Court Opinion

ID: 2808022
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-13 05:13:20.401298+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:14:04.547008
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS
                           SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                                FORT WORTH

                               NO. 02-15-00179-CV

IN RE ALLEN F. CALTON                                               RELATOR

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                            ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
                        TRIAL COURT NO. 153-270690-14

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                          MEMORANDUM OPINION1

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      In his lawsuit against Steve Schiller, Relator Allen F. Calton, an inmate

proceeding pro se, filed a motion for preliminary injunction and temporary

restraining order. Calton has filed a petition for writ of mandamus asking this

court to compel the trial court to rule on his motion.

      On June 1, 2015, the trial court signed an “Order Granting Defendant

Steve Schiller’s Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Chapter 14 of the Texas Civil

      1
       See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
Practice & Remedies Code,” thereby dismissing Calton’s claims against Schiller.

A trial court is authorized to dismiss an inmate’s claim upon making certain

findings regarding the inmate’s allegations. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code

Ann. § 14.003(a) (West 2002).2

      In our disposition of Calton’s petition, we do not review the trial court’s

dismissal. The trial court’s dismissal, however, renders Calton’s petition for writ

of mandamus moot. See In re Lopez, No. 06-07-00011-CV, 2007 WL 426734, at

*1 (Tex. App.—Texarkana Feb. 9, 2007, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.).

Accordingly, we deny Calton’s petition for writ of mandamus as moot.

                                                     PER CURIAM

PANEL: GARDNER, GABRIEL, and SUDDERTH, JJ.

DELIVERED: June 12, 2015

      2
        Specifically, the trial court may dismiss the action before or after service of
process, if the trial court determines that (1) the allegation of poverty in the
affidavit or unsworn declaration is false; (2) the claim is frivolous or malicious; or
(3) the inmate filed an affidavit or unsworn declaration required by this chapter
that the inmate knew was false. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 14.003(a).

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