Court Opinion

ID: 9674925
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:37:24.717747+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:30.252579
License: Public Domain

BURDOCK, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
Although mandamus is a legal remedy, it is nevertheless, governed by equitable principles. In some instances, the equitable doctrine of clean hands has been invoked to deny issuance of the writ. Industrial Foundation of the South v. Texas Industrial Accident Board, 540 S.W.2d 668, 674 (Tex.1976), cert. denied, 430 U.S. 931, 97 S.Ct. 1550, 51 L.Ed.2d 774. There is no better example of an instance where it should be denied than the case before us. Here, as set forth in the majority opinion, there are numerous instances of lying and falsification of records by the relators. Dr. Menton himself pled guilty to charges of aggravated perjury concerning this matter. Clearly, these facts fall short of the “clean hands” necessary for the granting of any equitable remedy.
The majority cites several cases which set forth the proposition that there are no exceptions to the work-product privilege under rule 186a. However, no case relied on by the majority actually protects fraud and perjury once it is proven, which is the case before us. Further, I do not believe that by denying the writ of mandamus, we are creating an exception to the work-product privilege. Rather, we are preventing the work-product privilege from sheltering a new harm—fraudulent conduct and perjury-
TEX.R.CIV.P. 1 provides that:
*343The proper objective of rules of civil procedure is to obtain a just, fair, equitable and impartial adjudication of the rights of litigants under established principles of substantive law. To the end that this objective may be obtained ... these rules shall be given a liberal construction.
As the commentary of this rule states:
Any procedural device or rule therefore, which impedes the investigation or the evaluation of the facts or the awarding of the just consequences thereon, is incompatible with an ideal procedure. No mere rule of procedural form or courtesy should be allowed to delay or control the disposition of the litigation upon its merits.
As this Court held in Brightwell v. Rabeck, 430 S.W.2d 252, 257 (Tex.Civ.App.—Fort Worth 1968, writ ref'd n.r.e.):
The purpose of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure is to be considered. The controlling rule is T.R.C.P. 1. Generally, the rules are but tools to be used in procedural conduct aimed at the objective of accomplishing justice. They are not ends within themselves, but are means to that end. If their application would effect injustice they are to be disregarded for that is the antithesis of their purpose. They should never be applied to defeat the “justice and right of the case” which Judge Phillips said in Gilmore v. O’Neil, 107 Tex. 18, 173 S.W. 203 (1915), was “what the law of a case ought to be.” [Emphasis added.]
By granting the writ in this particular case, we have, in essence, protected and concealed the deceit and perjury perpetrated by the relators. In order to avoid any notion that such activity is condoned and, further, that justice may be served here, the order compelling production of the tape and transcript thereof of the June 30th interview should be upheld.
Therefore, I would decline to issue the writ of mandamus and would affirm the decision of the trial court below.