Opinion ID: 1768224
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Special Appearance and Mandamus Relief

Text: When a trial court overrules a special appearance, the moving party ordinarily has an adequate remedy on appeal and consequently, may not secure extraordinary relief through mandamus. K.D.F. v. Rex, 878 S.W.2d 589, 592 (Tex.1994). On the few occasions this Court has considered the issue in an original proceeding, we have found mandamus relief available only in limited circumstances. See Canadian Helicopters v. Wittig, 876 S.W.2d 304, 305 (Tex.1994). These limited circumstances are cases involving sovereign immunity, comity and the parent-child relationship. Otherwise, we have held that mandamus relief for the denial of a special appearance is available only in extraordinary situations. [1] We have held extraordinary relief available only upon a showing that the trial court abused its discretion to the extent that it acted with such disregard for guiding principles of law that the harm to the defendant becomes irreparable, exceeding mere increased cost and delay. Canadian Helicopters, 876 S.W.2d at 308-09 (emphasis added). Consequently, the relator must show that ordinary appeal is inadequate. See Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 842 (Tex.1992); National Indus. Sand Ass'n v. Gibson, 897 S.W.2d 769, 776 (Tex.1995)(Cornyn, J., dissenting).