## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 7 - 3 0 8 - CV
M I CH AE LL OU G AR R E T T AP P E L L ANT V . E. C. W I L L I AM S AN D F. L . HA YN ES APPE L L EE S

----- ----- -- FR O M THE 30TH DI STRI CT CO URT O F W I CH I TA CO UN TY

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### OP I NI ON

----- ----- -- I nt r oduc t i on A p p e l l a n t M i c h a e l L o u G a rre tt a p p e a l s th e tri a l c o u rt’s d i s m i s s a l o f h i s p ro se pet i t i on f orw r i tofm a ndam us. A ppel l antar gues t hatt he t r i al cour ter r ed
a n d ab u se d i ts d i sc reti o n b y d i sm i ss i n g h i s p e ti ti o n for w ri t of m a n d a m u s w i th pr ej udi ce i n accor dance w i t h T exas C i vi l Pr act i ce and R em edi es C ode chap t er 14. W e a f f i r m as m odi f i ed.I n t hei rbr i ef , ap pel l ee s l i stap pel l ant ’ s hi st or y ofi ns t i gat i ng e xt ens i ve 1 l i t i gat i on i n st at e and f eder al cour t s seeki ng m andam us r el i ef f or si m i l arcl ai m s. Th ey st at e t hatappel l anthas f i l ed at l east sevent een act i ons i n st at e cour tover t he past t hr ee year s and t w ent y act i ons i n f eder al cour tovert he pastsi x year s. H ow eve r , ap pel l ee s di d notr equ es tdi sm i ss al of a p p e lla n t ’s p e t it i o n o n t h is gr ound, nordoe s t he r ec or d s how t hatt hey br oughtan y oft hos e s ui t s t o t he 2 B a c k g rou n d F a c ts O n Sept em ber15, 2006 , ap pe l l ant , an i nm at e i n t he A l l r ed U ni toft he T e x a s D e p a r t m e n to fC r im in a l J u s t ic e , f ile d a p e t it io n f o rw r ito fm a n d a m u s in t he 3 0th D i st r i ctC our tofW i chi t a C oun t y and asked t he t r i al c o u rtt o or der
a pp e l l e e s , W a r de n E. C. W i l l i a m s a nd l a w l i br a r y s up e r vi s orF . L . Hay ne s , t o ( 1) p ro v i d e h i m w i th th e i d e n ti ti e s o f th e m a i l ro o m a n d l a w l i b ra rys ta ff, (2 ) re tu rn ei g h t p age s ofhi s dr af t ed l aw su i tw hi ch he cl ai m s w er e s t ol en, an d ( 3) s t op obs t r uct i ng hi s at t em pt s t o f i l e a l aw su i tag ai ns tt hem by dep r i vi ng hi m of suppl i es such as paperand l egal m at er i al s. O n t hatsam e day, appel l antal so f i l ed a m ot i on t o pr oce ed i n f or m a p aup er i s , a n a f f i dav i tofpov ert y, an d a decl ar at i on of i nabi l i t y t o pay cost s. O n Ju l y 12, 2007 , a pp e l l e e s f i l e d a m ot i on t o di s m i s s u nd e rc ha pt e r14
o f th e c i v i l p ra c ti c e a n d r e m e d i e s c o d e o n th e g ro u n d s th a t (1 ) th e tri a l c o u rt l a c k e d s ub j e c t m a t t e r j ur i s di c t i on a nd ( 2) a pp e l l a nt w a s no t e nt i tl e d to
m andam us r el i efbecause appel l ees di d not have a non di scr et i onar y, m i ni st er i al dut y t o pr ovi de hi m w i t h t he nam es an d m at er i al s he r equ es t ed. 1t r i al co urt ’ s at t ent i on. 3

O n August15, 200 7, t he t r i al co urts i gne d a n or dergr ant i ng t he m ot i on t o di sm i ss w i t h pr ej udi ce be ca us e t he pet i t i on w as “n ot i n c om pl i anc e w i t h t he
r equi r em ent s setf or t h i n T exa s C iv i l Pr act i ces and Rem edi es C ode, C hapter 1 4 .” A p p e lla n tt im e lyf ile d a n o t ic e o fa p p e a l.

