Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DALLAS COUNTY
12/23/2014 12:49:55 PM
GARY FITZSIMMONS
DISTRICT CLERK
Freeney Anita
DC-14-14855
CAUSE NO.
NICHOLS,
Petitioner.
JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Petitioner, Rex Ramsey Nichols ("Nichols" or "Petitioner"), asks the Court for
permission to take depositions by oral examination to obtain testimony in an anticipated
suit, and for production of documents, as allowed as allowed by Texas Rule of Civil
Procedure 202.
I.
INTRODUCTION
who may be contacted through his attorneys, Blake Beckham and Jose Portela, The
Beckham Group, 3400 Carlisle, Suite 550, Dallas, Texas 75204. The last four digits of
Plaintiffs social security number are 1576 and the last four digits of his Texas driver's
license are 0746.
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II.
FACTS
home much closer to school, so that instead of waking up at 4:30am for pre-school
practice, the family could wake up at 5:45am.
5. After scouring MLS listings for nearly eight months looking for a home to
lease, Nichols ran across MLS listing 13034379, an offer to Lease a 10,930 square foot
home, in Dallas which was available for a one-year lease. The MLS listing even
highlights the unique nature of the home:
A fabulous Neiman Marcus Show house located on over an acre comer lot
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6. Not only is the home a lease house on Strait Lane (tmly one of the most
prestigious streets in Dallas), but it also has a very expensive 8 foot privacy fence with
electric gates, not to mention an incredible yard on over a one acre lot, two of many
specialized criteria that Nichols had (which this house met).
7. After seeing the home on or about November 1, 2014, Nichols
unequivocally told his agent, Robert "Bob" Heath ("Heath") that he agreed to lease this
home on the offered tenns. Based on the conversations between Heath (who represented
the lessee in the transaction) and Mary Beth Allman ("Allman") (the listing agent who
represented the lessor in the transaction), Nichols was told by Allman that everything was
"good to go."
along with a $35.00 fee to qualify his credit, and he was told it came back "approved."
9. Relying on the agreed lease and approval, Nichols helped cancel his
father's lease at his father's home, with the plan of his Dad moving into Nichols' soon-to-
be-former home. Nichols also announced the new home to the children and after many
tears, they were ready and excited to move.
10. Days later, Nichols received the first Residential Lease from Toni,
reflecting the offered and agreed rent in the amount of $12,000 per month. Nichols
signed and returned the lease, and provided the requested two months' rent, as well.
Then, the problems unfortunately began.
11. On November 5, Nichols received a voicemail from Allman stating that
Toni Pickens had "changed her mind" and sought to cancel the agreement to lease. Ms.
Allman stated that based on the elections and discussions with Mr. Pickens, Toni now
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really wanted to sell the home instead of leasing it. T. Boone was also alleged to be
involved in the lease vs. sale scheme. Nichols returned the call to Allman and much to
his dismay, he was told the Pickens still might be willing to lease the property and Mr.
Nichols was asked "would you pay $20,000 a month instead?" Suddenly, once a buyer
became interested, the fleecing scheme was put in action. Mr. Nichols refused to pay the
increased amount declaring "that's not right - we had a deal." Mr. Nichols expressed his
fhistration and concern over being stranded without a home.
12. Then Toni instmcted Allman to try to sell the home to Nichols while they
had him over a barrel. The house had previously been listed for sale then pulled off the
market when it didn't sell. For Allman and the Pickens - there was a chance to leverage
Nichols into buying the home using the one year lease as leverage. The parties began
negotiations on a purchase of the home, subject to Nichols' ability to lease the home for a
little less than one year so that the closing would occur late 2015.
13. One sales contract after another was sent to Nichols, with the lease
agreement kept separated. Nichols paid the option fee and jumped through every hoop
requested of him. Toni wanted the move-in day shifted from December 1, 2014 to
December 15, 2014 since the movers she has used for many years could not be available
on December 15. Then, the move-in date changed yet again, allegedly so that Toni could
claim her homestead exemption again.
14. Toni then required a large sum of money (approximately $250,000) be set
aside as default damages in advance of the purchase, which then lowered the purchase
price of the house. Nichols complied with this request, as well.
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15. Nichols hired an inspector for home on Strait Lane and paid for the
inspection himself. Toni now requested a list of references from Nichols, another new
condition with which Nichols complied.
16. Then, Toni was concerned because Nichols had been a named party in a
lawsuit. After speaking with Nichols and his attorney regarding the lawsuit, Toni was
apparently comforted to learn that Nichols was a victorious Plaintiff in the lawsuit (in his
capacity as a representative of the estate of a deceased physician and business partner).
