Supreme Court

Case: 24-0883    
24-0883
10/17/2024
Mandamus/Cause
IN RE BELL HELICOPTER SERVICES INC. AND BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC. 
 
Appellate Briefs
Date▲▼Event Type▲▼Description▲▼RemarksDocument
07/11/2025Brief on the MeritsRelator Relator's Reply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services, Inc., et al.
06/26/2025Brief on the MeritsReal Parties in Interest Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Barbara Kawamura, et al.
04/21/2025Brief on the MeritsRelator Relators' Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services Inc., et al.
02/05/2025Reply to Petition for Writ of MandamusRelator Reply in Support of Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services, Inc., et al.
01/22/2025Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus FiledReal Parties in Interest Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Sammy Kawamura, et al.
10/17/2024Petition for Writ of Mandamus filedRelator Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services Inc., et al.
Case Events
Date▲▼Event Type▲▼Disposition▲▼RemarksDocument
06/05/2026Certified cys of cost bill sent to attys of record  Cost Bill Issued
04/27/2026Letter sent to parties from Supreme Court - See Remarks  Revised Opinion - The corrections are as follows:

On page 5 of the slip opinion, in the first line of the second full paragraph, "district court" is corrected to "county court at law". And on page 19 of the slip opinion, in the second line of the last full paragraph on the page, "district court" is corrected to "county court at law".
(4/26/2026 11:00:53 PM) 240883.pdf
04/24/2026Opinion issuedWrit of Mandamus conditionally granted The Court conditionally grants the writ of mandamus. Chief Justice Blacklock delivered the opinion of the Court.
(4/24/2026 11:28:25 AM) 240883.pdf
12/03/2025Oral argument   Argued on behalf of Relators by Kent Rutter; Argued on behalf of Real Parties in Interest by Byron K. Henry
12/01/2025Notice of Appearance  Amended Notice of Appearance filed on behalf of Ashley Fletcher, as Next Friend of Adam Kawamura.
11/19/2025Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  Oral Argument Submission Form submitted on behalf of Barbara Kawamura, et al. Oral Argument will be presented by Byron K. Henry of Henry Hill PLLC of Frisco, Texas.
11/19/2025Notice of Appearance  Notice of Appearance filed on behalf of Barbara Kawamura, et al.
11/19/2025Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  Oral Argument Submission Form submitted on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services, Inc., et al. Oral Argument will be presented by Kent Rutter of Haynes and Boone, LLP of Houston, Texas.
09/12/2025Case set for oral argumentCase set for oral argument This cause has been set for oral argument at 9:00 a.m., December 3, 2025. Time allotted to argue: 20/20 minutes
09/05/2025Mandamus Set to Argue 
09/05/2025Petition for Writ of Mandamus disposedCase set for oral argument The date and time for oral argument are yet to be determined.
07/11/2025Brief on the Merits  Relator's Reply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services, Inc., et al.
06/26/2025Brief on the Merits  Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Barbara Kawamura, et al.
05/21/2025Motion for Extension of Time disposed.Filing granted Second Motion for Extension of Time to file Real Party in Interest's Brief on the Merits is granted. Real Party in Interest's Brief is due June 26, 2025. FURTHER REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS OF TIME FOR THIS FILING WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Reply Brief is due July 11, 2025.
05/21/2025Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  Unopposed Second Motion for Extension of Time to file Real Party in Interest's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Sammy Kawamura, et al.
05/21/2025Notice received  Notice of Withdrawal filed on behalf of Barbara Kawamura, et al.
05/05/2025Motion for Extension of Time disposed.Filing granted Motion for Extension of Time to file Real Party in Interest's Brief on the Merits is granted. Real Party in Interest's Brief is due May 27, 2025. FURTHER REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS OF TIME FOR THIS FILING WILL BE DISFAVORED. Reply Brief is due June 11, 2025.
05/05/2025Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to file Real Party in Interest's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Sammy Kawamura, et al.
04/21/2025Brief on the Merits  Relators' Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services Inc., et al.
04/04/2025Motion for Extension of Time disposed.Filing granted Motion for Extension of Time to file Relator's Brief on the Merits is granted. Relator's Brief is due April 21, 2025. FURTHER REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS OF TIME FOR THIS FILING WILL BE DISFAVORED. Response Brief is due May 12, 2025. Reply Brief is due May 27, 2025.
04/04/2025Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to file Relator's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services Inc., et al.
03/28/2025Motion to Stay DisposedFiling dismissed as moot Relators' Motion to Stay dismissed as moot
03/21/2025Letter Filed  Letter Filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services Inc., et al.
03/19/2025Call received  Call received noting a response to the motion to stay will be filed Monday.
03/19/2025Motion to Stay Filed   Motion to Stay filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services Inc., et al.
03/07/2025Brief on the Merits Ordered  Brief on the merits requested: Relator's brief due no later than April 7, 2025; Response brief due April 28, 2025; Reply brief due May 13, 2025.
02/05/2025Reply to Petition for Writ of Mandamus  Reply in Support of Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services, Inc., et al.
01/22/2025Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus Filed  Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Sammy Kawamura, et al.
12/17/2024Motion for Extension of Time to File Response disposedFiling granted Motion for Extension of Time to file Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus is granted. Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus is due January 22, 2025. Further requests for extensions of time for this filing will be disfavored.
12/17/2024Motion for Extension of Time to File Response  Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to file Real Party in Interest's Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Sammy Kawamura, et al.
11/22/2024Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response  Requested response to petition for writ of mandamus due no later than December 23, 2024.
11/21/2024Letter Filed  Letter filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services Inc., et al.
10/22/2024Case forwarded to Court 
10/17/2024Case Record Filed   Mandamus Record filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services Inc., et al.
10/17/2024Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed  Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Bell Helicopter Services Inc., et al.
Calendars
Set Date▲▼Calendar Type▲▼Reason Set▲▼Remarks▲▼
06/05/2026Case StoredCase stored.e-stored
Parties
Party▲▼Party Type▲▼Representative▲▼
Kawamura, BarbaraReal Party in Interest Mr. Jason A. Itkin
Mr. Byron K. Henry
Ms. Chelsea King
Mr. Walker S. Young
Mr. Cory D. Itkin  
Sammy Kawamura, Individually and as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Matthew KawamuraReal Party in Interest Mr. Cory D. Itkin  
Mr. Andrew R. Gould
Mr. Jason A. Itkin
Mr. Byron K. Henry
Mr. Walker S. Young
Mr. Parker J. Cragg
Ms. Chelsea King
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.RelatorMs. Natasha Breaux
Mr. Douglas W. Poole
Ms. Cailin M. Ringelman
Mr. Stephen C. Howell
Mr. Kent G. Rutter
Bell Helicopter Services Inc.RelatorMr. Stephen C. Howell
Ms. Natasha Breaux
Mr. Kent G. Rutter
Ms. Cailin M. Ringelman
Mr. Douglas W. Poole
Ashley Fletcher, as Next Friend of Adam Kawamura, a MinorReal Party in Interest Mr. Walker S. Young
Mr. Jason A. Itkin
Mr. Parker J. Cragg
Mr. Byron K. Henry
Mr. Cory D. Itkin  
Ms. Chelsea King
Mr. Andrew R. Gould
Court of Appeals Information:
Denied 
719 SW3d 398, 10-10-24 
14th Court of Appeals 
Honorable Per Curiam 
Trial Court Information
County Court at Law No 1 
Galveston 
Honorable John Grady 
CV-0079882