C hap t er14 oft he C i vi lPr ac t i cean d Rem edi esCode I nm at e l i t i gat i on ( exceptsui t s br oug ht und er t he f am i l y code) i n w hi ch an in m a t e f ile s a n a f f id a v ito ru n s w o r n d e c la r a t io n o fin a b ilit y t o p a yc o s t s is governed by speci al pr ocedu r al r ul es setouti n chapter14 oft he ci vi l pr act i ce a n d re m e d i e s c o d e . S ee T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . §§ 1 4. 001- 14. 014 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ); Bi

sh op v. L a ws o n, 1 3 1 S .W .3 d 5 7 1 , 5 7 4 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o r t h 2 0 0 4 , p e t. d e n i e d ); T h o m a sv. K

n i gh t, 52 S. W . 3d 292, 294 ( Tex. A p p .— C o rp u s C h ri s ti 2 0 0 1 , p e t. d e n i e d ), c ert den i e d , 5 3 7 U .S . 8 9 0 (2 0 0 2 ). T h e l e g i slatu re e n a c ted th is sta tu te to co n tr o l the fl o o d o f f ri v o l o u s l a w su i ts bei ng f i l ed i n Tex as co urt s by p r i s on i nm at es be ca us e t hes e s ui t s con su m e m a n yv a l u a b l e j u d i c i a l re s o u rc e s w i th l i ttle o ffs e ttin g b e n e fi ts . Bi sh op, 131 S .W .3 d a t 5 7 4 ; K

n i gh t, 5 2 S .W .3 d 2 9 4 . T h e p u rpo se o f ch a p ter 1 4 i s n o t t o pun i sh i nm at es f or f i l i ng cl ai m s, but t o ai d t he cour ti n det er m i ni ng w het heran4

i n m a te ’s c l a i m i s fri v o l o u s . T h o m a s v. W

i ch ita G en . Ho sp ., 952 S . W . 2d 936, 9 4 1 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 1 9 9 7 , p e t. d e n i e d ). S e c ti o n 1 4 .0 0 4 re q u i re s a n i n m a te w h o fi l e s a n a f f i d a v i t o r u n s w o rn d e c l a rati o n o f i n a b i l i ty to p a yco sts to fi l e a s e p a rate affi d a v i t “rel a ted to pr evi ous f i l i ngs” i n w hi ch t he i nm at e m ust det ai l al l pr evi ous sui t s f i l ed pr o se, o th e r th a n a s u i t u n d e r th e fa m i l yc o d e . T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § 1 4 .0 0 4 (a ); A m i

r-Sh a rif v. Ma s o n, No. 05- 06- 01089

- CV , 2008 W L1712 19, at*2 ( Tex. A pp. — D al l as J a n . 22, 2008 , no p et . h. ) . Addi t i ona l l y, s ec t i on 14. 004 r equ i r es t he i nm at e t o f i l e a c ert i f i ed cop y oft he i nm at e’ s t r us tac cou nt
s t a t e m e n tt h a t“ r e f le c t [s ] t h e b a la n c e o ft h e a c c o u n t a t t h e t im e t h e c la im is f i l ed and ac t i vi t y i n t he ac cou ntdur i ng t he si x m o n th s p re ce di ng t he dat e o n
w hi ch t he cl ai m i s f i l ed. ” T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § § 1 4 .0 0 4 (c ), 1 4 .0 0 6 (f); A m i

r-Sh a rif, 2008 W L1712 19, a t*2 . C h a p ter 1 4 a p p l i e s “o n l yto a su i t bro u g h t by an i n m a te i n d i stri c t co u rt , j u s ti c e o ft he pea ce , ors m al l cl ai m s cou r ti n w hi ch an af f i dav i toru n s w o rn decl ar at i on of i nabi l i t y t o pay cost s i s f i l ed by t he i nm at e. ” T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § 1 4 .0 0 2 (a ); Bi sh op, 13 1 S . W . 3d at 57 4. A t r i al c o u rt m ay di sm i ss a su i t fi l ed unde rch apt er14 i fi tf i nds t hat : “ ( 1) t he al l ega t i on of povert y i n t he af f i davi t or unsw or n decl ar at i on i s f al se; ( 2) t he cl ai m i s f r i vol ous; o r(3 ) t h e in m a t e f ile d a n a f f id a v ito ru n s w o r n d e c la r a t io n re q u ir e d b yt h is5

