in Re Artis Charles Harrell

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided August 28, 2015·No. 01-15-00731-CV·Published

Opinion

RECEIVED

IFIRST COURT OF APPEALS | ' HOUSTON, TEXAS FILED IN 1STCOURT OFAPPBA

HOUSTON, TEX

AUG 2 8 2015

CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE AUG>#2015 CLERK ^^======—— CHPfrrOPHER A. PRINE ii-ERK_

AUG28

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01-15-00731-CV pRlN£

CAUSE NO. 2014-63129

TO THE

COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE

FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON

ARTIS CHARLES HARRELL, Relator/

v.

JUDGE PATRICIA J. KERRIGAN Respondent.

WRIT OF MANDAMUS

INDENTITY OF PARTIES

Relator, Artis Charles Harrell, pro se, at all relevant times since the initation of this civil suit, has been incarcerated and is being detained in TDCJ-CID at the McConnell Unit, 3001 South Emily Drive, Beevelli, Texas 78102-

Respondent, Judge Patricia J. Kerrigan, a Harris County Civil District Court Judge, for the 190th Civil District Court at 201 Caroline St., 12th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002.

Interestd party, defendant, Jerome Godinich Jr., a Harris County attorney at law, 929 Preston, Suite 200, Houston/ Texas 77002.

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

IDENTITY OF PARTIES i

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES . ii

STATEMENT CONCERNING ORAL ARGUMENT .. ii

STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION ii STATEMENT OF CASE 1

STATEMENT OF FACTS 2

ISSUE PRESENTED 3

I. THE TRIAL COURT REFUSE TO RULE ON PENDING MOTIONS HAS CAUSED HARRELL'S CASE TO BE ARBITRARILY DELAYED, THEREBY ABUSING ITS DISCRETION ... 3

ISSUE NO. ONE............. 4

Argument & Authorities 4 CONCLUSION 6

PRAYER - ,... 6 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 7

EXHIBIT CERTIFICATE OF HARRELL 8

i

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES PAGE

TEXAS RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE

RULE 51.1 - - - ii RULE 51(a) 7 CASE LAW

Cooke v. Millard, 854 S.W.2d 134, 135 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, ori. proceeding) 5

Greenberg, Benson, Fisk & Fielder, P.C. v. Howell, 685 S.W.2d 694, 695 (Tex.App.--Dallas 1994, orig. proceeding)... 5

In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135-36 (Tex. 2004) , 4

Jones v. Smith,.470 S.W-2d 305, 307 (Tex.Civ.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1971, orig. proceeding) .. 5

In re Martinez Ramirez, 994 S.W.2d 682, 683-84 (Tex.App--- San Antonio 1998, orig. proceeding) ...... 5

Kissam v. Williamson, 545 S.W.2d 265, 266-67 (Tex.App.— Tyler 1976, orig. proceeding) 5

Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839 (Tex. 1992) 4 STATEMENT OF ORAL ARGUMENT Oral argument waived.

STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION

This Honorable Court of Appeals has jurisdiction to hear this WRIT OF MANDAMUS according to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure, Rule 51.1, to compel Judge Patricia J. Kerrigan, to rule on all pending motions.

ii

STATEMENT OF CASE

The Harris County District Clerk received and filed Artis Charles Harrell's ("Relator") "Original Petition" on or about October 10, 2014. See attached and incorporated as Exhibit 1.

Jerome Godinich Jr., the real party in interest, filed his answer on or about November 12, 2014. See attached and incorporated as Exhibit 2.

Relator served Godinich with the first set of interrogatories on or about December 2, 2014; the second interrogatories was served upon Godinich on or about January 2, 2015; and the third interrogatories was served upon Godinich on or about February 23, 2015, respectively.. See attached and incorporated as Exhibit 3, 4/ and 5, respectively.

Relator filed three motions to compel with the trial court on April 2.3, 2015. See attached and incorporated as Exhibits 6/ 7, and 8/ respectively.

