Court Opinion

ID: 2885966
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-07 18:40:12.85312+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:32:47.482631
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-01-0204-CV

                               IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                        FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                        AT AMARILLO

                                           PANEL A

                                        JUNE 1, 2001

                           ______________________________

                          IN RE W. HUGH HARRELL, RELATOR

                         _________________________________

Before BOYD, C.J., and REAVIS and JOHNSON, JJ.

       In this original proceeding, relator W. Hugh Harrell has filed a petition for writ of

mandamus asking us to order the Honorable J. Blair Cherry, Judge of the 72nd District

Court of Lubbock County, to grant his motion filed in an underlying lawsuit to distribute

certain funds held in the registry of the court that represent the 2/5th interest of his brother,

Glenn Harrell, in a trust established by the parents of relator and Glenn Harrell for their

benefit. Relator claims entitlement to those funds based on an assignment from Glenn

Harrell to relator. For the reasons set forth below, the petition is denied.

       Mandamus is an extraordinary writ that should only be issued when the trial court

clearly abused its discretion, and there is no adequate remedy by appeal. Walker v.

Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). A party seeking mandamus
relief must establish that he does not have an adequate remedy by appeal. In re Bay Area

Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, 982 S.W.2d 371, 374 (Tex. 1998) (orig. proceeding);

Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 842. The court’s order denying relator’s motion to distribute stated

that the order was interlocutory “since other matters are still pending before the Court” and

the funds were to remain in the registry of the court “until further order of the Court.”

Interlocutory rulings made by a trial court during the ordinary trial process may generally

be remedied by appeal. In re Texas Dept. of Protective and Regulatory Services, 990
S.W.2d 848, 850 (Tex.App.--Amarillo 1999) (orig. proceeding).

       The real party in interest, Wiloma Harrell, independent executrix of the estate of

Glenn Harrell, has filed a brief in which she states it is her position that the assignment

from Glenn Harrell only assigned any causes of action he had against the trustee for

transactions involving the trust and did not assign his interest in the trust to relator. The

only documents before this court are the motion to distribute with the assignment attached

and the court’s order regarding the same. The court’s order does not finally determine the

rights of the parties to the funds in the registry of the court, but merely maintains the status

quo of the parties.

       Both relator and Wiloma Harrell agree that the case is set for trial on August 6,

2001. Relator argues that “the granting of this Petition for Writ of Mandamus establishes

judicial economy and corrects a grievous and erroneous ruling that would only be before

this Court of Appeals on an appeal.” A remedy by appeal is not inadequate merely

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because it involves more expense or delay. Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 842. While relator

argues that an appeal is not an appropriate remedy because his claim is vitiated and/or

severely compromised by the trial court’s order, an ordinary appeal after a trial is

inadequate, and that because of the nearness of the trial, it involves an urgent necessity

that the writ be granted, these are conclusory statements and do not specifically inform this

court why relator’s rights may not be protected by an appeal. Relator must establish the

effective denial of a reasonable opportunity to develop the merits of his case. Id. at 843.

We do not believe relator has met his burden to establish that he does not have an

appropriate remedy and is therefore entitled to mandamus relief.

       Accordingly, relator’s petition for writ of mandamus is denied.

                                                  Per Curiam

Do not publish.

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