chaptert hatt he i nm at e knew w as f al se. ” T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § 1 4 .0 0 3 (a ); A m ir-Sh a r if, 20 08 W L 17 12 19 , at*2 . A t r i a l cour thas br oad di sc r et i on t o di sm i ss a l aw su i tbr oughtunde rch apt er 1 4 a s fri vol ous or m a l i c i o u s . T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § 1 4 .0 0 3 (b ); K n i gh t, 52 S. W . 3d
a t 2 9 4 . In d e te rm i n i n g w h e th e r a c l a i m i s fri v o l o u s o r m a l i c i o u s , th e tri a l c o u rt
m a yc o n s id e rw h e t h e r : “ (1 ) t h e c la im ’s r e a lis t ic c h a n c e o fu lt im a t e s u c c e s s is sl i ght ; ( 2) t he cl ai m ha s no a r gua bl e b as i s i n l aw orf ac t ; ( 3) i ti s cl ea rt hatt he p a r t yc a n n o tp r o v e f a c t s in s u p p o r t o f t h e c la im ; o r(4 ) t h e c la im is s u b s t a n t ia lly si m i l art o a pr evi ous cl ai m f i l ed by t he i nm at e b ec aus e t he cl ai m ar i se s f r om t he
sam e oper at i ve f act s. ” T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § 1 4 .0 0 3 (b ); K n i gh t, 5 2 S .W .3 d a t 2 9 4 . S t andar d ofRev i ew W e r e vi e w a t r i a l c ou r t ’ s di s m i s s a l o fa n i nm a t e ’ s c l a i m u nd e rc ha pt e r14
u n d e r a n a b u s e o f d i s c re ti o n s ta n d a rd . Bi sh op, 1 3 1 S .W .3 d a t 5 7 4 . A c o u rt
a b u se s i ts d i sc reti o n i f i t ac ts a rbit rari l y , c a p ri c i o u sly, an d w i th o u t r e fere n c e to g u i d i n g r u l e s o r p ri n c i p l e s . S e eD o wn er v. A q ua m a ri n eOp era to rs, I

n c ., 701 S .W .2 d 2 3 8 , 2 4 1

– 4 2 (T e x . 1 9 8 5 ), c ert. den i e d , 4 7 6 U .S . 1 1 5 9 (1 9 8 6 ); Bi sh op, 1 3 1 S .W .3 d a t 5 7 4 ; Ma r ti n ezv. T

