Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 1 of 18 PageID 1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF TAXICAB OPERATORS, USA, D.E.C.D.A, INC. d.b.a. STARCAB, MAREDI CORPORATION d.b.a UNITED CAB, E.P.D.A., INC. d.b.a ALAMO CAB, INC., WALAAL CORPORATION d.b.a. AMBASSADOR CAB COMPANY, and PLAINTIFFS LISTED IN EXHIBIT A, ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Plaintiffs, ) v. ) ) JACK BEWLEY, JEFF FINKEL, DAYRA ) CORPORATION d/b/a EXECUTIVE CAB ) COMPANY, KHORSHID, INC. d/b/a TAXI ) DALLAS, and ZYBA CORPORATION ) d/b/a GOLDEN CAB ) ) Defendants. )

Civil Action No. ________

COMPLAINT 1. Plaintiffs, the Association of Taxicab Operators, USA, D.E.C.D.A, Inc. d/b/a

Starcab, Maredi Corporation d/b/a United Cab, E.P.D.A., INC. d/b/a Alamo Cab, Inc., Walaal Corporation d/b/a Ambassador Cab Company, and all the individuals listed in the Rule 10(a) Compliant Caption for Complaint which was filed with the Original Complaint, (collectively, Plaintiffs), file this Complaint alleging antitrust violations against Defendants Jack Bewley, Jeff Finkel, Darya Corporation d/b/a Executive Cab Company, Khorshid, Inc. d/b/a Taxi Dallas, and Zyba Corporation d/b/a Golden Cab, and in support thereof, state the following:

COMPLAINT

Page 1

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 2 of 18 PageID 2

I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT 2. An individual cannot obtain the authority to operate a taxicab in Dallas, Tarrant

and Collin Counties. Instead, licensed taxicab drivers must contract with franchise or annual permit holders (Holders) which have been approved by local regulators, including the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Addison, Arlington, Hurst, Irving, Mesquite, Plano, and DFW Airport, to operate fleets of taxicabs. The drivers are not employees of the Holders. They are independent contractors who pay Holders a Stand Fee in exchange for the right to operate an authorized taxicab. Through various entities, including the Defendant entities, two individuals Defendants Jack Bewley and Jeff Finkel assert dominant control over approximately 75% of the authorized taxicabs in Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin Counties. Irving Holdings, Inc. owns 100% of Yellow Checker of DFW, Freedom, Eagle, JetTaxi, Diamond, State, and U.S. Cab (collectively, the Defendants Co-Conspirators). Bewley and Finkel are the only directors or owners of Defendants Co-Conspirators. Through management contracts or some other non-public governance mechanism Bewley and Finkel or entities they own and direct exercise effective control over Executive, Taxi Dallas, and Golden taxi companies. Executive, Taxi Dallas, and Golden with their approximately 23% of the marketplace were brought into the fold in late April, 2012. To summarize, then, using entities they control by various means, Defendant Bewley and Finkel control 75% of the relevant market which is authorized taxicabs in Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin Counties. 3. Having achieved this level of market dominance through consolidation,

Defendants and their Co-Conspirators have (1) fixed Stand Fee prices across the relevant product

COMPLAINT

Page 2

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 3 of 18 PageID 3

market, (2) engaged in predatory pricing with respect to Stand Fees, and (3) engaged, and are continuing to engage, in a conspiracy to monopolize the market. The Plaintiff taxicab companies are Defendant Entities competitors in the market. The individual Plaintiffs are drivers who pay Stand Fees to Holders and drive taxicabs authorized to operate in the relevant geographic market. The Association of Taxicab Operators, USA is a trade group representing the interests of its member drivers situated as the individual Plaintiffs, but lacking the financial means to join the litigation personally. Plaintiffs bring this suit to stop Defendants antitrust violations by breaking up Defendants market consolidation and to redress the damages Plaintiffs already have sustained since Defendants scheme started. II. PARTIES AND SERVICE OF PROCESS 4. The individual Plaintiffs listed in the attached Exhibit A Rule 10(a) Compliant

Caption for Complaint, are individually licensed taxicab drivers who regularly operate taxicabs for hire within this District. 5. Plaintiff, D.E.C.D.A., Inc. d/b/a StarCab, (Star), is a Texas Corporation with its

principal place of business in within this District. 6. Plaintiff, Maredi Corporation d/b/a United Cab Company (United), is a Texas

Corporation which regularly and routinely conducts business within this District. 7. Plaintiff, E.P.D.A., Inc. d/b/a Alamo Cab, Inc., (Alamo), is a Texas Corporation

with its principal place of business within this District. 8. Plaintiff, Walaal Corporation d/b/a Ambassador Cab, (Ambassador), is a Texas

Corporation with its principal place of business within this District.

COMPLAINT

Page 3

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 4 of 18 PageID 4

9.

Plaintiff, Association of Taxicab Operators, USA, is a Texas non-profit

corporation which has its primary place of business within this District. 10. Plaintiff Association of Taxicab Operators, USA has standing to bring suit in a

representational capacity on behalf of its members. Plaintiffs members would otherwise have standing to sue in their own right. All of the organizations membership are affected by the challenged conduct. Some such members are individual Plaintiffs. Others cannot afford to join the litigation individually. 11. The interests Plaintiff Association of Taxicab Operators, USA (ATO) seeks to

protect with the lawsuit are germane to its purpose. Plaintiff ATOs articles of incorporation include the following stated purposes to which this litigation is germane:

b.

to defense [sic] and promote the interest of taxicab operators in the greater Dallas and fort [sic] Worth area. * * *

d.

Assistance in the procurement of supplies, equipment, and services through group and wholesale purchases. To provide Legal and Financial services to all qualified members [sic].

