Harris County Flood Control District v. Adam

Some two hundred plaintiffs sued three governmental entities, who are petitioners here, complaining of property damage from flooding caused by petitioners’ activities. The trial court granted summary judgment for two of the defendants and issued an order severing that judgment from the main case, thereby making the judgment final in the severed case. The severance order contained a “Mother Hubbard” clause — “All other relief not specifically granted is denied” — and taxed costs against the plaintiffs. Sometime later, the defendants remaining in the original cause filed pleas to the…