Court Opinion

ID: 9681500
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:51:33.794885+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:34.269981
License: Public Domain

ROBERTSON, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The declaratory judgment act expressly provides for uniformity of interpretation:
This Act shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those States which enact it, and to harmonize, as far as possible, with federal laws and regulations on the subject of declaratory judgments and decrees.
Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 2524-1, § 15.
The Court acknowledges that it is a uniform act and plainly states: “The majority of jurisdictions addressing the specific question have held that a trial court should not exercise jurisdiction over a suit for declaration of non-liability by a potential negligence defendant.” 695 S.W.2d at 566. In light of the ample authority discussed in the majority opinion, I would hold that the trial court clearly abused its discretion in denying Abor’s plea in abatement. E.g., Cunningham Brothers, Inc. v. Bail, 407 F.2d 1165 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 395 U.S. 959, 89 S.Ct. 2100, 23 L.Ed.2d 745 (1969); K.M.S. Research Laboratories v. Willingham, 629 S.W.2d 173 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1982, no writ); Howlett v. Scott, 69 Ill.2d 135, 13 Ill.Dec. 9, 370 *568N.E.2d 1036 (1977). By exercising jurisdiction over the declaratory judgment action, the trial court is depriving plaintiff Abor of the traditional right to choose the time and place of suit.
This Court has jurisdiction to grant mandamus relief for a clear abuse of discretion. State Bar of Texas v. Heard, 603 S.W.2d 829, 834 (Tex.1980). Accordingly, I would grant the writ of mandamus and order the Bell County District Court to' abate the action and to defer to the pending action in Harris County.
HILL, C.J., joins in this dissenting opinion.