Relator filed three motions for an immediate ruling on the pending motions to compel with the trial court on or about May 13, 2015. See attached and incorporated as Exhibits 9, 10, and 11, respectively.

Relator sent the trial court judge a letter on May 28, 2015, requesting an immediate ruling, or in the alternative, a reason for refusing to rule on the pending motions. See attached and incorporated as Exhibit 12.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Artis Charles Harrell ("Relator") made "interrogatories"

discovery requests, whom the real party in interest, Jerome Godinich, refused to answer under oath by not verifying his answers. Relator took action by filing first, a motion with the trial court to compel Godinich to answer the requested interrogatories under oath by verifying his answers. The trial court refused to rule upon Relator's motion to compel. Relator then filed with the trial court a motion requesting an immediate ruling on the motion to compel. Again, the trial court refused to rule on the pending motions. Relator then wrote the trial court judge a letter again requesting a ruling on the pending motions. Once again, the trial, court refused to rule on the pending motions. Relator now files this his request for writ of mandamus as to compel the trial court to rule on the pending motions.

ISSUE PRESENTED

ISSUE NO. ONE: THE TRIAL COURT REFUSE TO RULE ON PENDING MOTIONS HAS CAUSED HARRELL'S CASE TO BE ARBITRARILY DELAYED, THEREBY ABUSING ITS DISCRETION.

Issue No. One: The trial court refuse to rule on pending motions has caused Harrell's case to be arbitrarily delayed, thereby abusing its discretion.

Argument & Authorities mandamus is an extraordinary remedy, which is available only when (1) a trial court clearly abuses its discretion and (2) there is no adequate remedy by appeal. In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.Sd 124, 135-36 (Tex. 2004). A trial court clearly abuses its discretion if it reaches a decision so arbitrary and unreasonable as to amount to- a clear and prejudicial error of law. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839 (Tex. 1992). With respect to a trial court's determination of legal principles, "a trial court has no 'discretion' in determining what the law is or applying the law to facts." In re Prudential, 148 S.W.3d at 135 (quoting Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 840).

In the instant case, Harrell requested interrogatories from Godinich, the . real party in interest. Godinich refuse to answer said interrogatories by not verifying his answers. Harrell filed several motions with the trial court to compel Godinich to answer all requested interrogatories by verifying his answers. The trial court refused to rule on the pending motions. Harrell then filed several other motions with the trial court requesting an immediate ruling on the pending motions. Again, the trial court refused to rule on the pending motions. :Harrell then wrote the trial court judge a letter again requesting a

ruling on the pending motions. Once again, the trial court refused to rule on the pending motions. With no adequate remedy at law by appeal, Harrell was left with no choice but to file this application for writ of mandamus.

A court of appeals may not prescribe the manner in which a trial court exercise its discretion, but it may, by mandamus, require a trial court to exercise its discretion in some manner. Cooke v. Millard, 854 S.W.2d 134, 135 (Tex App.-Houston [st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding); Jones v. Smith, 470 S.W.2d 3!05, 307 (Tex. Civ. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 197.1, orig. proceeding). A trial court may not arbitrarily halt proceedings in a pending case, and mandamus will lie to compel a trial court to entertain and rule on motions pending before it. Cooke, 854 S.W.2d at 135; Greenberg, Benson, Fisk & Fielder, P.C. v. Howell, 685 S.W.2d 694, 695 (Tex. App.-Dallas 1984, orig. proceeding). A trial court is required to consider and rule upon a motion within a reasonable time. In re Martinez Ramirez, 994 S.W.2d 682, 683-84 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1998, otig. proceeding); Ki.ss.am v. Williamson, 545 S.W.2d 265, 266-67 (Tex. Civ. App.- Tyler 1976, orig. proceeding). If a motion is properly filed and pending before a trial court, the act of considering and ruling upon that motion is ministerial, and mandamus may issue to compel the trial court to act. In re Martinez Ramirez, 994 S.W. 2d at 68.3-84.

The instant case is a jury trial case, and Harrell wants to invoke public policy of resolving this case within the time frame of eighteen months.

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