Plaintiff ATO participated in the filing, and is prosecuting this case by means of decision making processes which conform with its governing documents and has determined that it is taking legal positions that promote the interests its members. 12. Neither the claim asserted nor the relief requested by Plaintiff ATO require the

participation of ATOs individual members in the lawsuit. The Court may grant the relief requested by Plaintiff ATO that does not require proof of the individual circumstances of its

COMPLAINT

Page 4

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 5 of 18 PageID 5

members. The equitable and injunctive relief sought by Plaintiff ATO are the types of relief which satisfy this requirement. 13. Defendant, Darya Corporation d/b/a Executive Cab Company (Executive) is a

Texas corporation found and conducting business within this District, which may be served through its registered agent, Jack Bewley, at 2200 Riverside Dr., Fort Worth, 76104. 14. Defendant, Khorshid, Inc. d/b/a Taxi Dallas (Taxi Dallas) is a Texas

corporation found and conducting business within this District, which may be served through its registered agent, Jack Bewley, at 2200 Riverside Dr., Fort Worth, 76104. 15. Defendant, Zyba Corporation d/b/a Golden Cab of Dallas, (Golden) is a Texas

corporation found and conducting business within this District, which may be served through its registered agent, Jack Bewley, at 2200 Riverside Dr., Fort Worth, 76104. 16. Defendant Jack Bewley is an individual resident of Texas conducting business in

Dallas and Tarrant Counties and who may be served at his places of business located at 2515 Irving Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75207 or 2220 S. Riverside Dr., Fort Worth, Texas 76104. 17. Defendant Jeff Finkel is an individual resident of Texas conducting business in

Dallas and Tarrant Counties and who may be served at his places of business located at 2515 Irving Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75207 or 2220 S. Riverside Dr., Fort Worth, Texas 76104. III. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 18. This Complaint raises claims under 15 U.S.C. 15 (Section 4 of the Clayton Act)

in order to prevent and restrain violations by the Defendants of 15 U.S.C. 1 and 2 (Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act) and 15 U.S.C. 18 (Section 7 of the Clayton Act). This Court has

COMPLAINT

Page 5

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 6 of 18 PageID 6

subject matter jurisdiction over this case under 15 U.S.C. 4 (Section 4 of the Sherman Act) and 28 U.S.C. 1331 because this case arises and is brought under the federal antitrust statutes. 19. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) because each

Defendant is found and transacts business in the Northern District of Texas. Substantially all the acts and omissions of Defendants giving rise to the claims complained of herein have occurred in the Northern District of Texas. Each Defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction here, and each of the Defendants contacts with the Northern District of Texas would be sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction if the Northern District of Texas were a separate state. IV. NATURE AND EXTENT OF TRADE AND COMMERCE AFFECTED BY DEFENDANTS CONDUCT 20. The relevant product and geographic markets are providers of taxicab

authorizations (Decals), dispatch, insurance, and related services received by taxicab operators in exchange for Stand Fees in Dallas, Tarrant and Collin Counties, Texas. The market is part of the flow of interstate commerce in the following particulars, among others: (1) the substantial percentage, perhaps even a majority, of passengers for taxicab services within the market are air travelers passing through Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport from other states within the United States and are serviced exclusively by taxicabs in the relevant product and geographic market, (2) the vehicles used in the provision of taxicab services in the relevant product and geographic market are manufactured throughout the United States and elsewhere and purchased in interstate commerce, and (3) taxicab operators picking up airport passengers routinely transport passengers from such airports to destinations in other states (examples include transporting military personnel to Altus Air Force Base in Altus, Oklahoma,
COMPLAINT Page 6

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 7 of 18 PageID 7

and patrons of the casinos and gaming facilities in southern Oklahoma and Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana). 21. The Defendants and their Co-Conspirators together provide approximately 75%

of the taxicab services in the relevant product and geographic market. The combined sales of the Defendants and their Co-Conspirators for taxicab services within this area run into the millions of dollars annually. 22. During the period in which Defendants engaged in the conduct challenged by this

suit, up to and including the present, taxicabs held and operated under the authority of Defendants provided services to passengers from other states and carried passengers across state lines, in the flow of interstate commerce. There was, thus, a constant flow in, and effect on, interstate commerce in the provision of taxicab services by Defendants. V. FACTUAL BACKGROUND RELEVANT TO ALL CLAIMS A. Description of the Taxicab Market in the Dallas, Tarrant and Collin Counties. 23. All of the Defendants, their Co-Conspirators and Plaintiffs Alamo, Ambassador,

Star, and United are Decal holders for taxicabs in the Dallas, Tarrant and Collin Counties (collectively these companies are referred to as Holders). Under the City of Dallass rules for granting operating authority which through control of Dallas Love Field and DFW Airport, effectively control the entire relevant market in terms of setting minimum standards for obtaining Holder status Holders generally must have at least 25 taxicabs either owned or driven for them by an owner operator, in order to hold Decals in this market. Currently, due to a 2003 City of Dallas moratorium on the addition of new Holders, which DFW Airport joined in 2009, no new

COMPLAINT

Page 7

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 8 of 18 PageID 8

competitors can enter the market. As long as the moratoriums remain in effect, any consolidation among the limited number of Holders causes a permanent reduction in competition that as a practical matter, cannot be offset by new market entries. Taxicab drivers in the relevant geographic market operate taxicabs with Decals granted to the Holders by area cities including Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Arlington, Addison, Plano, Mesquite, and Hurst, as well as by DFW Airport. To obtain the use of Decals from Holders, individual taxicab drivers pay Holders a Stand Fee. In exchange for the Stand Fee, Drivers receive Decals to operate (which vary in scope between taxicabs), insurance, dispatch services, decals, branding and trade name rights. 24. To make a living as a taxicab operator in the Dallas, Tarrant and Collin Counties,

drivers generally need an operators license, a properly outfitted taxicab, a Decal granting authority operate it out of either DFW Airport or Dallas Love Field, some means of obtaining dispatches, and insurance and inspections satisfying the requirements of their regulators. Technically, a taxicab operator could operate without access to an airport, but it would be virtually impossible to obtain a sufficient number of trips to cover operating costs. Drivers are responsible for obtaining their own taxicab operators licenses. For a car, some drivers lease cars owned by the Holders (or their related companies), while others own their own taxicabs, but obtain their Decals by affiliating with Holders. Generally, a company must have 25 taxicabs to obtain operating authority from the cities or DFW Airport, though one company holds authority for only 18 taxicabs through the City of Plano, which also have DFW Airport Decals. All Holders are required to have independent dispatch facilities and insure the taxicabs for which they hold Decals. City of Dallas and DFW Airport regulations require that insurance be through a company the decision making for which is not controlled by the Holder. The limitation of

