In Re Jodi Buttarazzi-El Shariff and Dawn Buttarazzi v. the State of Texas

• Court: Texas Court of Appeals, 9th District (Beaumont)
• Decided: May 7, 2026
• Docket: 09-26-00177-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

In The

Court of Appeals

Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

__________________

NO. 09-26-00177-CV __________________

IN RE JODI BUTTARAZZI-EL SHARIFF AND DAWN BUTTARAZZI

__________________________________________________________________

Original Proceeding Probate Court No. 1 of Montgomery County, Texas Trial Cause No. 25-34404 __________________________________________________________________

MEMORANDUM OPINION

In this original proceeding, Relators Jodi Buttarazzi-El Shariff and Dawn

Buttarazzi seek a writ of mandamus compelling the trial court (1) to rule on

Buttarazzi-El Shariff’s ADA Title II Request for Reasonable Modifications, (2) to

reconsider Relators’ motion to reinstate as supplemented, and (3) to clarify what

claims remain live for trial.

We may issue a writ of mandamus to remedy a clear abuse of discretion by

the trial court when the relator lacks an adequate remedy by appeal. See In re

Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135-36 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding);

1 Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839-40 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). “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, 827

S.W.2d at 839 (internal quotations omitted). A trial court also abuses its discretion

if it fails to correctly analyze or apply the law, because a trial court has no discretion

in determining what the law is or in applying the law to the facts. See Prudential,

148 S.W.3d at 135; Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 840.

We conclude that on this record the Relators have not shown that they are

entitled to mandamus relief. Accordingly, we deny the petition for a writ of

mandamus and the motion for temporary relief. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.8(a);

52.10(a).

PETITION DENIED.

PER CURIAM

Submitted on May 5, 2026 Opinion Delivered May 7, 2026

Before Golemon, C.J., Johnson and Wright, JJ.