Court Opinion

ID: 9902324
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-25 11:11:33.016231+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:49.068787
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-23-00275-CV

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

               TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

                                          TYLER, TEXAS

IN RE:                                                  §

NANCI WRIGHT,                                           §        ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

RELATOR                                                 §

                                      MEMORANDUM OPINION

       Relator Nanci Wright filed a petition for writ of mandamus, in which she asserted that the
trial court abused its discretion by ordering that she appear for a presuit oral deposition to enable
Real Party in Interest CHSR Properties, LLC (“CHSR”) to investigate a potential claim against
her. Respondent is the Honorable Debby Gunter, Judge of the 241st Judicial District Court of
Smith County, Texas. We conditionally grant the writ.
       In its response to Wright’s petition, CHSR represents to this court as follows:

       [R]eal Party in [I]nterest [] withdraws its Petition for Deposition Before Suit Pursuant to Rule 202
       to Investigate Potential Claim or Suit filed on June 20, 2023[,] in CHSR Properties, LLC,
       Derivatively on Behalf of Aria Village, LLC v. Nanci Wright, Cause No. 23-1486-C, 241st Judicial
       District, Smith County, Texas. CHSR Properties, LLC intends to file suit against Nanci Wright in
       the immediate future and will seek her deposition in the suit filed.

       This Court cannot decide a case that has become moot. See Heckman v. Williamson
Cty., 369 S.W.3d 137, 162 (Tex. 2012); see also In re Prosperity Bank, No. 01-22-00382-CV,
2022 WL 2919941, at *1 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] July 26, 2022, orig. proceeding) (mem.
op.); In re Salverson, No. 01-12-00384-CV, 2013 WL 557264, at *1 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st
Dist.] Feb. 14, 2013, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.) (“If a proceeding becomes moot, the court
must dismiss the proceeding”). However, despite CHSR’s representation, there is no evidence in
the record that Respondent has withdrawn the order of which Wright complains.
         Based on CHSR’s representation to this court that it “withdraws” its petition to take
Wright’s deposition pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 202, we conditionally grant
mandamus relief. We trust that Respondent will promptly vacate her order of September 15,
2023, in which she granted CHSR’s motion to take Wright’s pretrial deposition pursuant to Rule
202. The writ will issue only if Respondent fails to comply with this court’s opinion and order
within ten days. Respondent shall furnish this court, within the time for compliance with this
court’s opinion and order, a certified copy of her order evidencing such compliance.

                                                              JAMES T. WORTHEN
                                                                 Chief Justice

Opinion delivered November 21, 2023.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.

                                                          2
                                COURT OF APPEALS

     TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                          ORDER

                                    NOVEMBER 21, 2023

                                     NO. 12-23-00275-CV

                                    NANCI WRIGHT,
                                        Relator
                                          v.
                              HON. JUDGE DEBBY GUNTER,
                                      Respondent

                                    ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

               ON THIS DAY came to be heard the petition for writ of mandamus filed by
Nanci Wright; who is the relator in appellate cause number 12-23-00275-CV and the defendant
in trial court cause number 23-1486-C, pending on the docket of the 241st Judicial District
Court of Smith County, Texas. Said petition for writ of mandamus having been filed herein on
October 25, 2023, and the same having been duly considered, because Real Party in Interest,
CHSR Properties, LLC, has set forth its intention to this court that its motion to take a pretrial
deposition of Wright pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 202, which is the subject of this
proceeding, be withdrawn, it is the opinion of this Court that the petition for writ of mandamus
should be conditionally granted, and it is therefore CONSIDERED, ADJUDGED, AND
ORDERED that said petition for writ of mandamus be, and the same is, hereby conditionally
granted.
         And because it is further the opinion of this Court that the trial judge will act promptly
and issue an order vacating its order of September 15, 2023, which granted CHSR Properties,
LLC’s motion to take Wright’s pretrial deposition pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure
202, the writ will not issue unless the Honorable Debby Gunter, Judge of the 241st Judicial
District Court of Smith County, Texas fails to do so within ten (10) days from the date of this
order.
         It is further ORDERED that all costs of this proceeding are hereby adjudged against Real
Party in Interest, CHSR Properties, LLC.

                    James T. Worthen, Chief Justice.
                    Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.