17. The final terms of the purchase agreement were done and during a meeting
on or about December 1, 2014, with Nichols, Heath, and Allman at the home on Strait
Lane (which was supposed to serve as a "final walkthrough before occupancy"), Toni's
bizarre behavior continued. She kept offering to separately sell Nichols various fixtures
in the home - this was of course an oddity since fixtures are traditionally included in
home sales and leases, even when the sale price is not in excess of $5 million, as it was
here.
19. Then, after being presented with one contract upon another upon another,
the truth was finally revealed to Nichols. The Pickens family simply wants more money
now, and Toni has once again changed her mind on selling the home, even though
Nichols jumped through every hoop requested of him. Even though the home was listed
as a lease product on MLS, Toni never intended to lease the home.
PAGES
20. The Court only has to look at the lawsuit history of the Pickens family in
2013 and 2014 to learn the precise nature of the people that Nichols was involving with
in this transaction and their view on the meaning of contracts and fulfilling legal
commitments. In 2013, T. Boone sued his son, Michael, trying to shut down Michael's
blog which revealed numerous alleged wrongdoings and family secrets. Then, Michael
sued his father in November 2014, alleging that his father failed to live up to his end of a
promised position within one of T. Boone's many companies. It appears the Nichols
family is now an unsuspecting victim of the hurtfiil Pickens family drama.
21. Petitioner is left with no alternative but to seek testimony from Toni, T.
Boone, and Allman, in order to learn details surrounding the above-described scheme,
Toni s true intention, the role that T. Boone and Allman played in the scheme, the precise
communications made among the participants in this scheme, and the scienter related to
the falsify of the various representations.
III. REQUEST FOR DEPOSITIONS
22. In order to investigate this potential claims against Toni, T. Boone, and
Allman to recover the funds incurred as well as for potential specific perfonnance of the
contracts, Petitioner requires the depositions of Toni, T. Boone, and Allman. This Court
has authority under Rule 202 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure to authorize this
75229;
b. Thomas Boone Pickens, Jr. ("T. Boone"), an individual and
75225;
c. Allie Beth Allman ("Allman"), an individual and owner of
Allie Beth Allman & Associates. AIlman's contact
information and location of service is her business address
24. This Petition is filed in Dallas County, Texas, where venue of the
anticipated suit will lie. Not only is the property in question located in Dallas County,
but a substantial portion of the communications and drafting of the contracts in question
(a substantial part of the events giving rise to this litigation) occurred in Dallas County,
Texas.
examine the requested individuals by oral deposition, which may also be recorded by
video and by instant visual display of the testimony.
26. Petitioners request that the court order Toni, T. Boone, and Allman to
hearing and, after the hearing, order the deposition of Toni Brinker Pickens, Thomas
PAGE?
Boone Pickens, Jr., and Allie Beth Allman, and for the production of documents as
requested herein.
Telephone: 214-965-9300
Facsimile: 214-965-9301
A TTORNEYS FOR PETITIONER
PAGES
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on December 23, 2014 that a tme and correct copy of this
document was served on the following parties as indicated below.
VIA CMRRR
2^.Blake L. Beckham
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VERIFICATION
STATE OF TEXAS,
COUNTY OF [)'i{l"?
Before me, the undersigned Notary Public, on this day personally appeared Rex Ramsey
Nichols, who, after being duly sworn, stated under oath that he has read the above
Petition: and that every statement contained in Paragraphs 4-19 therein is within his
persona] knowledge and is true and correct.
Ramsey WicTioIs
^ JIMMY BARKER
My Commission Expires
December 11. 2015
.-^
^\^^-
1C
Notary Public in/nd for the State
of Texas
My commission expires
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EXHIBIT "A"
DOCUMENTS TO BE PRODUCED
Petitioner requests that Toni Brinker Pickens ("Toni"), Thomas Boons Pickens, Jr. ("T.
Boone"), and Allie Beth Allman ("Allman") produce the documents and things described
in the Requests below that are in their possession, custody, or control, and that Defendant
answer the Requests for Production pursuant to the Rule 202 Petition filed. The
requested documents are to be produced or made available for inspection and copying at
the offices of THE BECKHAM GROUP, 3400 Carlisle Street, Suite 550, Dallas, Texas 75204
on or before the date of the ordered depositions. Documents shall be organized and
labeled to correspond with the categories in these Requests.
INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
color copies of the subject matter of this request where the document contains
several colors, or black and white copies where the documents are only black and
white.
that cannot be legibly copied shall be produced in their original form; otherwise,
you may produce photocopies. Each page shall be given a discrete
production number with an identifier of the producing entity.
4. Documents Withheld: If any document is withheld under claim of privilege other
than the attorney client doctrine, furnish a list of such documents and provide:
a. that infonTiation or material responsive to the request has been
withheld.
