Opinion ID: 2831353
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Standing Challenge

Text: Relators argue that Richey’s claims regarding mismanagement of Nighthawk’s financial affairs belong to Nighthawk and Richey does not have standing to assert them because the bankruptcy trustee must bring the claims on Nighthawk’s behalf so as to preserve assets for the benefit of all partners. Richey counters that mandamus review is not available on the issue of standing because Relators cannot show they lack an adequate remedy by appeal, but even if mandamus review is available, he has standing because he suffered personal damages unique to him. Relators rely on Hall v. Douglas, 380 S.W.3d 860, 873 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.), in which the court of appeals noted that “[a] limited partner does not have standing to sue for injuries to the partnership that merely diminish the value of that partner’s interest.” But as that court recognized, a partner who is “personally aggrieved” may bring claims for those injuries he suffered directly. Id. at 872. 5 Richey’s pleadings asserted that he made a $1 million payment to Nighthawk, the other limited partners failed to make similar payments, and he suffered damages including “loss of earning capacity, lost profits, loss of income, damage to credit reputation, lost investments,” and “other losses.” He also alleged that he sustained injury to his character and suffered mental anguish. When a plea to the jurisdiction is based on the pleadings, the pleadings are to be construed liberally in favor of the plaintiff. Tex. Dep’t of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d 217, 226 (Tex. 2004). Richey’s allegations do not affirmatively negate his having been “personally aggrieved.” Thus, given his allegations, we need not decide whether mandamus review is available to Relators as to Richey’s standing to assert claims based on his $1 million payment because even if it is, the record before us does not demonstrate that Relators are entitled to mandamus relief. Relators also claim that Richey does not have standing to bring defamation claims based on the bank’s refusal to honor Richey Oil checks. They posit that only Richey Oil has standing to bring those claims, and since Richey is not the owner of Richey Oil, he cannot bring the claims on the company’s behalf. See Neely v. Wilson, ___ S.W.3d ___, ___ (Tex. 2013) (noting that a corporate entity may maintain a suit for libel). But Richey’s defamation claims are that Fisher made defamatory statements about Richey personally by telling payees of the returned checks that Richey caused the insufficient funds problems. Richey claimed those false statements subjected him to criminal and civil prosecution, financial loss, and injury to his personal reputation. Thus, he alleged injury personal to himself and has standing to bring the claims. 6