Court Opinion

ID: 4494271
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-23 11:11:02.969621+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:00:03.296827
License: Public Domain

DENY; Opinion Filed January 22, 2020

                                                        In The
                                     Court of Appeals
                              Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                               No. 05-19-01509-CV

                              IN RE SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC., Relator

                     Original Proceeding from the 101st Judicial District Court
                                       Dallas County, Texas
                                Trial Court Cause No. DC-17-15848

                                    MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                Before Justices Schenck, Reichek, and Evans
                                        Opinion by Justice Reichek
          Before the Court is relator Security Systems, Inc.’s December 9, 2019 petition for writ of

mandamus seeking relief from the trial court’s November 13, 2019 sanction order. Among other

things, the trial court ordered (1) a show cause hearing at which a corporate representative of SSI

was to appear, (2) a forensic examination of SSI’s electronic devices to be paid for by SSI, and (3)

SSI to produce its corporate president and two other employees, who all reside out of state, for

depositions in Dallas.1 In addition, the trial court struck all SSI’s objections to respondent Global

Alarm Protection, Inc.’s First and Second Requests for Production.

     1
       Although not briefed by the parties, the trial court’s order requiring the appearance of out-of-state witnesses who
are not parties, corporate officers, or representatives to appear for depositions in Texas could potentially present a
jurisdictional issue with respect to enforcement. This issue is not ripe for determination at this point. Nevertheless,
we do not question the trial court’s jurisdiction to use alternative means, including requiring SSI to pay relator’s
expenses to travel for the depositions as opposed to having the witnesses travel to Texas.
        To be entitled to mandamus relief, relator must show both that the trial court has clearly

abused its discretion and that relator has no adequate appellate remedy. In re Prudential Ins. Co.

of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135–36 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). After reviewing the petition, the

mandamus record, real party’s response, and relator’s reply, we conclude relator has not shown it

is entitled to the relief requested. Accordingly, we deny relator’s petition for writ of mandamus.

See Tex. R. App. P. 52.8(a) (the court must deny the petition if the court determines relator is not

entitled to the relief sought).

        We lift the stay issued by this Court on December 10, 2019.

                                                   /Amanda L. Reichek/
                                                   AMANDA L. REICHEK
                                                   JUSTICE

191509F.P05

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