argument  ……………………………………………...      8

 

Argument  ………………………………………………………………..      9

            The $59,280.66 Judgment is unlawful   ……………………………..      9

          Defendant Birnbaum had a Right to a court-appointed auditor  ….    10

          The "RICO Relief" summary judgment is also unlawful  ………..     11

          The $62,255.00 "Sanction" judgment is also unlawful  ………….     12

          "Fraud, fraud, and more fraud"  ……………………….………….     13

          Due process demands a new trial  ……………………..………….    14

          Conclusion  ………………………………………………………..    14

 

Prayer  …………………………………………………….………………..  15

 

Certificate of Service  ………………………………………….…………..  16

 

Basis to this whole suit (for real handy reference)

          "Attorney retainer agreement"   ………………………...………  Exhibit A

          Plaintiff's First Amended Original Petition  ………………….  Exhibit B 

 

Index (only) to separate Appendix …………………………………….  Exhibit C

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

 

Estee Lauder, Inc. v. Harco Graphics, Inc.

D.C.N.Y.1983, 558 F.Supp.83  …………………………..….   11, 12

 

Jones v Andrews,

873 S.W.2d 102, 106 (Tex. App. -- Dallas 1994)  ……………  7 fn12

 

McCain, 856 S.W.2d at 757    ………………………………………….  7 fn13

 

Milligan v. R&S Mechanical, No. 05-87-01341- CV,

Court of Appeals, Fifthe District of Texas, Aug. 11, 1998  …..….  9

 

Rotella v. Wood et al., 528 U.S. 549 (2000)   ………………….….….  9, 15

 

Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois,

 497 U.S. 62, 73, 76 n.8 (1990) ……………………….……..   3 fn6, 15

 

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, No. 73,986 (June 5, 2002)  ….. 6 fn11, 12

 

United Mine Workers v. Bagwell, 512 U.S. 821 (1994)   (footnote)…….…..  12  

   

 

RCP Rule 13   ……………………………………………..   3 fn8, 7 fn13

 

RCP Rule 172. Audit  ………………………………………..    11 fn23

 

RCP Rule 215-2b(7)  ……………………………………………...  3 fn8  

 

RCP Rule 301……………………………………………………... 7 fn14

 

18 U.S.C. § 1964(c) ("civil RICO")   …………….….  1, 5 fn11, 9, 11, 12

 


STATEMENT OF THE CASE

 

Introductory Note: 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.

 

(1)     Nature of the case

PLAINTIFF The Law Offices of G. David Westfall, P.C. ("Law Office") claimed an UNPAID OPEN ACCOUNT[5] for "legal services" in the amount of $18,121.10 and pleaded no other cause of action[6].

 

DEFENDANT Udo Birnbaum ("Birnbaum") answered [7] by denying such alleged "open account" under oath, asserted defenses of FRAUD, counter-claimed under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), and made cross and third party claims[8] under 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c) ("civil RICO") against three (3) persons associated with the "Law Office" (G. David Westfall, Christina Westfall, and Stefani [Westfall] Podvin, "The Westfalls"), and asked for trial by jury.  Birnbaum also moved for APPOINTMENT OF AN AUDITOR per RCP Rule 172 to investigate and report on the alleged OPEN ACCOUNT [9] to show that there existed no open account at all, nor systematic records, etc. as claimed, but only a $20,000 prepaid non-refundable retainer paid to lawyer G. David Westfall.[10]

 

 (2)    Judge who signed the order and judgment:     Hon. Paul Banner

 

(3)     Trial Court: