Court Opinion

ID: 5131865
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-06 08:42:49.903564+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:26.653969
License: Public Domain

NUMBER 13-21-00344-CV

                                   COURT OF APPEALS

                       THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                          CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG

                         IN RE CHRISTOPHER S. KAPPMEYER
                             AND ROXANA P. KAPPMEYER

                            On Petition for Writ of Mandamus.

                                MEMORANDUM OPINION

               Before Justices Benavides, Longoria, and Tijerina
                  Memorandum Opinion by Justice Tijerina1

        On October 11, 2021, relators Christopher S. Kappmeyer and Roxana P.

Kappmeyer filed a petition for writ of mandamus through which they assert that the trial

         1 See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.8(d) (“When denying relief, the court may hand down an opinion but is not

required to do so. When granting relief, the court must hand down an opinion as in any other case.”); id. R.
47.1 (“The court of appeals must hand down a written opinion that is as brief as practicable but that
addresses every issue raised and necessary to final disposition of the appeal.”); id. R. 47.4 (explaining the
differences between opinions and memorandum opinions).
court erred by requiring the relators to join and serve all property owners in Units-1-5 of

Key Allegro Estates in the underlying lawsuit.

       Mandamus is an extraordinary and discretionary remedy. See In re Allstate Indem.

Co., 622 S.W.3d 870, 883 (Tex. 2021) (orig. proceeding); In re Garza, 544 S.W.3d 836,

840 (Tex. 2018) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam); In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148

S.W.3d 124, 138 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). The relator must show that (1) the trial

court abused its discretion, and (2) the relator lacks an adequate remedy on appeal. In re

USAA Gen. Indem. Co., 624 S.W.3d 782, 787 (Tex. 2021) (orig. proceeding); In re

Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d at 135–36; Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833,

839–40 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). “The relator bears the burden of proving these two

requirements.” In re H.E.B. Grocery Co., 492 S.W.3d 300, 302 (Tex. 2016) (orig.

proceeding) (per curiam); Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992) (orig.

proceeding). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts with disregard for guiding rules

or principles or when it acts in an arbitrary or unreasonable manner. In re Garza, 544

S.W.3d at 840. We determine the adequacy of an appellate remedy by balancing the

benefits of mandamus review against the detriments. In re Acad., Ltd., 625 S.W.3d 19,

25 (Tex. 2021) (orig. proceeding); In re Essex Ins. Co., 450 S.W.3d 524, 528 (Tex. 2014)

(orig. proceeding) (per curiam); In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d at 136.

       The Court, having examined and fully considered the petition for writ of mandamus,

the response filed by Key Allegro Canal and Homeowners Association, Inc., and the

applicable law, is of the opinion that the relators have not met their burden to obtain relief.

See Brooks v. Northglen Ass’n, 141 S.W.3d 158, 162 (Tex. 2004) (“Northglen could have

sought relief at trial by urging the court, among other things, to abate the case, join absent

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homeowners, or grant special exceptions); In re Corcoran, 401 S.W.3d 136, 138–40 (Tex.

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2011, orig. proceeding) (collecting and discussing cases

regarding when the joinder of additional property owners is required). Accordingly, we lift

the stay previously imposed in this original proceeding. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.10(b)

(“Unless vacated or modified an order granting temporary relief is effective until the case

is finally decided.”). We deny the petition for writ of mandamus. See id. R. 52.8(a), (d).

                                                                       JAIME TIJERINA
                                                                       Justice

Delivered and filed on the
30th day of November, 2021.

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