COMPLAINT

Page 8

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 9 of 18 PageID 9

Decals to fleet-sized companies results in all drivers being required to go through the Holders in order to be authorized to operate. B. Pricing of Stand Fees 25. The price paid for a Stand Fee varies widely depending upon the Decals and

dispatch services received by a driver in exchange for the Stand Fee. Defendants have access through Yellow and Irving Holdings to a computer dispatch system that allows taxicabs to be dispatched to locations throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area. All of Yellows taxicabs have access to the computer dispatch system. Almost all, if not all, of the taxicabs equipped for the computer dispatch system also have operating authority at DFW Airport and the City of Dallas (which allows access to Dallas Love Field). References throughout this Complaint to Computer Dispatch taxicabs or the Stand Fees associated with the computer dispatch system are to these taxicabs. Computer Dispatch Stand Fees are the most expensive in the market. 26. Defendants Executive, Taxi Dallas, Golden, and Defendants Co-Conspirators

Eagle, Jet, Freedom, State, Checker and Diamond offer a Stand Fee for taxicabs that have Decals for DFW Airport and Dallas, but are not equipped for access to the Computer Dispatch system. Most are, instead, radio dispatched. These are referred to throughout this Complaint as Airport with Dallas Decal authorities or Stand Fees. 27. Defendants Executive, Taxi Dallas, Golden, and Defendants Co-Conspirators

Eagle, Jet, Freedom, State, Checker and Diamond, as well as Plaintiffs Alamo, Ambassador, Star and United offer radio dispatched Decals for DFW Airport only. These are the least expensive Stand Fees, and are referred to throughout this Complaint as Airport Only authorities or Stand Fees. Plaintiffs Alamo, Ambassador, Star and United offer a Dallas Only option as well.

COMPLAINT

Page 9

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 10 of 18 PageID 10

28.

Current approximate pricing for Computer Dispatch, Airport with Dallas Decal,

Dallas Only, and Airport Only authorities among the Holder parties is as follows: Holder Computer Authority Price per Week Airport with Dallas Decal Price per Week Airport Only Price per Week (based on $300 per month)

Defendants/CoConspirators Yellow Eagle Jet Freedom Executive Taxi Dallas Golden State Checker Diamond Plaintiffs Alamo Ambassador Star United

$245 $245 $245 $245 $245 $245 $245 $245 $245 $245 -

$145 $145 $145 $145 $145 $145 $145 $145 $145 Dallas Decal Only $140 $119 $110 -

$69.23 $69.23 $69.23 $69.23 $69.23 $69.23 $69.23 $69.23 $69.23 $84 $79 $110 $69.23

C.

Centralized Ownership and Control of Defendants 29. It is no coincidence that all the Defendant and Co-Conspirator Holders are priced

in lockstep. While they maintain the appearance of being competitors in the taxicab market, all these Defendants and Co-Conspirators are controlled, and most are indirectly owned, by Jack Bewley and Jeff Finkel. Irving Holdings and Yellow are owned by Bewley and Finkel, and they are the only directors of either company. Irving Holdings is the 100% owner and parent corporation of Defendants Co-Conspirators JetTaxi, Freedom, Eagle, State, Diamond, and U.S. Cab. Mr. Bewley is president of all such entities, and further is the top executive manager of operations by which dispatch facilities and other services are provided to Defendants Executive,
COMPLAINT Page 10

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 11 of 18 PageID 11

Taxi Dallas, Golden, and Co-Conspirator Checker. Through this control structure, Defendants engage in the anti-competitive conduct that forms of the basis of this suit. VI. ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS COUNT I: PRICE FIXING 30. All of the facts alleged throughout this Complaint are re-alleged in this Count as

though set forth fully herein. 31. Beginning at least as early as 2007, and continuing at least through the date of

filing of this Complaint, Defendants, and their Co-Conspirators have engaged in a combination and conspiracy in unreasonable restraint of interstate trade and commerce in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1 and attempted monopolization or conspiracy to monopolize in violation of 15 U.S.C. 2. This unlawful conduct will continue or may be renewed, if ceased at some point while the case is pending, unless the Court grants the relief requested in this Complaint. 32. The combination and conspiracy consisted of a continuing agreement,

understanding, and concert of action among the all Defendants and Co-Conspirators to fix and maintain the Stand Fee prices at the amount to which they agree. Each Defendant acted in furtherance of this combination and conspiracy by agreeing to charge, and charging, the same price for each type of Stand Fee. 33. Holders are the competitors in the relevant product market. The relevant product

is the bundle of rights the taxicab drivers receive in exchange for their Stand Fees. The taxicab drivers, which include the individual Plaintiffs, and also are represented in an associational capacity for the purpose of pursuing injunctive and other equitable relief by Plaintiff Association

