Francisca Okonkwo, Administrative Law Judge, Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation, in Her Official Capacity and Fort Bend County v. Joshua David Heiliger, Individually, and on Behalf of the Estate of Lauren Brittane Smith, and on Behalf of Death Benefits Beneficiaries Joshua David Heiliger and Emma Destiny Heiliger

ACCEPTED
15-25-00061-CV
FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
9/22/2025 12:00 AM
NO. 15-25-00061-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
CLERK
FILED IN
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS 15th COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
FOR THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM
CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk
FRANCESCA OKONKWO, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE, TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, DIVISION OF WORKERS’
COMPENSATION, IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY, AND FORT BEND
COUNTY,
Appellants,
v.
JOSHUA DAVID HEILIGER, INDIVIDUALLY, AND ON BEHALF OF THE
ESTATE OF LAUREN BRITTANE SMITH, DECEASED, AND ON BEHALF OF
DEATH BENEFITS BENEFICIARIES JOSHUA DAVID HEILIGER AND EMMA
DESTINY HEILIGER,
Appellees

ON APPEAL FROM TRIAL COURT CAUSE NO. 2024-78536
TH
11 JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
THE HONORABLE KRISTEN B. HAWKINS, PRESIDING JUDGE

APPELLANT FORT BEND COUNTY’S REPLY BRIEF

Dean G. Pappas Mary M. Markantonis
Texas Bar No. 15454375 Texas Bar No. 12986800
dpappas@dgplawfirm.com mmarkantonis@dgplawfirm.com
Marilyn G. Allen
Texas Bar No. 24025225
mallen@dgplawfirm.com
Dean G. Pappas Law Firm, PLLC
8588 Katy Freeway, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77024
Telephone: 713-914-6200
Telecopier: 713-914-6201
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT
FORT BEND COUNTY
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED
NO. 15-25-00061-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS

FRANCESCA OKONKWO, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE, TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, DIVISION OF WORKERS’
COMPENSATION, IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY, AND FORT BEND
COUNTY,
Appellants,
v.
JOSHUA DAVID HEILIGER, INDIVIDUALLY, AND ON BEHALF OF THE
ESTATE OF LAUREN BRITTANE SMITH, DECEASED, AND ON BEHALF OF
DEATH BENEFITS BENEFICIARIES JOSHUA DAVID HEILIGER AND EMMA
DESTINY HEILIGER,
Appellees

ON APPEAL FROM TRIAL COURT CAUSE NO. 2024-78536
TH
11 JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
THE HONORABLE KRISTEN B. HAWKINS, PRESIDING JUDGE

APPELLANT FORT BEND COUNTY’S REPLY BRIEF

TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS:

Relator Fort Bend County files this Reply to Appellee’s Response to FORT

BEND COUNTY’S Amended Brief as follows:

I.

The Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion in Oteka during the pendency

of the cases filed in this matter. Based upon that opinion, Fort Bend County filed a

Reply Brief to Appellee’s Response to Fort Bend’s Amended Petition for Writ of

1
Mandamus in Case No. 15-25-00102-CV to address Univ. of Tex. Rio Grande

Valley v. Oteka, 715 S.W.3d 731 (Tex. 2025).

Fort Bend now incorporates by reference as if fully set out in this case No.

15-25-00061-CV its Reply Brief in Case No 15-25-00102-CV and adopts,

incorporates and relies upon its arguments and authority contained therein.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITY CONSIDERED, the

Appellant Fort Bend County prays that this Court accepts and considers this Reply

to the Response of Appellee Joshua David Heiliger, et al, and reverses the April 2,

2025 Order Granting Temporary Injunction and Setting Trial on Merits and renders

judgment that this case be dismissed and for such further and other relief to which

it may be entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

DEAN G. PAPPAS LAW FIRM, PLLC

By: /s/ Mary M. Markantonis
Dean G. Pappas
Texas Bar No. 15454375
dpappas@dgplawfirm.com
Mary M. Markantonis
Texas No.12986800
mmarkantonis@dgplawfirm.com
Marilyn J. Allen
Texas Bar No. 24025225
mallen@dgplawfirm.com
8588 Katy Freeway, Suite 100

2
Houston, Texas 77024
Telephone: 713-914-6200
Telecopier: 713-914-6201

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
FORT BEND COUNTY

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
This reply brief complies with the length limitations of TEX. R. APP. P.
9.4(i)(3) because this reply brief consists of 180 words as determined by Microsoft
Word Count, excluding the parts of the reply brief exempted by TEX. R. APP. P.
9.4(i)(1).

/s/ Mary M. Markantonis
Mary M. Markantonis

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of this Reply Brief was served
on all counsel of record by using the Court’s e-filing system on the 20th day of
September, 2025, addressed as follows:
Via eFile through the electronic filing manager
Russell L. Morris
Pablo A. Franco
Andrew W. Bruce
McBryde Franco, PLLC
11000 Richmond Avenue, Suite 350
Houston, Texas 77042

Attorneys for Joshua Heiliger, Individually and on Behalf of the Estate of Lauren
Brittane Smith, Deceased, and on Behalf of Death Benefits Beneficiaries Joshua
David Heiliger and Emma Destiny Heiliger, Appellee

Via eFile through the electronic filing manager
Ken Paxton
Brent Webster
Ralph Molina

3
James Lloyd
Ernest C. Garcia
Sherlyn Harper
Office of the Attorney General of Texas
808 Travis Street, Suite 1520
Houston, Texas 77002

James Z. Brazell
Assistant Attorney General, Administrative Law Division
P.O. Box 12548, Capital Station
Austin, Texas 78711-2548

Attorneys for Francesca Okonkwo, Administrative Law Judge in her official
capacity, Appellant

Via eFile through the electronic filing manager
LaVerne Chang
511 Lovett Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77006

Attorney for Greater Houston Psychiatric Associates, PLLC, Real Party in Interest

/s/ Mary M. Markantonis
Mary M. Markantonis

4
Automated Certificate of eService
This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system
on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing
certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a
certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Hope Furlow on behalf of Mary Markantonis
Bar No. 12986800
hfurlow@dgplawfirm.com
Envelope ID: 105869313
Filing Code Description: Brief Requesting Oral Argument
Filing Description: Appellant Fort Bend County's Reply Brief
Status as of 9/22/2025 7:28 AM CST

Case Contacts

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Lisa Teachey 24056416 lteachey@rustyhardin.com 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Laverne Chang 783819 chang@serpeandrews.com 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Marilyn Allen 24025225 mallen@dgplawfirm.com 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Mary Markantonis 12986800 mmarkantonis@dgplawfirm.com 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Dean Pappas 15454375 dpappas@dgplawfirm.com 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Andrew Bruce 24113627 serv.andrew@mf-txlaw.com 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Russell Morris 24099150 serv.russell@mf-txlaw.com 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Hope Burnett-Furlow hfurlow@dgplawfirm.com 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Pablo Franco 24121625 serv.pablo@mf-txlaw.com 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Catherine Hughes catherine.hughes@oag.texas.gov 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Sherlyn Harper Sherlyn.Harper@oag.texas.gov 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

James Z.Brazell james.brazell@oag.texas.gov 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT

Meridith Fischer Meridith.Fischer@oag.texas.gov 9/20/2025 1:35:01 PM SENT