h a ler, 931 S. W . 2d 45, 46 ( Tex. A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] 1 9 9 6 , w ri t d e n i e d ).6 A n a ly s is A ppe l l a n t c h al l eng es t he t r i al co urt ’ s di sm i ss al or deron t he f ol l ow i ng g r o u n d s : ( 1 ) t h a tc h a p t e r1 4 d o e s n o ta p p lyt o o r ig in a l p r o c e e d in g s f ile d in d i stri c t co u rt s; ( 2 ) th a t t h e tr i a l c o u rt h a d j u ri sd i c ti o n to o rde r m a n d a m u s re l i e f; t h u s , itc o u ld n o th a v e d is m is s e d o n t h a t b a s is ; (3 ) t h a t a p p e lla n tw o u ld p r e v a il
o n t h e m e r it s o fh is p e t it io n f o rw r ito fm a n d a m u s ; t h u s , t h e t r ia l c o u r tc o u ld
n o t ha v e p rop e rl yd e term i n e d tha t t h e p roc e e d i n g i s fri v o l o u s ; a n d ( 4 ) th a t a d i s m i s s a l w i th p re j u d i c e w a s i m p ro p e r. Appl i c a bi l i t y ofTe xa sCi vi lPr a c t i c e a nd Re m e di e sCod e Cha pt e r14 A p p e lla n tf ir s t a r g u e s t h a t h is p e t it io n f o rw r ito fm a n d a m u s d o e s n o tf a ll
w i t hi n t he sc ope ofch apt er14 and sh oul d n o t h a v e bee n di sm i ss ed f or non com pl i ance w i t h i t . C hapter 14 appl i es “onl y t o a suit b rou g h t b y a n i n m a te i n a di st r i ctcour t , j ust i ce oft h e p e a c e , o r sm al l cl ai m s cour ti n w hi ch an
a ffid a v i t o r u n s w o rn d e c l a ra ti o n o f i n a b i l i tyto p a yc o s ts i s fi l e d b yth e i n m a te .” T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § 1 4 .0 0 2 (a ) (e m p h a s i s a d d e d ); Bi sh op, 131 S . W . 3d at57 4. C hapter14 appl i es t o al l ci vi l causes ofact i on othert han t hose b ro u g h t u n d e r th e fa m i l yc o d e . T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § 1 4 .0 0 2 (b ). S ect i on 1 4. 00 1( 1) of chapter 14 def i nes a cl ai m as “a cause ofact i on go ver ned by t hi s chapt er . ” Id. a t § 1 4 .0 0 1 (1 ). T h u s , a n yc la im b r o u g h tb ya n in m a t e in
a s ui ti n a di st r i ctco urt , j us t i ce oft he pea ce , ors m al l cl ai m s cou r tan dG ener al l y, w e l ook t o t he subst ance of a cause ofact i on, nott he l abel 2 a p e t i t i on e rp l a c e s o n hi s c l a i m t o de t e r m i ne t he a pp l i c a bi l i t y ofc ha pt e r14. S ee Ca rs o n, 96 S. W . 3d at 699 ( r ej ec t i ng i nm at e’ s cl ai m t hatch apt er14 di d not appl y t o hi s l aw sui tbecause i tw as l abe le d a “ b il l ofr evi ew ”) . H er e, t he su bs t anc e of app el l ant ’ s pet i t i on i s a cl ai m f or m and am us r el i ef, so a p p e l l ant b ro u g h t h i s p ro c e e d i n g u n d e r th e c o rre c t l a b e l . 7 accom pani ed by a decl ar at i on of i nabi l i t y t o pay cost s i s gover ned by chapt er 1 4 . Id. a t § 1 4 .0 0 2 (a ); see Ca rs o n v. S erra n o, 9 6 S . W . 3 d 6 9 7 , 6 9 9 ( Tex. A p p .— T e x a rk a n a 2 0 0 3 , p e t. d e n i e d ). A ppel l antcont ends t hatan or i gi nal pr oceedi ng i s not a “sui t ” f orpur poses ofch apt er14. Bl ac k’ s La w D i ct i ona r y de f i nes a “s ui t ” as “a ny p r oce edi ng by
a par t y or par t i es agai nst another i n a cour t of l aw . ” B LACK ’ S L AW D I CT I ONARY 1 4 7 5 (8 th e d . 2 0 0 4 ). A n a c ti o n fo r w ri t o f m a n d a m u s i n i ti a te d i n th e tri a l c o u rt i s a c i v i l a c ti o n s u b j e c t to a p p e a l a s a n yo th e r l a w s u i t. A nder so n v. Cit y of S e ven Po i

n ts, 80 6 S . W . 2d 79 1, 79 2 n. 1 ( Tex . 19 91 ) . Th u s , a n o r i gi nal pr oc e e di ng i s a s ui tf orp ur po s e s o fc ha pt e r14. 2 A p p e l l a n t, an i n m a te, b rou g h t t h i s s u i t i n d is t r ic t co u rt , se e k i n g to p ro c e e d i n fo rm a p a u p e ri s . T h u s , c h a p te r 1 4 a p p l i e s i f th e c l a i m s i n a p p e l l a n t’s
s u i t a re fo r c i v i l c a u s e s o f a c ti o n th a t d o n o t a ri s e u n d e r th e fa m i l yc o d e . T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § 14. 002 ( b) . Her e, ap pel l antf i l ed a p et i t i on f or
w r i t o f ma n d a mu s , a s k i n g t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o o r d e r a p p e l l e e s t o o b t ai n t he
nam es ofem pl oye es w or ki ng i n t he m ai l r oom and l aw l i br ar y, r et ur n dr af t s of8

h i s l a w su i t, an d p rov i d e su p p l i e s a n d le g a l m a teri a l s th a t he w a s e n ti tl e d to
r ec ei ve t o pr epa r e h i s ci vi l l aw su i t . Thes e cl ai m s ar e ci vi l i n nat ur e and do no t
a ri s e u n d e r th e fa m i l yc o d e . T h u s , w e c o n c l u d e a n d h o l d th a t a p p e l l a n t’s p e ti ti o n fo r w ri t o f m a n d a m u s i s s u b j e c t to th e re q u i re m e n ts o f c h a p te r 1 4 . S ee Jaxs o n v. Mor

