APPELLANTS
APPELLEE
PER CURIAM
Appellee Ned Benson sued appellants, the Texas Department of Human Services, Burton Raiford, Glenn Williams, and Janie Medina (collectively the "Department"), in the district court of Travis County for damages resulting from the Department's disclosure of communications between it and Benson regarding the treatment of children in the care of persons whom Benson knew. The Department has appealed the trial-court order denying the Department's motion for summary judgment based on claims of immunity. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(5) (West Supp. 1993); City of Houston v. Kilburn, 849 S.W.2d 810 (Tex. 1993). Benson has filed a motion to dismiss the appeal as moot; (1) we will grant the motion.
The trial on the merits in the cause underlying this appeal began on August 30, 1993. See Tex. R. App. P. 43(d); Coalition of Cities for Affordable Util. Rates v. Third Court of Appeals, 787 S.W.2d 946, 947 (Tex. 1990). On September 13th, the court signed a final judgment in favor of Benson. Because the matter has proceeded to trial and a final judgment, the appeal of the interlocutory order is moot. We grant Benson's motion to dismiss and dismiss the appeal.
Before Chief Justice Carroll, Justices Aboussie and B. A. Smith
Appeal Dismissed as Moot on Appellee's Motion
Filed: October 27, 1993
Do Not Publish
1. 1 The Department has not responded to Benson's motion.