COMPLAINT

Page 11

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 12 of 18 PageID 12

of Taxicab Operators, USA, are the consumers of the relevant product. 34. This price fixing combination and conspiracy has affected trade or commerce by

fixing and maintaining Stand Fees, and by restraining, suppressing and eliminating competition within the relevant market. COUNT II PREDATORY PRICING 35. All of the facts alleged throughout this Complaint are re-alleged in this Count as

though set forth fully herein. 36. For operational purposes, as to this Count, Defendants should be held jointly and

severally liable for the conduct of all other Defendants and their Co-Conspirators. Defendants Executive, Taxi Dallas, and Golden, and Co-Conspirators Eagle, Freedom, Jet, State, U.S. Cab, Checker and Diamond are mere tools or business conduits for Irving Holdings, and Defendants Bewley and Finkel. The totality of these individuals and entities dealings with one another shows that they are so entwined that treating them as separate would result in injustice. Defendants also are operating as a single business enterprise by sharing common dispatch facilities and employees, servicing customers of one Defendant with employees of another, sharing dispatch facilities and personnel, dispatching taxicabs from one Defendant to service customer calls made to another of the Defendants, and accepting and processing Stand Fee payments collectively. The corporate forms of the Defendants also should be disregarded because their scheme of operation is being used to hide the perpetration of a monopoly or attempted monopoly and circumvent the requirements of United States antitrust laws. 37. Operating as described in the previous paragraph, Defendants have engaged in

predatory pricing of Stand Fees. The $300 per month DFW Only Stand Fee charged by

COMPLAINT

Page 12

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 13 of 18 PageID 13

Defendants is below the average increased costs incurred by Defendants for insurance alone on each additional taxicab authorized and serviced. Other marginal costs, such as decals, airport usage fees, marginal dispatch costs and the like, make the disparity between pricing and costs even more imbalanced. This DFW Only Stand Fee is one of the primary types of Stand Fees Plaintiffs Alamo, Ambassador, Star and United offer in the market. The effect of this in the Stand Fee market is that any time a taxicab with DFW Only authority becomes available through Defendants Executive, Taxi Dallas, and Golden, and Co-Conspirators Eagle, Freedom, Jet, State, U.S. Cab, Checker or Diamond, one of the Plaintiff Holders, or a similarly situated competitor that is not controlled by Defendants, loses a taxicab operator. The erosion caused by this phenomenon is accelerated by the fact that smaller Holders such as Plaintiffs are unable to maintain authorities for dormant taxicabs. Thus, Defendants and their Co-Conspirators predatory pricing scheme not only diminishes Plaintiffs competitive position through loss of drivers, but also damages their long term competitive position by causing them to lose taxicab authorities. The moratorium further compounds this anticompetitive effect by ensuring that there will be no new entries into the market. Since 2007, this scheme has resulted in a siphoning of approximately 8% of market share from Plaintiff Holders to Defendants and Co-Conspirators collectively. 38. Defendants and Co-Conspirators have ever-increasing dominant or monopoly

power that will allow them to recoup ever greater portions of their initial losses from below-cost pricing. Here, Defendants already have found ways to recoup such costs. One means is by leveraging the requirement that taxicabs in this market be no more than 5 years old. Rather than allowing operators using Defendants Decals to go all the way to the end of their final year,

COMPLAINT

Page 13

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 14 of 18 PageID 14

Defendants require cabs that would have to be replaced at year end to cease operations at or near the end of October. Having cut the driver off from the drivers current taxicab, Defendants then can push operators to take over another taxicab, usually one of the $245 per week Computer Dispatch units. Whether the driver is an owner operator or a lessee operator, this scheme pushes drivers first from Plaintiff Holders and similar competitors to the Defendants with predatory prices. Defendants then push those same drivers toward the most expensive Computer Dispatch units. This scheme also has the effect of pushing owner operators to lease from Defendants or their affiliates. The net effect is to make taxicab operators ever more beholden to Defendants through the leveraging of dominant market power, and a further consolidation of a market virtually closed to new competitors. COUNT III CLAYTON ACT VIOLATIONS 39. All of the facts alleged throughout this Complaint are re-alleged in this Count as

though set forth fully herein. 40. Some time in approximately the second half of 2007, Irving Holdings became the

100% owner and parent company of Freedom, Eagle and Jet taxicab companies. Some time in approximately the first half of 2012, Irving Holdings became the 100% owner and parent company of State, U.S. Cab, and Diamond. These are not the first market consolidations fostered by Irving Holdings. Previously, such competitors in the taxicab market as Choice Cab Company, Terminal Taxi Corporation, Yellow Checker Cab Company of Dallas, Inc., Yellow Checker Cab Company of Fort Worth, Inc., and Big Tex Taxi Corporation were merged into Irving Holdings at its formation. While not the particular subject of this claim, other consolidations of some sort occurred, such that the dispatch telephone numbers of former taxicab

COMPLAINT

Page 14

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 15 of 18 PageID 15

competitors Republic, West End, City Cab, and Allied taxicab companies all roll into the dispatch center for Yellow, even though none of these companies have any taxicabs in service. Thus, the merger of Irving Holdings, Freedom, Eagle, Jet, State, Diamond, and U.S. Cab occurred after there already had been a huge consolidation into the control sphere of Defendants Bewley and Finkel and Co-Conspirators Yellow and Irving Holdings. 41. The consolidation brought about by the merger of Irving Holdings, Yellow,

Freedom, Eagle, Jet, State, Diamond, and U.S. Cab and by the de facto joint venture these CoConspirators have entered with Defendants Checker, Executive, and Taxi Dallas, and CoConspirator Golden have had the effect of substantially lessening competition and tending to create a monopoly, in violation of Section 7 of Clayton Act. This has produced a concentration of market power after the merger and joint venture of approximately 75% of market share. This concentration of market power is particularly injurious to competition where, as here, barriers to entry are high that new competitors could enter the market only if the moratorium on new Holders is lifted. Collusion and consolidation within the market already have occurred and likely will continue, as supported by Defendants lock-step pricing scheme amongst themselves and their Co-Conspirators and admittedly complete concert of action in the market. VII. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION OF DIVESTITURE REMEDY 42. Plaintiffs ask that the Court grant injunctive relief enjoining generally the

anticompetitive conduct alleged throughout this Complaint. While the relief requested is stated in terms of general relief, Plaintiffs request that the Court consider breaking up through divestiture and injunction the consortium Defendants, and their Co-Conspirators have formed

