Court Opinion

ID: 2771692
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-21 13:33:26.035244+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:44.262455
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-15-00005-CV

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                 TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

                                           TYLER, TEXAS

IN RE: TY BEARD, JIM E. BULLOCK,                          §

BRIAN CASPER, CRAIG DAUGHERTY                             §       ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

AND DON HARRIS, RELATORS                                  §

                                        MEMORANDUM OPINION
        In this original proceeding, Ty Beard, Jim E. Bullock, Brian Casper, Craig Daugherty,
and Don Harris (Relators) seek mandamus relief from the trial court‟s April 22, 2014 order
directing them to pay attorney‟s fees to the Deborah Patterson Howard Trust as a discovery
sanction.1 Along with their petition for writ of mandamus, Relators filed a motion for emergency
relief requesting a stay of the order and its enforcement until this Court issues its ruling on the
merits of their petition. Because Relators have not shown appeal is an inadequate remedy, we
deny their petition for writ of mandamus and dismiss their motion for emergency relief as moot.

                                       AVAILABILITY OF MANDAMUS
        To be entitled to mandamus relief, a relator must demonstrate that (1) the trial court
clearly abused its discretion and (2) the relator has no adequate remedy by appeal. In re Reece,
341 S.W.3d 360, 364 (Tex. 2011) (orig. proceeding). A trial court clearly abuses its discretion if
it reaches a decision so arbitrary and unreasonable as to amount to a clear and prejudicial error of
law or if it clearly fails to analyze the law correctly or apply the law correctly to the facts. In re
Cerberus Capital Mgmt., L.P., 164 S.W.3d 379, 382 (Tex. 2005) (orig. proceeding). The relator
has the burden of establishing both prerequisites to mandamus relief. Canadian Helicopters Ltd.
v. Wittig, 876 S.W.2d 304, 305 (Tex. 1994). This burden is a heavy one. Id.

        1
          The real party in interest is Robert H. Patterson, Jr., trustee of the Deborah Patterson Howard Trust. The
respondent is the Honorable Jack Skeen, Jr., Judge of the 241st Judicial District Court, Smith County, Texas.
Adequacy of Appellate Remedy
       Relators are not parties to the underlying litigation. Thus, they contend that mandamus is
appropriate because they have no independent right to appeal the trial court‟s order.           We
disagree.
       Generally, only parties of record may exercise a right of appeal. Cont’l Cas. Co. v.
Huizar, 740 S.W.2d 429, 430 (Tex. 1987). Consequently, an appeal usually is an inadequate
remedy when discovery sanctions are imposed against a nonparty. See, e.g., City of Houston v.
Chambers, 899 S.W.2d 306, 308 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1995, orig. proceeding). But
a party‟s attorney, although a nonparty, may appeal sanctions imposed against the attorney once
a final judgment is rendered in the case. In re Union Pac. R.R. Co., No. 12-08-00497-CV, 2009
WL 4167809, at *2 (Tex. App.–Tyler Nov. 25, 2009, orig. proceeding [mand. denied]) (mem.
op.); In re Onstad, 20 S.W.3d 731, 733 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2000, orig. proceeding [mand.
denied]).
       We recognize that monetary sanctions payable before final judgment, such as the
sanction in this case, may threaten the sanctioned party‟s willingness or ability to continue the
litigation. Braden v. Downey, 811 S.W.2d 922, 929 (Tex. 1991). In that situation, the remedy
by appeal is inadequate. See id.; In re Onstad, 20 S.W.3d at 733 (addressing Braden in
considering whether appeal was an adequate remedy for nonparty attorney who was sanctioned).
But Relators do not argue that the monetary sanction the trial court imposed would affect their
ability to appeal the sanctions order or contend that they are unable to pay the sanction. See In
re Onstad, 20 S.W.3d at 733 (citing Braden, 811 S.W.2d at 929) (concluding that appeal was
adequate remedy because sanctioned attorney did not allege circumstances that invoke Braden).
Instead, they assert that they will suffer “the loss of their money and damage to their professional
reputations” “without any certainty they will be afforded an opportunity to appeal.” As we have
stated above, however, Relators have the right to appeal the sanctions order after final judgment.
       Relators argue further that “it is questionable whether the errors of the Sanctions Order
could be corrected on appeal from a final judgment absent a showing it „probably caused the
rendition of an improper judgment‟ or „probably prevented the appellant from properly
presenting the case to the court of appeals.‟” See TEX. R. APP. P. 44.1(a) (prescribing standard of
review for final judgment in civil cases). Again, we disagree.

                                                 2
        On appeal, a sanctions order is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. See TransAmerican
Nat’l Gas Corp. v. Powell, 811 S.W.2d 913, 917 (Tex. 1991). And when an abuse of discretion
occurs, the appellate court will reverse or vacate the sanctions order. See, e.g., Scheel v. Alfaro,
406 S.W.3d 216, 228 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 2013, pet. denied) (reversing a portion of
sanctions order against attorney but affirming trial court‟s judgment in all other respects as to
attorney and as to client on other issues); IFC Credit Corp. v. Specialty Optical Sys., Inc., 252
S.W.3d 761, 773 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2008, pet. denied) (vacating sanctions order but otherwise
affirming trial court‟s judgment). Thus, Relators‟ concern is unfounded.
        In summary, the general rule is that the imposition of monetary sanctions, such as
attorney‟s fees, is reviewable on appeal from a final judgment and therefore not subject to
mandamus. See, e.g., In re Onstad, 20 S.W.3d at 733. And Relators have not shown that,
because of their nonparty status, this rule does not apply here. Accordingly, we conclude that
Relators have an adequate remedy by appeal and mandamus is not available.
        Nevertheless, considering the sanction imposed and the potential for future proceedings,
we suspend that portion of the trial court‟s order directing Relators to make payment directly to
the Deborah Patterson Howard Trust. We instead order Relators to pay the sanction into the
registry of the court within thirty days of this opinion, or at any earlier date the trial court may
order after it receives this opinion, to be deposited by the clerk pursuant to law, where it will
remain until the final conclusion of the underlying proceeding and any appeal thereof.

                                                 DISPOSITION
        Based on the foregoing analysis, we deny Relators‟ petition for writ of mandamus and
dismiss their motion for emergency relief as moot.

                                                               JAMES T. WORTHEN
                                                                  Chief Justice

Opinion delivered January 20, 2015.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J. and Hoyle, J.

                                                 (PUBLISH)

                                                     3
                                 COURT OF APPEALS

        TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                          JUDGMENT

                                        JANUARY 20, 2015

                                        NO. 12-15-00005-CV

                     TY BEARD, JIM E. BULLOCK, BRIAN CASPER,
                       CRAIG DAUGHERTY AND DON HARRIS,
                                       Relators
                                         V.
                              HON. JACK SKEEN, JR.,
                                     Respondent
                                      ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
                      ON THIS DAY came to be heard the petition for writ of mandamus and
motion for emergency relief filed by TY BEARD, JIM E. BULLOCK, BRIAN CASPER,
CRAIG DAUGHERTY AND DON HARRIS, who are the relators in Cause No. 11-2216-C,
pending on the docket of the 241st Judicial District Court of Smith County, Texas. Said petition
for writ of mandamus having been filed herein on January 13, 2015, and the same having been
duly considered, because it is the opinion of this Court that a writ of mandamus should not issue,
it is therefore CONSIDERED, ADJUDGED and ORDERED that the said petition for writ of
mandamus be, and the same is, hereby denied and the motion for emergency relief dismissed as
moot.
                   James T. Worthen, Chief Justice.
                   Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J. and Hoyle, J.