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e. the date of the document, or, if not available, its approximate date;
f. the kind of document (e.g., letter, telex, memorandum, etc.);
g. the author(s) of the document;
0.
a statement of the facts that constitute the basis for withholding the
document, in sufficient detail to permit the Courts to adjudicate the
validity of the claim.
5. Entire Documents: For each document requested, produce the entire document,
7. Objections: If you object to any Request or part thereof, you are to identify the
legal nature and extent of your objection and produce all documents to which
your legal objection does not apply.
8. Ambiguity: If in answering these Requests you claim any ambiguity in either the
Request or a definition or instruction applicable thereto, identify in your response
the language you consider ambiguous and state the inteqiretation you are using in
responding.
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set forth the contents of each destroyed document, the date of such destruction,
the identity of any individuals who authorized the destruction, and other
circumstances related to such destruction.
10. Time Period: Unless otherwise specified in the Request, the time period
covered by these Requests is from January 1, 2004 to the current date.
GENERAL DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO THESE REQUESTS
6. "Property in Question" shall refer to 10235 Strait Lane, Dallas, Texas 75229.
7. "Document" and "documents" shall be construed in a broad sense and means,
without limitation, any writing or record of any type or description, whether
printed or recorded (mechanically or electrically), or reproduced by hand,
including, any letters, correspondence, electronic mail (which shall be produced
in its native fonnat), deleted electronic mail (which shall be produced in its native
fonnat), telegrams, memoranda, notes, records, reports, financial statements,
statistical and financial records, minutes, memoranda, notices or notes of
meetings, telephone or personal conversations or conferences, envelopes, intracompany communications, microfilm, tape recordings, videotapes, photographs,
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notations of meetings, personal notes, other notes, diaries, desk files, calendars,
file folders, files, letters, contracts, reports, studies, checks, cancelled checks,
check drafts, bank statements, painphlets, books, appraisals, printed matters,
created with the use of paper and electronic mail logging and routing software; all
Internet and Web-browser-generated history files, caches, and "cookies" files
generated at the workstation of each employee and/or agent in Defendant's
employ and on any and all backup storage media; and any and all other files and
metadata generated by users through the use of computers and/or
telecommunications, including but not limited to voicemail.
9.
data about the content, quality, condition, and other characteristics of data files.
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14. "Any" and "all" means "each and every" as well as "any one."
15. Person means the plural as well as the singular and includes natural persons,
corporations, firms, associations, partnerships, joint venturers or any other fonn of
business entity, and govenimental agencies, departments, units or any subdivision
thereof.
16. Date" means the exact day, month and year, if ascertainable, or if not, the best
approximation (including chronological relationship to other events).
17. "Or" means "and/or."
REQUEST NO. 1: Any and all communications (including electronic data whether or
not deleted) among Allman, Heath, Toni, T. Boone, or Nichols related to the Property in
Question.
RESPONSE:
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REQUEST NO. 2: Any and all proposed Lease Contracts or Sales Contracts with
Nichols related to the Property in Question.
RESPONSE:
REQUEST NO. 3: The complete file of Allie Beth Allman & Associates related to
10235 Strait Lane, Dallas, Texas 75229.
RESPONSE:
REQUEST NO. 4: Any and all cominumcations or contracts between Toni, T. Boone,
or Allman with any other potential buyer or lessee of the Property in Question.
RESPONSE:
REQUEST NO. 5: Any and all contracts or agreements between Toni or T. Boone (or
anyone on their behalf) and Allman or Allie Beth Allman & Associates.
RESPONSE:
REQUEST N0.6: Any and all documents and information supplied the Multi Listing
Service related to the Property in Question.
RESPONSE:
REQUEST NO. 7: Copies of any and all payments made by Nichols to Toni, T. Boone,
or Allman, related to the Property in Question.
RESPONSE:
REQUEST NO. 8: Copies of tax records showing the Property in Question as being the
homestead ofToni or T. Boone.
RESPONSE:
REQUEST NO. 9: Any correspondence between Toni, T. Boone, or Allman and any
potential title company which might be utilized to close the transaction.
RESPONSE:
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REQUEST NO. 10: Any invoices, cancelled checks, or wire transfer confinnations
which reflect any monies paid by Toni, T. Boone, or Allman with regard to the potential
lease or sale of the Property in Question.
RESPONSE:
REQUEST NO. 11: Any invoices, cancelled checks, or wire transfer confirmations
which reflect any monies paid by Toni or T. Boone to Allman with regard to the potential
lease or sale of the Property in Question.
RESPONSE:
REQUEST NO. 12: Copy of the complete files ofAllman or Allie Beth Allman &
Associates related to any other transactions involving Allman and Toni or T. Boone
RESPONSE:
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