COMPLAINT

Page 15

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 16 of 18 PageID 16

over the over the last few years. Plaintiffs specifically request that the Court consider, and award if appropriate, the following injunctions: a. That Irving Holding, Inc. and Defendants Bewley & Finkel be required to

divest itself of Darya Corporation d/b/a Executive Cab Company, Khorshid, Inc. d/b/a Taxi Dallas, and Zyba Corporation d/b/a Golden Cab, and that such divestiture be to entities that are not owned or controlled by Jack Bewley, Jeffrey Finkel, or any of their affiliates; and b. That Defendants Bewley & Finkel and Co-Conspirators Irving Holdings,

Inc. and Yellow Checker Cab Company of Dallas/Fort Worth, Inc. be permanently restrained and enjoined from owning or managing by merger, contract, asset purchase or any other means, any of the other Defendants in this case. VIII. ANTITRUST INJURIES AND RELIEF REQUESTED 43. Plaintiffs Alamo, Ambassador, Star and United have been injured in their

businesses and property by Defendants antitrust violations described herein. Specifically, these Plaintiffs are subject to artificially low price competition because of Defendants predatory pricing scheme. The competing Plaintiffs also are suffering losses as a result of the pricing fixing, merger, and de facto joint venture which is causing a competitively dangerous consolidation of market power. All of these behaviors reduce competition and harden the pricing structure within the relevant market. With 75% of the market setting prices in lock step, and that same 75% engaging in predatory pricing, market prices are being set by Defendants, not market forces. Consumers, Plaintiff Holders drivers and former drivers ultimately are driven to higher priced authority options offered by Defendants. Thus, in addition to lost profits in the short term,

COMPLAINT

Page 16

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 17 of 18 PageID 17

Plaintiffs Alamo, Ambassador, Star and United are suffering a potentially permanent diminution in their driver base and authorized taxicabs, which devalues their businesses, all as a result of unfair competition by Defendants. 44. The individual Plaintiffs, the consumers of the relevant product, are being injured

by Defendants antitrust violations described above. The predatory pricing and recoupment scheme of Defendants ultimately drives the Stand Fee costs up by reducing the competitors offering taxicab Decals and pushing them into more expensive Computer Stand Fees offered only by Defendants. Plaintiffs also have been denied the benefit of unrestricted competition in Stand Fee prices. 45. Plaintiffs Alamo, Ambassador, Star, United and the Individual Plaintiffs request

that after a jury trial on the merits, they receive judgment finding that Defendants have violated Sherman Act Sections 1 and 2 and Clayton Act Section 7 and awarding them, and ordering Defendants jointly and severally to pay, treble their damages, reasonable costs, and their attorneys fees under Section 4 of the Clayton Act. 46. All Plaintiffs request that Defendants, and their officers, directors, agents,

employees and successors, and all other persons acting or claiming to act on their behalf, be restrained and enjoined from: a. Continuing, maintaining, or renewing the combination and conspiracy

alleged herein in any manner, directly or indirectly; and b. Engaging in any other combination, conspiracy, contract, agreement,

understanding, or concert of action having a similar purpose or effect.

COMPLAINT

Page 17

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 1 Filed 11/08/12

Page 18 of 18 PageID 18

Date: November 8, 2012. Respectfully submitted, K. HOLLINGSWORTH & ASSOC., P.C.

By: /S/ Kelly D. Hollingsworth Kelly D. Hollingsworth Texas Bar No. 00793966 17311 Dallas Parkway, Suite 115 Dallas, Texas 75248 [email protected] (972) 386-8600 (972) 386-8616 fax ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS

COMPLAINT

Page 18

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12 Filed 01/10/14

Page 1 of 7 PageID 433

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF TAXICAB OPERATORS, USA, D.E.C.D.A, INC. d.b.a. STARCAB, MAREDI CORPORATION d.b.a UNITED CAB, E.P.D.A., INC. d.b.a ALAMO CAB, INC., WALAAL CORPORATION d.b.a. AMBASSADOR CAB COMPANY, and PLAINTIFFS LISTED IN EXHIBIT A, ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Plaintiffs, ) v. ) ) JACK BEWLEY, JEFF FINKEL, DAYRA ) CORPORATION d/b/a EXECUTIVE CAB ) COMPANY, KHORSHID, INC. d/b/a TAXI ) DALLAS, and ZYBA CORPORATION ) d/b/a GOLDEN CAB ) ) Defendants. )

Civil Action No. 3:12-cv-04508-P

PLAINTIFFS MOTION FOR VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL AND REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE RULING Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2), all Plaintiffs request that the Court dismissed their suit against all Defendants, and in support of that request, state the following:. A. 1. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs are the Association of Taxicab Operators, USA (ATO), D.E.C.D.A.,

Inc. d/b/a Star Cab (Star), Maredi Corporation d/b/a United Cab Service (United), E.P.D.A., Inc. d/b/a Alamo Cab (Alamo), Walaal Corporation d/b/a Ambassador Cab Company (Ambassador), and the Individuals listed in Exhibit A to the Complaint. Defendants are Jack Bewley, Jeff Finkel, Darya Corporation d/b/a Executive Cab Company (Executive), Khorshid, Inc. d/b/a Taxi Dallas (Taxi Dallas), and Zyba Corporation d/b/a Golden Cab (Golden). 2. On November 8, 2012, Plaintiffs sued Defendants for various federal antitrust
Page 1

Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal and Request for Immediate Ruling

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12 Filed 01/10/14

Page 2 of 7 PageID 434

violations, including price-fixing, predatory pricing, and Clayton Act violations. [Doc. 1] Defendants waived service upon request, and filed their Answer and Jury Demand on July 29, 2013. [Doc. 8] 3. Plaintiffs offer the attached Declaration of Kelly D. Hollingsworth in Support of

Motion for Voluntary Dismissal dated January 10, 2014, and attachments, which is filed with this Motion and incorporated herein for all purposes. 4. On October 1, 2013, Plaintiff wrote counsel for Defendants requesting that

