Opinion ID: 2457042
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Challenge To Johnson & Gibbs's Work Product

Text: Anderson asserts that she and her attorneys are not challenging Johnson & Gibbs's 1988 services or work product. She claims that in the aborted trial she merely asserted that the merger agreements permitted payments to the directors that the 1988 documents did not permit. Anderson testified on direct examination that she had no complaint about the way Epic was structured in 1988. Anderson asserts that her lawyers were not breaching confidences because the documents were either in the public domain because of the SEC filings or were furnished without objection during discovery before the aborted trial in June 1996. George counters that the record clearly shows that Anderson was disparaging Johnson & Gibbs's services and the firm's work product. George also claims that Anderson's lawyers are breaching confidences learned when they were members of Johnson & Gibbs in 1988, thereby violating Rule 1.05. The Court recognizes that there is conflicting evidence about the substantial relationship and confidentiality elements of Rule 1.09. Again, because the record shows these factual disputes, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion by denying the directors' disqualification motion. See Grant, 888 S.W.2d at 468; Beaumont Bank, N.A., 806 S.W.2d at 226. V. ON THE ROAD AGAIN[6] Once again, the Court has ignored well established precedent governing the standards of review of a trial court's discretionary decision and improperly conducted a factual sufficiency review of this mandamus record. Additionally, the Court has improperly judged the credibility of the evidence before the trial court. The Court fails to keep in mind that the Court may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. See Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 839; Flores, 777 S.W.2d at 41-42. This Court may not reverse the trial court's judgment merely because it disagrees with the trial court's decision if that decision was within the trial court's discretionary authority. See Beaumont Bank N.A., 806 S.W.2d at 226. The trial court does not abuse its discretion if it bases its decision on conflicting evidence and some evidence reasonably supports the trial court's decision. See Davis, 571 S.W.2d at 862. The Court clearly and unequivocally ignores this precedent and regrettably so. In my view, under this record and under applicable mandamus standards, the Court cannot conclude an abuse of discretion exists. This decision is yet another mile marker down the road of no return where the Court ignores its own rules and precedent. See In re Ford Motor Co., ___ S.W.2d ___, 1998 WL 387537 (Tex.1998) (Baker, J., dissenting).