gan , N o. 14- 04- 007 85- C V , 2006 W L 914199 , at*1 ( Tex. A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] A p r. 6 , 2 0 0 6 , n o . p e t.) (m e m . o p .); see al so Ca rs o n, 96 S. W . 3d at69 9. W e over r ul e appel l ant ’ s f i r sti ssue. Subj ec tM att erJur i sd i ct i on I n hi s second and t hi r d i ssues, appel l antar gues t hatbecause appel l ees h a d a n o n d i s c r e t i o n a r y , mi n i s t e r i a l d u t y t o p r o v i d e h i m wi t h t h e nam es an d
m at er i al s he r equest ed, t he t r i al cour t had j ur i sdi ct i on t o or der m andam us r el i ef
a n d th a t h i s p e ti ti o n w a s n o t fri v o l o u s . W e w i l l a d d re s s th e tri a l c o u rt’s j u ri sd i c ti o n fi rst. A d i s t r i c t c o u r t h a s ma n d a mu s j u r i s d i c t i o n o n l y t o e n f o r c e i t s own j u ri s d i c ti o n . T EX . C ONST . a rt. V , § 8 ; T EX . G OV ’ T C ODE A NN . § 24. 011 ( V er non 2 0 0 4 ); Ma rti

n ez, 931 S. W . 2d at46. A di st r i ct cou r t has no c ons t i t ut i ona l or st at ut or y j ur i sd i ct i on t o exe r ci se su per vi so r y con t r ol ove r pr i so n of f i ci al s abs ent
an at t em ptby su ch of f i ci al s t o i nt er f er e w i t h t he di st r i ctco urt ’ s al r ea dy p end i ng j u ri s d i c ti o n . Ma rti

n ez, 9 3 1 S .W .2 d a t 4 6 .9

H er e, t he pur pose ofappel l ant ’ s pet i t i on f orw r i tofm andam us i n t he t r i al
cou r tw as not t o pr ot ec t t he t r i al co urt ’ s j ur i sd i ct i on, butt o i ns t i gat e l i t i gat i on a g a i n s t a p p e l l e e s . S e eW i n fre yv. Ch a n d

ler, 159 T e x. 220, 318 S . W . 2d 59, 61 ( Tex . 19 58 ) ( hol di ng a di st r i ct cour tm usthave act ual j ur i sdi ct i on of a m at t er i f i t s e e k s to e n fo rc e i ts j u ri s d i c ti o n b yi ts w ri t p o w e r); Ma rti n ez, 931 S . W . 2d at46 . Ther ef or e, t he t r i al cour tdi d not have subj ectm at t er j ur i sdi ct i on t o or der th e r e l i e f r e q u e s te d i n a p p e l l a n t’s p e ti ti o n fo r w ri t o f m a n d a m u s . S ee T EX . G OV ’ T C ODE A NN . § 2 4 .0 1 1 ; W i n fre y, 3 1 8 S .W .2 d a t 6 1 ; Ma rti n ez, 931 S . W . 2d at46 . Th us, t he t r i al cour t l acked subj ect m at t er j ur i sdi ct i on t o or der t he r el i ef
s o u g h t , a n d t h e t r ia l c o u r ta p p r o p r ia t e lyd is m is s e d a p p e lla n t ’s p e t it io n f o rw r it
o f m a n d a m u s . S eeT EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § 1 4 .0 0 3 (b ). M or eov er , ev en i ft he t r i al co urtha d s ubj ec tm at t erj ur i sd i c ti o n, app el l a n t ’ s pet i t i on f orw r i tofm and am us w as f r i vol ous . I n de t er m i ni ng
w h e t h e ra c la im is f r iv o lo u s , a t r ia l c o u r tm a yc o n s id e rw h e t h e r t h e c l a im is
s u b s t a n t ia llys im ila rt o a p r e v io u s c la im f ile d b y t h e in m a t e b e c a u s e t h e c la im
ar i ses out of t he “sam e oper at i ve f act s. ” Id. ;W i l l i am s v. Tex. D ep’tof Cr i m i nal Jus tic e -I