Defendants stipulate to voluntary dismissal of this case. Within the next few days, counsel for the parties discussed the proposed stipulation or agreement, but did not reach a conclusion regarding whether Defendants would agree to this Motion. On October 14, 2013, Plaintiffs counsel wrote Defendants counsel, again requesting that Defendants just agree to this motion. Counsel again wrote Defendants counsel on October 23, 2013, asking for an final answer from Defendants regarding whether they would agree. 5. On October 29, 2013, Mr. Nelson, counsel for Defendants, wrote Plaintiffs

counsel stating the following: My clients cannot agree to the motion to dismiss in the 2012 action. But you can include this information in the certificate of conference: I conferred with defendants counsel, Forest Nelson, who indicated that he cannot agree to the motion to dismiss. Mr. Nelson did indicate that he would not file a response to the motion to dismiss, but the failure to file a response is not to be considered a waiver of any argument or position taken by the defendants regarding the final judgment issued in the 2010 monopoly action, Civil Action No. 3:10-CV-01638-N, in this court, styled Association of Taxicab Operators, U.S.A., et al. v. Yellow Checker Cab Company of Dallas/Fort Worth, Inc., et al. Thanks. Forest nelson. [sic] On the basis of Defendants statement that they will not file a response in opposition to this motion, Plaintiffs state that the motion is unopposed. Plaintiffs further believe that this is
Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal and Request for Immediate Ruling Page 2

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12 Filed 01/10/14

Page 3 of 7 PageID 435

important because there will be no harm in the Court considering this Motion immediately. B. 6. ARGUMENT

Courts in the 5th Circuit should freely grant a motion for voluntary dismissal as

long as the nonmovant will not suffer some plain legal prejudice. See Halliburton Energy Service, Inc. v. Weatherford International, Inc., 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31129, *4 (N.D.Tex. 2004)(Godbey, J.), citing Manshack v. Southwestern Electric Power Co., 915 F.2d 172, 173 (5th Cir. 1990). Plain legal prejudice does not arise merely because of the usual conditions attached to a voluntary dismissal[, which] involves prejudice only in a practical sense (e.g., paying costs or expenses, producing documents, producing witnesses). See Le Compte v. Mr. Chip, Inc., 528 F.2d 601, 603 (5th Cir. 1976); see also Hancock v. Chicago Title Ins. Co., 2010 U.S. Dist. Lexis 102773, 9 (N.D. Tex. 2010)(Fitzwater, C.J.). The requested voluntary dismissal should be granted because Defendants will not suffer any plain legal prejudice. Reason for Requested Dismissal 7. Plaintiffs seek voluntary dismissal because Plaintiffs have been unable at this time

to pay the necessary fees and costs associated with pursuit of this litigation, and the companion case, the earlier-filed Civil Action Number 3:10-cv-01638-N. The companion case was dismissed by the Court on October 1, 2013. The Plaintiff entities not the individual Plaintiffs directly were sharing the fees associated with the cases. One such entity decided that it could not participate any further in this or any related litigation because of the fees and expenses. The contribution of this Plaintiff entity to the overall litigation budget was such that it has proven impossible for the remaining Plaintiffs to pay by themselves the foreseeable fees and expenses associated with this case.

Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal and Request for Immediate Ruling

Page 3

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12 Filed 01/10/14

Page 4 of 7 PageID 436

Defendants Will Not Suffer Plain Legal Prejudice 8. Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal should be granted unless Defendants

will suffer some plain legal prejudice other than the mere prospect of a second lawsuit. See Robles v. Atl. Sounding Co., 77 Fed. Appx. 274, 275 (5th Cir. 2003)(per curiam). Defendants will suffer no legal prejudice. There are three commonly identified circumstances under which courts have found plain legal prejudice: (1) (2) when the grant of a motion for voluntary dismissal causes the nonmovant to be stripped of an otherwise available defense; when the motion for voluntary dismissal is filed after the granting of an adverse trial court ruling in the favor of the nonmovant, and dismissal would deprive nonmovant of the benefit of that ruling; and when dismissal is sought at a late stage of the final trial, after the defendant has exerted significant time and effort.

(3)

None of these forms of plain legal prejudice is present here. Defendants will not lose any available defenses. 9. Defendants will not lose any available defenses if this case is voluntarily

dismissed. The affirmative defenses asserted by Defendants are set out in paragraphs 47 to 59 of Defendants Original Answer and Affirmative Defenses [Doc. 8], filed July 29, 2013, and include the following: statute of limitations (47), laches (48), that persons other than Defendants caused any damages (49), failure to mitigate (50), that Plaintiffs caused their own damages (51), unclean hands (52), failure to allege and prove damages or standing (53),
Page 4

Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal and Request for Immediate Ruling

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12 Filed 01/10/14

Page 5 of 7 PageID 437

justification (54), license, moratorium, government oversight, governmental approval, and public disclosure (55),

waiver (56), mootness (57), business necessity and viable competitors which have not been joined, (58), and

that Defendants are not distinct economic entities (59).

Each of these defenses to the extent they are legally recognized and supported by the facts will survive dismissal without prejudice to refiling. Defendants will not be deprived of any defense they otherwise would be permitted to pursue in this case. The first possible ground for plain legal prejudice is not present here. Defendants will not lose the benefit of any adverse rulings. 10. There has been no adverse motion granted, the benefit of which Defendants will

be deprived if this case is dismissed. This motion for dismissal is not sought at a late stage of the final trial, after Defendants have exerted significant time and effort. Plaintiffs are not seeking dismissal to avoid an adverse ruling of the Court. C. 11. CONCLUSION

The main purpose of requiring court approval for a voluntary dismissal under

Rule 41(a)(2) is to protect the defendant from unfair treatment or to permit the imposition of curative conditions. See Elbaor v. Tripath Imaging, Inc., 279 F.3d 314, 317 (5th Cir. 2002). Defendants will not suffer any unfair treatment or plain legal injury as a result of the requested voluntary dismissal. Defendants do not stand to lose any defenses if the dismissal is granted, and

Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal and Request for Immediate Ruling

Page 5

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12 Filed 01/10/14

Page 6 of 7 PageID 438

there are no counterclaims asserted against Plaintiffs by Defendants. There are no adverse rulings pending or indicated by the Court that Plaintiffs would avoid by the dismissal requested by Plaintiffs. There is nothing unfair about incurring expenses that easily could have been avoided, and fees associated with trial preparation simply do not give rise to plain legal prejudice. REQUEST FOR RELIEF 12. On the basis of the foregoing, Plaintiffs respectfully request that the Court

consider this Motion immediately, in light of Defendants counsels statement that Defendants will not file a response in opposition to the Motion, and enter an unconditional order dismissing this suit without prejudice to refiling. Date: January 10, 2014. Respectfully submitted, K. HOLLINGSWORTH & ASSOC., P.C.

By: /S/ Kelly D. Hollingsworth Kelly D. Hollingsworth Texas Bar No. 00793966 17311 Dallas Parkway, Suite 115 Dallas, Texas 75248 [email protected] (972) 386-8600 (972) 386-8616 fax ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS

Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal and Request for Immediate Ruling

Page 6

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12 Filed 01/10/14

Page 7 of 7 PageID 439

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing document was served upon any counsel of record for Defendants in accordance with the ECF Rules of the Northern District of Texas on January 10, 2013.

/S/ Kelly D. Hollingsworth Kelly D. Hollingsworth

Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal and Request for Immediate Ruling

Page 7

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12-1 Filed 01/10/14

Page 1 of 3 PageID 440

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF TAXICAB OPERATORS, USA, D.E.C.D.A, INC. d.b.a. STARCAB, MAREDI CORPORATION d.b.a UNITED CAB, E.P.D.A., INC. d.b.a ALAMO CAB, INC., WALAAL CORPORATION d.b.a. AMBASSADOR CAB COMPANY, and PLAINTIFFS LISTED IN EXHIBIT A, Plaintiffs, v. JACK BEWLEY, JEFF FINKEL, DAYRA CORPORATION d/b/a EXECUTIVE CAB COMPANY, KHORSHID, INC. d/b/a TAXI DALLAS, and ZYBA CORPORATION d/b/a GOLDEN CAB Defendants. DECLARATION OF KELLY D. HOLLINGSWORTH SUPPORTING PLAINTIFFS MOTION FOR VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT As permitted by, and in accordance with the requirements of, 28 U.S.C. 1746, the undersigned Kelly D. Hollingsworth, counsel for Plaintiffs makes the following Declaration in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal: 1. I am counsel for all Plaintiffs in this suit, including the Association of Taxicab ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Civil Action No. 3:12-cv-04508-P

Operators, USA (ATO), D.E.C.D.A., Inc. d/b/a Star Cab (Star), Maredi Corporation d/b/a United Cab (United), E.P.D.A., Inc. d/b/a Alamo Cab (Alamo), Walaal Corporation d/b/a Ambassador Cab Company (Ambassador), and the Individuals listed in Exhibit A to the Complaint. 2. Defendants are Jack Bewley, Jeff Finkel, Darya Corporation d/b/a Executive Cab

Declaration of Kelly D. Hollingsworth in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal and Memorandum in Support

Page 1

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12-1 Filed 01/10/14

Page 2 of 3 PageID 441

Company (Executive), Khorshid, Inc. d/b/a Taxi Dallas (Taxi Dallas), and Zyba Corporation d/b/a Golden Cab (Golden). 3. Plaintiffs sued Defendants for various federal antitrust violations, including price-

fixing, predatory pricing, and Clayton Act violations. 4. On October 1, 2013, I wrote counsel for Defendants requesting that Defendants

stipulate to voluntary dismissal of this case. A true and correct copy of that email is attached hereto as Exhibit 1. Within the next few days, I spoke with Defense counsel and discussed the proposed stipulation or agreement, but Defendants did not reach a conclusion regarding whether Defendants would agree to this Motion. On October 14, 2013, I wrote Defendants counsel, again requesting that Defendants just agree to this motion. A true and correct copy of that email is attached hereto as Exhibit 2. I again wrote Defendants counsel on October 23, 2013, asking for an final answer from Defendants regarding whether they would agree. A true and correct copy of that email is attached hereto as Exhibit 3. 5. On October 29, 2013, Mr. Nelson, counsel for Defendants, wrote me back,

stating the following: My clients cannot agree to the motion to dismiss in the 2012 action. But you can include this information in the certificate of conference: I conferred with defendants counsel, Forest Nelson, who indicated that he cannot agree to the motion to dismiss. Mr. Nelson did indicate that he would not file a response to the motion to dismiss, but the failure to file a response is not to be considered a waiver of any argument or position taken by the defendants regarding the final judgment issued in the 2010 monopoly action, Civil Action No. 3:10-CV-01638-N, in this court, styled Association of Taxicab Operators, U.S.A., et al. v. Yellow Checker Cab Company of Dallas/Fort Worth, Inc., et al. Thanks. Forest nelson. [sic] A true and correct copy of that email is attached hereto as Exhibit 4. 6. Plaintiffs seek voluntary dismissal because Plaintiffs have been unable at this
Page 2

Declaration of Kelly D. Hollingsworth in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal and Memorandum in Support

Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12-1 Filed 01/10/14

Page 3 of 3 PageID 442

time to pay the necessary fees and costs associated with pursuit of this litigation. The companion case was dismissed by the Court on October 1, 2013. The Plaintiff entities not the individual Plaintiffs directly were sharing the fees associated with the cases. One such entity decided that it could not participate any further in this or any related litigation because of the fees and expenses. The contribution of this Plaintiff entity to the overall litigation budget was such that it has proven impossible for the remaining Plaintiffs to pay by themselves the foreseeable fees and expenses associated with this case. 7. There has been no adverse motion granted, the benefit of which Defendants will

be deprived if this case is dismissed. This motion for dismissal is not sought at a late stage of the final trial, after Defendants have exerted significant time and effort. We are not seeking dismissal to avoid an adverse ruling of the Court. 8. The facts stated in this declaration are within my personal knowledge and are

true and correct. This concludes my declaration. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

