In Re: Pindome Corporation--Appeal from of County

Becker v. State

COURT OF APPEALS

EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

EL PASO, TEXAS

 
IN RE: PINDOME CORPORATION,

Relator.

 

 
No. 08-03-00038-CV

An Original Proceeding

 

in Mandamus

 
OPINION ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

This is an original proceeding in mandamus arising out of a motion for new trial granted by the Honorable Linda Chew, Judge of the 327th District Court of El Paso County. Pindome Corporation, relator, obtained a default judgment against Triad Hospitals, Inc. and HCA, Inc., but the trial court subsequently granted a motion for new trial. Pindome seeks a writ of mandamus requiring the trial court to set aside that order because the court's plenary power had expired. The real parties in interest have filed a motion to consolidate this mandamus proceeding with a restricted appeal related to the default judgment. For the reasons stated below, we deny mandamus relief and deny the motion to consolidate as moot.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Mandamus will lie only to correct a clear abuse of discretion. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). Moreover, there must be no other adequate remedy at law. Id.

1. Clear abuse of discretion

An appellate court rarely interferes with a trial court's exercise of discretion. A clear abuse of discretion warranting correction by mandamus occurs when a court issues a decision which is without basis or guiding principles of law. See Johnson v. Fourth Court of Appeals, 700 S.W.2d 916, 917 (Tex. 1985) (orig. proceeding). With respect to resolution of factual issues or matters committed to the trial court's discretion, the reviewing court may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 839-40. The relator must therefore establish that the trial court could reasonably have reached only one decision. Id. at 840. Even if the reviewing court would have decided the issue differently, it cannot disturb the trial court's decision unless it is shown to be arbitrary and unreasonable. Id. With respect to a trial court's determination of the legal principles controlling its ruling, the standard is much less deferential. A trial court has no "discretion" in determining what the law is or applying the law to the facts. Thus, a clear failure by the trial court to analyze or apply the law correctly will constitute an abuse of discretion, and may result in appellate reversal by extraordinary writ. Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 840.

2. No adequate remedy by appeal

An appellate court will deny mandamus relief if another remedy, usually appeal, is available and adequate. Street v. Second Court of Appeals, 715 S.W.2d 638, 639-40 (Tex. 1986) (orig. proceeding). Mandamus will not issue where there is "'a clear and adequate remedy at law, such as a normal appeal.'" Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 840 (quoting State v. Walker, 679 S.W.2d 484, 485 (Tex. 1984)). Mandamus is intended to be an extraordinary remedy, available only in limited circumstances. The writ will issue "'only in situations involving manifest and urgent necessity and not for grievances that may be addressed by other remedies.'" Holloway v. Fifth Court of Appeals, 767 S.W.2d 680, 684 (Tex. 1989) (quoting James Sales, Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the Courts of Civil Appeals of Texas in Appellate Procedure in Texas, Sec. 1.4(1)(b) at 47 [2d Ed. 1979]).

APPLICATION OF THE LAW TO THE FACTS BEFORE THE COURT

The record before us does not reflect that the trial court clearly abused its discretion by granting the motion for new trial. Accordingly, we deny the relief requested in the petition for mandamus. (1) Further, the motion to consolidate is denied as moot.

 

SUSAN LARSEN, Justice

March 6, 2003

 

Before Panel No. 4

Barajas, C.J., Larsen, and McClure, JJ.

1. The denial of mandamus relief effectively renders the restricted appeal moot. Ordinarily, this Court would dismiss the restricted appeal. However, that action could potentially impair the rights of Triad and HCA to pursue the restricted appeal in the event that Pindome successfully obtains review of the decision denying mandamus relief. On the other hand, the trial court will not be permitted to take any action in the underlying case until the appeal has been dismissed and our mandate has issued. Rather than immediately dismissing the restricted appeal, we will allow it to remain pending on our docket until any challenges to our denial of mandamus relief have been resolved or until Triad and HCA have filed a motion to dismiss.