n s t. D iv ., 1 7 6 S .W .3 d 5 9 0 , 5 9 3 (T e x . A p p .— T y l e r 2 0 0 5 , p e t. d e n i e d ). T o en a b l e a tri a l co u rt to d e term i n e w h e th e r th e su i t i s su b sta n ti a l l ysi m i l a r t o a p re v i o u s o n e , a n i n m a te is r e q u i re d to fi l e a s e p a ra te a ffid a v i t o r u n s w o rn dec l a ra ti on de sc r i bi ng a l l ot hers ui t s t he i nm at e h as br oughtan d s t at i ng t heThe r ec or d r ef l ec t s t hat app el l ant f i l ed an i nm at e t r us tac cou nts t at em ent 3 i n c om pl i anc e w i t h c i vi l pr ac t i ce an d r em edi es co de se ct i ons 14. 004 ( c) an d 1 4 .0 0 6 (f). T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § § 1 4 .0 0 4 (c ), 1 4 .0 0 6 (f). Becau se w e have det er m i ned t hat t he t r i al cour tappr opr i at el y di sm i ssed 4 a p p e l l a n t’s p e ti ti o n fo r w ri t o f m a n d a m u s a n d o v e rru l e d h i s s e c o n d i s s u e , w e nee d notad dr es s app el l ant ’ s t hi r d i ss ue c h a l l e ngi ng t he pr opr i et y oft he d i s m i s s a l o n o th e r g ro u n d s . S eeT EX . R. A PP . P . 4 7 .1 ; W i l l i a ms v. Mo o n e yh a m, 10 “ o p e ra ti v e fa c ts ” u p o n w h i c h re l i e f w a s s o u g h t. T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . § 1 4 .0 0 3 (b )(4 ); W i l l i a m s, 17 6 S . W . 3d at5 93 . The af f i davi tm ustal so di sc l o s e wh e t h e r t h e p r i o r s u i t s we r e d i s mi s s e d a s f r i v o l o u s o r ma l i c i ous an d p ro v i d e th e d a te s o f th e fi n a l o rd e rs a ffir m i n g th e d i s m i s s a l s . T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C ODE A NN . §§ 14. 004 ( a) ( 2) ( D ) , 14. 004 ( b); W i l l i a m s, 17 6 S . W . 3d at 5 9 3 . I n t hi s ca se , t he r ec or d c ont ai ns no a f f i dav i t s ors w or n de cl ar at i o ns r e g a r d i n g p r e v io u s la w s u it s f ile d b ya p p e lla n t , w h ic h a r e re q u ir e d b yc iv il p ra c ti c e a n d re m e d i e s c o d e s e c ti o n 1 4 .0 0 4 (a ). T h u s , e v e n i f th e tri a l c o u rt 3 had j ur i sdi ct i on t o consi derappel l ant ’ s i ssues, w i t hou tt hi s docum ent , t he t r i al
cour tw as unabl e t o det er m i ne w h e th erappel l ant ’ s cur r entcl ai m w as su b sta n ti a l l ysi m i l a r t o h is p r e v io u s c l a i m s a n d the tr i a l co u rtw a s e n ti tl e d to
as su m e thatt he su i tw as s ubs t ant i al l y s i m i l art o one pr evi ous l y f i l ed by t he i n m a te , a n d th e re fo re , fri v o l o u s . W i l l i a m s, 1 7 6 S .W .3 d a t 5 9 3 . W e o v e r r u le appel l ant ’ s second i ssue. 4N o. 02- 06- 003 48- C V , 2008 W L 281525 , at *4 ( Tex. A pp. — FortW ort h Ja n.

3 1 ,2 0 0 8 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .). 11 D i sm i ssalw i t h Pr ej udi ce In h is f o u r t h is s u e , a p p e lla n ta r g u e s t h a tt h e t r ia l c o u r t ’s d is m is s a l s h o u ld not have been m ade w i t h pr ej udi ce. A di sm i ss al w i t h pr ej udi ce co ns t i t ut es an ad j udi ca t i on on t he m er i t s and
o p e ra te s a s i f th e c a s e h a d b e e n fu l l y tri e d a n d d e c i d e d . Ritch eyv. V asq uez, 9 8 6 S .W .2 d 6 1 1 , 6 1 2 (T e x . 1 9 9 9 ); K n i gh t, 5 2 S .W .3 d a t 2 9 5 ; Mo o n e yh a m, 200 8 W L 281525 , at*3. Thus , or der s di sm i ss i ng ca se s w i t h pr ej udi ce ha ve f ul l r es j udi ca t a a nd c ol l at er al es t oppe l ef f ec t , ba r r i ng su bs equ ent r el i t i gat i on of th e s a m e c a u s e s o f a c ti o n o r i s s u e s b e tw e e n th e s a m e p a rti e s . See Ba r r v. R e s o lu ti o n T rus t C o rp ., 8 3 7 S .W .2 d 6 2 7 , 6 3 0 -3 1 (T e x . 1 9 9 2 ); see al so Steger
v. Muen ster D r

