NO. 07-04-00405-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL D
OCTOBER 18, 2004
______________________________
IN RE DAVID L. JONES AND ALICE REDEKER, RELATORS
_________________________________
Before QUINN and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS
The Court sua sponte withdraws its opinion of October 11, 2004, and in lieu thereof
substitutes this opinion. Relators David Lee Jones and Alice Redeker seek a writ of mandamus
requesting that we order the Honorable Felix Klein, Judge of the 154th District Court of Lamb
County, to vacate his order of April 23, 2004, denying their motion to compel discovery. In
response, among other things, real party in interest, William B. Jones, Jr. contends that relators
have not demonstrated that the denial of their motion to compel discovery constituted a clear
abuse of discretion by the trial court. For the reasons set forth, we deny the requested relief.
Although the discovery rules encourage trial courts to limit discovery to avoid undue
burdens in production, real party had the burden in the trial court to produce some evidence to
support his request for protection. In re Alford Chevrolet-Geo, 997 S.W.2d 173, 181 (Tex.
1999). Here, relators are entitled to mandamus relief “only to correct a trial court’s clear abuse
of discretion when no adequate remedy at law exists.” In Re Alford Chevrolet-Geo, 997 S.W.2d
at 176. In our review, regarding factual matters, as an appellate court we may not substitute our
judgment for that of the trial court. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 837-39 (Tex. 1992); In
re Energas Co., 63 S.W.3d 50, 51 (Tex. App.--Amarillo 2001, orig. proceeding). Therefore, in
determining whether mandamus should issue, we must focus on the record that was before the
trial court and decide whether the decision was not only arbitrary but also amounted to a clear
and prejudicial error of law. In re Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co., 975 S.W.2d 601, 605 (Tex. 1998).
An original proceeding filed in this Court must comply with the requirements of Rule 52
of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. Although a reporter’s record of the hearing is
included, relators’ fact statement in their petition is not supported by a verified affidavit as
required by Rule 52.3 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. Consequently, relator’s
petition for writ of mandamus is denied.
Don H. Reavis
Justice
Campbell, J., concurring.
2
NO. 07-04-0405-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL D
OCTOBER 18, 2004
______________________________
IN RE DAVID L. JONES AND ALICE REDEKER, RELATORS
_________________________________
Before QUINN and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.
CONCURRING OPINION
I concur in the court’s denial of relators’ petition. In my opinion, relators have not
demonstrated the trial court’s order reflects a clear abuse of its discretion based on the record
presented. In re Alford Chevrolet-Geo, 997 S.W .2d 175 (Tex. 1999); Walker v. Packer, 827
S.W .2d 833 (Tex. 1992).
James T. Campbell
Justice
3
in Re David L. Jones and Alice Redeker, Relators
Combined Opinion