in Re Federal Corporation

NUMBER 13-18-00060-CV COURT OF APPEALS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG IN RE FEDERAL CORPORATION On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Contreras and Benavides Memorandum Opinion by Justice Contreras Relator Federal Corporation filed a petition for writ of mandamus with this Court arguing that respondent, the Honorable Mario E. Ramirez Jr., presiding judge of the 332nd Judicial District Court of Hidalgo County, erred by denying relator’s special appearance, under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 120a, in trial court cause number C- 8211-14-F. Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy. In re H.E.B. Grocery Co., 492 S.W.3d 300, 302 (Tex. 2016) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam). Mandamus relief is proper to correct a clear abuse of discretion when there is no adequate remedy by appeal. In re Christus Santa Rosa Health Sys., 492 S.W.3d 276, 279 (Tex. 2016) (orig. proceeding). The relator bears the burden of proving both of these requirements. In re H.E.B. Grocery Co., 492 S.W.3d at 302; Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). Under section 51.014(a)(7) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, a party may appeal an interlocutory order that “grants or denies the special appearance of a defendant under Rule 120a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, except in a suit brought under the Family Code.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 51.014(a)(7) (West, Westlaw through 2017 1st C.S.). The challenged order denied relator’s special appearance under Rule 120a, and the underlying suit was not brought under the family code. See id. Accordingly, relator has not shown that it lacks an adequate remedy by appeal. Having fully considered relator’s petition, this Court is of the opinion that relator is not entitled to the relief sought for the foregoing reason. Accordingly, the petition for writ of mandamus is DENIED. Any pending motions are denied as moot. DORI CONTRERAS Justice Delivered and filed the 25th day of January, 2018. 2