Court Opinion

ID: 2901004
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-09 16:35:39.83289+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:37:03.776677
License: Public Domain

COURT OF
APPEALS
                                                    EIGHTH DISTRICT
OF TEXAS
                                                               EL
PASO, TEXAS
 
                                                                              )     
                                                                              )                          No. 
08-02-00528-CV
IN RE:  MARY LINDA McCALL,                       )
                                                                              )                 AN ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
Relator.                  )
                                                                              )                             IN MANDAMUS
                                                                              )
                                                                              )
 
MEMORANDUM
OPINION ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS
 
This
is an original proceeding in mandamus. 
Mary Linda McCall, Relator, seeks a writ of mandamus requiring the trial
court to conduct an evidentiary hearing and permit discovery of certain legal
invoices.  On December 12, 2002, we
entered an order staying all proceedings in the trial court pending further
order of this Court.  For the reasons
stated below, we deny relief and set aside our prior order staying the
proceedings in the trial court.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Mandamus
will lie only to correct a clear abuse of discretion.  Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840
(Tex. 1992)(orig. proceeding).  Moreover,
there must be no other adequate remedy at law. 
Id.
1.  Clear abuse of discretion

An
appellate court rarely interferes with a trial court's exercise of
discretion.  A clear abuse of discretion
warranting correction by mandamus occurs when a court issues a decision which
is without basis or guiding principles of law. 
See Johnson v. Fourth Court of Appeals, 700 S.W.2d 916, 917 (Tex.
1985)(orig. proceeding).  With respect to
resolution of factual issues or matters committed to the trial court=s discretion, the reviewing court may
not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court.  Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 839-40.  The relator must therefore establish that the
trial court could reasonably have reached only one decision.  Id. 
Even if the reviewing court would have decided the issue differently, it
cannot disturb the trial court=s
decision unless it is shown to be arbitrary and unreasonable.  Id. 
With respect to a trial court=s
determination of the legal principles controlling its ruling, the standard is
much less deferential.  A trial court has
no Adiscretion@
in determining what the law is or applying the law to the facts.  Thus, a clear failure by the trial court to
analyze or apply the law correctly will constitute an abuse of discretion, and
may result in appellate reversal by extraordinary writ.  Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 840.
2.  No adequate remedy by appeal
An
appellate court will deny mandamus relief if another remedy, usually appeal, is
available and adequate.  Street v.
Second Court of Appeals, 715 S.W.2d 638, 639-40 (Tex. 1986)(orig.
proceeding).  Mandamus will not issue
where there is Aa clear
and adequate remedy at law, such as a normal appeal.@  Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 840, quoting
State v. Walker, 679 S.W.2d 484, 485 (Tex. 1984).  Mandamus is intended to be an extraordinary
remedy, available only in limited circumstances.  The writ will issue Aonly
in situations involving manifest and urgent necessity and not for grievances
that may be addressed by other remedies.@  Holloway v. Fifth Court of Appeals,
767 S.W.2d 680, 684 (Tex. 1989)(quoting James Sales, Original Jurisdiction
of the Supreme Court and the Courts of Civil Appeals of Texas, in Appellate
Procedure in Texas, Sec. 1.4(1)(b) at 47 [2d Ed. 1979]).

APPLICATION OF THE LAW TO THE FACTS BEFORE THE
COURT
The
record before us does not reflect that Relator is entitled to mandamus
relief.  Accordingly, we deny the relief
requested in the petition for mandamus and set aside our order of December 12,
2002 which stayed all proceedings in the trial court.
 
 
January 9, 2003
                                                                         

ANN CRAWFORD
McCLURE, Justice
 
Before Panel No. 1
Larsen, McClure, and Chew, JJ.