IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-21-00342-CV

IN RE C.A. WALKER, INC.

Original Proceeding

From the 12th District Court

Walker County, Texas

Trial Court No. 2029798

MEMORANDUM OPINION

On December 17, 2021, C.A. Walker, Inc., Relator, filed a Petition for Writ of 

Mandamus asking this Court to order the trial court to withdraw its order lifting 

abatement and granting summary judgment. Real Party in Interest, Prestige 

Construction & Development, LLC, filed a response to the Petition for Writ of Mandamus 

on January 24, 2021. We deny the Petition for Writ of Mandamus.

BACKGROUND FACTS

Prestige Construction filed suit against C.A. Walker on August 7, 2020, for 

payment of invoices on a construction project. C.A. Walker filed a Motion to Transfer 
In re C.A. Walker, Inc. Page 2

Venue and a Motion to Compel Arbitration. On February 3, 2021, the trial court signed 

an order abating the proceedings and denying the Motion to Transfer Venue. The parties 

then began arbitration before the AAA. On May 19, 2021, a district court in Fort Bend 

County signed an order abating the arbitration proceedings between Prestige and C.A. 

Walker until litigation was resolved in that court. Prestige was not a party to the litigation 

in Fort Bend County.

On May 24, 2021, Prestige filed a Motion to Lift Abatement and Motion for 

Summary Judgment in the trial court. The trial court held a hearing on the motions on 

June 14, 2021, and on July 30, 2021, the trial court signed an order lifting the abatement 

and granting summary judgment for Prestige against C.A. Walker for $42,271.23.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy and is warranted only when the trial court 

clearly abused its discretion and the relator has no other adequate remedy. In re Murrin 

Bros. 1885, Ltd., 603 S.W.3d 53, 56-57 (Tex. 2019) (orig. proceeding); In re H&S Hoke Ranch, 

LLC, 625 S.W.3d 220, 222 (Tex. App. —Waco 2021, orig. proceeding). In order to establish 

its right to a writ of mandamus, C.A. Walker has the burden to prove both of these 

requirements. In re H&S Hoke Ranch, LLC, 625 S.W.3d at 223. A trial court abuses its 

discretion when its ruling is arbitrary and unreasonable or is made without regard for 

guiding legal principles or supporting evidence. In re Nationwide Insurance Co. of America., 

494 S.W.3d 708, 712 (Tex. 2016) (orig. proceeding); In re H&S Hoke Ranch, LLC, 625 S.W.3d 

at 223. Similarly, a trial court abuses its discretion when it fails to analyze or apply the 

law correctly. In re H&S Hoke Ranch, LLC, 625 S.W.3d at 223.
In re C.A. Walker, Inc. Page 3

ARGUMENT

C.A. Walker argues that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the filing 

of the motion for summary judgment while the proceeding was abated, holding a hearing 

on the motion for summary judgment, and granting the motion for summary judgment 

simultaneously with the lifting of the abatement. C.A. Walker argues that the summary 

judgment motion is a “legal nullity” citing Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Co. v. Garza, 777 

S.W.2d 198 (Tex. App. — Corpus Christi 1989, no pet.) as authority.

In Lumbermens, the court concluded that a workers' compensation carrier was 

under no obligation to respond to certain discovery requests because it had been served 

while the suit was abated for the appeal of the underlying compensation case. 

Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Co. v. Garza, 777 S.W.2d at 198-99; In re General Motors Corp., 

296 S.W.3d 813, 824 (Tex. App. —Austin 2009, orig. proceeding). The court held that the 

trial court abused its discretion by compelling the carrier's production of documents 

based on discovery requests propounded while the case was abated. The court in 

Lumbermans did not find that the trial court's order was void. See Lumbermens Mutual 

Casualty Co. v. Garza, 777 S.W.2d at 199; In re General Motors Corp., 296 S.W.3d 813, 824. It 

found only that the discovery requests in the case were a legal nullity. See Lumbermens 

Mutual Casualty Co. v. Garza, 777 S.W.2d at 199; In re General Motors Corp., 296 S.W.3d 813, 

824.

Any action taken by the trial court during an abatement is not a nullity per se. In 

re General Motors Corp., 296 S.W.3d 813, 825. However, while a case is abated, certain 

action by the parties may be ineffective. Id. It is also possible that certain action by the 
In re C.A. Walker, Inc. Page 4

trial court during the period of an abatement might constitute error or an abuse of 

discretion that is subject to review or reversal. Id. Abatement does not nullify every 

subsequent action by the parties or the court. Id.

The trial court’s order granting summary judgment was not void and was subject 

to review on direct appeal. Because we find that Relator had an adequate remedy by 

direct appeal, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus.

STEVE SMITH

Justice

Beford Chief Justice Gray,

Justice Johnson,

and Justice Smith

Petition denied

Opinion delivered and filed March 9, 2022

[OT06]