Court Opinion

ID: 9691419
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 20:30:48.967641+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:19:18.886825
License: Public Domain

DON BURGESS, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The majority finds the trial court abused his discretion in granting the petition by holding: “... the prejudice to the insurance company in having to submit its employees for deposition far outweighs any benefit to the real parties in interest.” With all due respect to my brethren, this is not the standard. Tex.R. Civ. P. 202.4 states:
202.4 Order
(a) Required Findings. The court must order a deposition to be taken if, but only if, it finds that:
(1) allowing the petitioner to take the requested deposition may prevent a failure or delay of justice in an anticipated suit: or
(2) the likely benefit of allowing the petitioner to take the requested deposition to investigate a potential claim outweighs the burden or expense of the procedure.
(b) Contents. The order must state whether a deposition will be taken on oral examination or written questions. The order may also state the time and place at which a deposition will be taken. If the order does not state the time and place at which a deposition will be taken, the petitioner must notice the deposition as required by Rules 199 or 200. The order must contain any protections the court finds necessary or appropriate to protect the witness or any person who may be affected by the procedure.
Nowhere in the rule is the word “prejudice” used. The balancing test is “benefit” versus “burden.” The trial judge is in the better position than this court to perform this balancing test. I would defer to his judgment and deny the mandamus.