Court Opinion

ID: 3068538
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-15 23:54:42.935362+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:49:56.285260
License: Public Domain

In The

                                Court of Appeals
                    Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont
                             _________________
                              NO. 09-15-00122-CV
                             _________________

 IN RE THOUSAND OAKS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

________________________________________________________________________

                               Original Proceeding
________________________________________________________________________

                          MEMORANDUM OPINION

      In this mandamus proceeding, Thousand Oaks Property Owners Association,

Inc. (“TOPOA”) asks this Court to compel the visiting judge presiding in the 359th

District Court of Montgomery County to vacate an order denying a motion to

disqualify counsel for the real party in interest, Schight Montgomery, LLC,

(“SMLLC”) and sign an order disqualifying Nathan A. Steadman and his firm,

Meyer, Knight & Williams, L.L.P. from continuing representation of the real party

in interest in its lawsuit against TOPOA.

      TOPOA argues Steadman must be disqualified because he represented

TOPOA in the same or substantially related litigation between the developer and

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property owners disputing control of TOPOA. See generally In re Columbia Valley

Healthcare Sys., L.P., 320 S.W.3d 819, 824 (Tex. 2010) (orig. proceeding) (“An

attorney who has previously represented a client may not represent another person

in a matter adverse to the former client if the matters are the same or substantially

related.”). The first case settled in 2005, at which time control of TOPOA

transferred from the developer to the property owners.

      The new case was consolidated into the earlier case in February 2014.

SMLLC argues TOPOA waived its objections to SMLLC’s choice of counsel

because TOPOA failed to object to the representation for over a year after the new

litigation commenced. See generally Vaughn v. Walther, 875 S.W.2d 690, 690

(Tex. 1994) (“A party who fails to file its motion to disqualify opposing counsel in

a timely manner waives the complaint.”).

      “Mandamus is available where a motion to disqualify is inappropriately

denied as there is no adequate remedy on appeal.” In re Columbia Valley

Healthcare Sys., L.P., 320 S.W.3d at 823 n.2. A trial court abuses its discretion if it

reaches a decision that is so arbitrary and unreasonable as to constitute a clear and

prejudicial error of law, or if it clearly fails to correctly analyze or apply the law. In

re Cerberus Capital Mgmt., L.P., 164 S.W.3d 379, 382 (Tex. 2005) (orig.

proceeding). After examining and considering the petition for writ of mandamus

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and the response, we conclude that the relator has not shown that it is entitled to

mandamus relief. See In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135-36

(Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). Accordingly, we deny the petition for writ of

mandamus. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.8(a). All pending motions are denied as moot.

      PETITION DENIED.

                                                         PER CURIAM

Submitted on April 13, 2015
Opinion Delivered April 23, 2015

Before McKeithen, C.J., Kreger and Johnson, JJ.

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