-s- Kelly D. Hollingsworth Kelly D. Hollingsworth Texas Bar No. 00793966 17311 Dallas Parkway, Suite 115 Dallas, TX 75248 972-386-8600 972-286-8616-fax [email protected] Attorney for Plaintiffs

Declaration of Kelly D. Hollingsworth in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Voluntary Dismissal and Memorandum in Support

Page 3

Hollingsworth-law Mail - ATO, et al. v. Jack Bewley, et al., Cause No. 12-CV-4508-N Page 1 of 1 Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12-2 Filed 01/10/14 Page 1 of 1 PageID 443

Kelly Hollingsworth< [email protected]>

ATO, et al. v. Jack Bewley, et al., Cause No. 12-CV-4508-N

1 message Kelly Hollingsworth < [email protected]> To: Forest Nelson <[email protected]>, Len Plog <[email protected]> Cc: Vince Handler <[email protected]> Forest and Len: In light of the Court's granting our Motion to Dismiss in the older case, will the Defendants in the abovereferenced case stipulate to unconditional voluntary dismissal? Tue, Oct 1, 2013 at 12:09 PM

Thank you, Kelly D. Hollingsworth K. Hollingsworth & Associates, PC 17311 Dallas Parkway, Suite 115 Dallas, Texas 75248 972-386-8600 972-386-8616 - Fax

2013.10.01 Order Granting Dismissal.pdf 27K

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f07e3cce6d&view=pt&search=sent&th=1417...

1/10/2014

Hollingsworth-law Mail - Requested Stipulation for Voluntary Dismissal Page 1 of 1 Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12-3 Filed 01/10/14 Page 1 of 1 PageID 444

Kelly Hollingsworth< [email protected]>

Requested Stipulation for Voluntary Dismissal

1 message Kelly Hollingsworth < [email protected]> To: Forest Nelson <[email protected]> Mr. Nelson: Week before last, I called to request your clients' stipulation to Plaintiffs' voluntary dismissal of the 2012 antitrust case. You indicated that you were meeting with Mr. Bewley early to mid-week last week and that you would let me know. I still have not heard from you. Will you please let me know today whether you will stipulate to the unconditional dismissal as requested? Mon, Oct 14, 2013 at 1:23 PM

Thank you,

Kelly D. Hollingsworth K. Hollingsworth & Associates, PC 17311 Dallas Parkway, Suite 115 Dallas, Texas 75248 972-386-8600 972-386-8616 - Fax

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f07e3cce6d&view=pt&search=sent&th=141b...

1/10/2014

Hollingsworth-law Mail - Motion for Voluntary Dismissal Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12-4 Filed 01/10/14

Page 1 of 1 Page 1 of 1 PageID 445

Kelly Hollingsworth< [email protected]>

Motion for Voluntary Dismissal

1 message Kelly Hollingsworth < [email protected]> To: Forest Nelson <[email protected]>, Len Plog <[email protected]> Cc: Vince Handler <[email protected]> Forest and Len: I have repeatedly tried to the reach you in the last few weeks trying to find out if you will agree to stipulate to the voluntary dismissal in the Bewley antitrust case. Please let me know whether you have reached a decision on this issue as soon as possible. Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 2:49 PM

Thank you,

Kelly D. Hollingsworth K. Hollingsworth & Associates, PC 17311 Dallas Parkway, Suite 115 Dallas, Texas 75248 972-386-8600 972-386-8616 - Fax

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f07e3cce6d&view=pt&search=sent&th=141e6... 1/10/2014

Hollingsworth-law Mail - RE: Motion for Voluntary Dismissal Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12-5 Filed 01/10/14

Page 1 of 2 Page 1 of 2 PageID 446

Kelly Hollingsworth< [email protected]>

RE: Motion for Voluntary Dismissal

1 message Forest Nelson < [email protected]> To: Kelly Hollingsworth <[email protected]> Tue, Oct 29, 2013 at 9:35 PM

My clients cannot agree to the motion to dismiss in the 2012 action. But you can include this information in the certificate of conference: I conferred with defendants counsel, Forest Nelson, who indicated that he cannot agree to the motion to dismiss. Mr. Nelson did indicate that he would not file a response to the motion to dismiss, but the failure to file a response is not to be considered a waiver of any argument or position taken by the defendants regarding the final judgment issued in the 2010 monopoly action, Civil Action No. 3:10CV 01638N, in this court, styled Association of Taxicab Operators, U.S.A., et al. v. Yellow Checker Cab Company of Dallas/Fort Worth, Inc., et al.

Thanks. Forest nelson.

From: Kelly Hollingsworth [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 2:50 PM To: Forest Nelson; Len Plog Cc: Vince Handler Subject: Motion for Voluntary Dismissal

Forest and Len:

I have repeatedly tried to the reach you in the last few weeks trying to find out if you will agree to stipulate to the voluntary dismissal in the Bewley antitrust case. Please let me know whether you have reached a decision on this issue as soon as possible. Thank you,

Kelly D. Hollingsworth K. Hollingsworth & Associates, PC 17311 Dallas Parkway, Suite 115 Dallas, Texas 75248 972-386-8600

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f07e3cce6d&view=pt&q=fnelson%40bbarr.co... 1/10/2014

Hollingsworth-law Mail - RE: Motion for Voluntary Dismissal Case 3:12-cv-04508-N Document 12-5 Filed 01/10/14
972-386-8616 - Fax

Page 2 of 2 Page 2 of 2 PageID 447

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f07e3cce6d&view=pt&q=fnelson%40bbarr.co... 1/10/2014