i l l i ng Co. , I

nc ., 1 3 4 S .W .3 d 3 5 9 , 3 6 8 ( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 2 0 0 3 , p e t. d e n i e d ). A d is m is s a l w it h p r e ju d ic e is im p r o p e r if t h e p la in t if f ’s f a ilu r e t o c o m p ly
w i th th e s ta tu te ’s p ro c e d u r a l r e q u i re m e n ts c a n b e re m e d i e d . Mo o n e yh a m, 2 0 0 8 W L2 8 1 5 2 5 , a t * 3 ; s e ea l s o Hi c km a n v. A da m s, 35 S .W .3 d 120, 124 ( Tex. A pp. — H ous t on [ 14t h Di st . ] 2000 , no pe t . ) . W hen r evi ew i ng w het hert he t r ia l c o u r ta b u s e d it s d is c r e t io n b y d is m is s in g w it h p r e ju d ic e , t h is c o u r ts h o u ld
c o n s id e rw h e t h e rt h e p e t it io n e r ’s e r r o rc o u ld b e re m e d ie d w it h a m o r e s p e c if ic12

p l e a d i n g ; i f s o , a d i s m i s s a l w i th p re j u d i c e i s i m p ro p e r. Mo o n e yh a m , 2 0 0 8 WL 32031 26, a t*3 ; se ea l s o K n i gh t, 52 S. W . 3d a t294. H er e, t he t r i al cour t ’ s di sm i ssal w i t h pr ej udi ce act s as a bar t o any or i gi nal p ro c e edi ng br oughtby app el l antag ai ns tt he sa m e p art i es ar i si ng ou toft he
sam e f act s. A ppel l ant canno t r em edy t he t r i al cour t ’ s j ur i sdi ct i onal def i ci ency by r e p l e a di ng, unl es s t he t r i al co urtot her w i se obt ai ns j ur i sd i ct i on ov ert he
cause. But di sm i ssi ng a cl ai m based on l ack ofsubj ectm at t erj ur i sdi ct i on do es n o t o p e ra te a s re s j u d i c a ta . S e eIga l v. Bri gh ts ta r I

n fo . T e ch . Gro up, I

n c ., N o. 0 4 -0 9 3 1 , 2 0 0 7 W L4 2 7 6 5 4 5 , a t * 2 ( T e x . J a n . 1 7 , 2 0 0 7 ) (stati n g res j u d i c a ta doe s not app l y w hen t he i ni t i al t r i buna l l ac ks s ubj ec tm at t erj ur i sd i ct i on ov ert he
c l a i m ); s e e a l

s o Ha rri s C o un tyv. S yk e s, 136 S . W . 3d 635, 639 ( Te x. 2004 ) ( st at i ng a di sm i ss al w i t h pr ej udi ce i s i m pr ope r w hen t he pl ai nt i f fi s ca pab l e o f
r em edyi ng t he j ur i sdi ct i onal def ect ) . Th us t he t r i al cour t shoul d have di sm i ssed
w i th o u t p re j u d i c e . S e e Ha rri sC o un ty, 1 3 6 S .W .3 d a t6 3 9 . W e s u s t a in appel l ant ’ s f our t h i ssue.13 C onc l us i on H avi ng sust ai ned app el l ant ’ s f our t h i ssue and hav i ng ov er r ul ed hi s ot her i ss ues, w e m odi f y t he t r i al co urt ’ s or derofdi sm i ss al by del et i ng t he w or ds

“ w i th p re j u d i c e ” a n d s u b s ti tu ti n g i n th e i r p l a c e th e w o rd s , “ w i th o u t p re j u d i c e .” The t r i al co urt ’ s j udgm enti s af f i r m ed as m odi f i ed.

T E R R I E L I VI NGS T ON J U S T I C E PA N EL F: LI V I N G STO N , G A RD N ER, an d W A LKER, JJ. DEL I VERE D: M a r c h 6, 2008