in Re: Robert Houser

Court of Appeals of Texas

in Re: Robert Houser

DecidedAugust 1, 2006

Docket06-06-00083-CV

StatusPublished

This text of in Re: Robert Houser (in Re: Robert Houser) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

in Re: Robert Houser, (Tex. Ct. App. 2006).

Pincite

Opinion

6-96-028-CV Long Trusts v. Dowd

In The

Court of Appeals

Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

______________________________

No. 06-06-00083-CV

IN RE: ROBERT HOUSER

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Original Mandamus Proceeding

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Before Morriss, C.J., Ross and Carter, JJ.

Memorandum Opinion by Justice Carter

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Robert Houser has filed a petition for writ of mandamus asking this Court to order the district court to "move upon the case" in his divorce filed against Jeri Houser. Robert Houser is presently incarcerated in the Telford Unit in New Boston, Texas, and is attempting to divorce his wife, who is evidently a resident of Louisiana. He states that she refused to waive service, and asks this Court to order the trial court to grant his petition for divorce since he has used every effort to obtain service on her.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mandamus issues only when the mandamus record establishes (1) a clear abuse of discretion or the violation of a duty imposed by law and (2) the absence of a clear and adequate remedy at law. Cantu v. Longoria, 878 S.W.2d 131 (Tex. 1994); Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839â40 (Tex. 1992).

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Houser argues that, since he has followed all court rules concerning service, he is entitled to have his petition placed on the court docket for processing, and asks us to order the trial court to do so. There are a number of rules that explain how service must be made on a defendant. In Houser's case, he states only that he attempted to contact his wife by mail and that his wife refused to respond to his request for waiver. In all cases, service or waiver must be obtained in order for the suit to proceed.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Houser is thus required to attempt to obtain actual service on Jeri as set out in Tex. R. Civ. P. 106, by a person authorized pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 103. See State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Costley, 868 S.W.2d 298, 298â99 (Tex. 1993). There is no indication that Houser has made any effort to obtain service on his wife. His petition states only that he could not obtain a waiver of service.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The trial court's jurisdiction is invoked by the party's appearance before the court, or by the lawful service of process on the party. TAC Am., Inc. v. Boothe, 94 S.W.3d 315, 318â19 (Tex. App.âAustin 2002, no pet.); see also Tex. R. Civ. P. 120, 124; Bird v. Kornman, 152 S.W.3d 154, 160 (Tex. App.âDallas 2004, pet. denied). The trial court has acted within the bounds of the applicable law, and no abuse of discretion has been shown.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â We deny the petition.

Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jack Carter

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Justice

Date Submitted:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â July 31, 2006

Date Decided:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â August 1, 2006

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In The

Court of Appeals

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ______________________________

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No. 06-10-00087-CV

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ______________________________

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â IN THE INTEREST OF H.G., C.G., AND F.G., CHILDREN

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Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â On Appeal from the 62nd Judicial District Court

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hopkins County, Texas

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Trial Court No. CV39152

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