in Re Stephanie Rios

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided September 4, 2015·No. 04-15-00557-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED

04-15-00557-CV

FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

9/4/2015 7:00:05 PM

KEITH HOTTLE

CLERK

04-15-00557-CV

No. ______________ FILED IN 4th COURT OF APPEALS SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 9/4/2015 7:00:05 PM

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS KEITH E. HOTTLE Clerk

FOR THE FOURTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

In Re Stephanie Rios, Relator

Original Proceedings from the County Court at Law, Sitting as a Probate Court, Starr County, Texas The Honorable Romero Molina Presiding From Cause No. PR-14-016

PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

Followed by an Emergency Motion to Abate & Preserve Docket Control Order

Flor E. Flores THE LAW FIRM OF FLOR E. FLORES, PLLC 700 N. Flores St., Ste. E Rio Grande City, Texas 78582 Tel: (956)263-1786 Fax: (956)263-1750 Email: ffloreslaw@gmail.com

Attorney for Stephanie Rios, Relator

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

PARTIES COUNSEL

Relator:

Stephanie Rios Flor E. Flores THE LAW FIRM OF FLOR E. FLORES, PLLC 700 N. Flores St., Ste. E Rio Grande City, Texas 78582 Tel: (956)263-1786 Fax: (956)263-1750 Email: ffloreslaw@gmail.com

Respondent:

County Court at Law, sitting as a Probate Court, Starr County, Texas Honorable Romero Molina

Real Parties In Interest:

Maria Adriana Flores Gilberto Falcon THE LAW OFFICE OF GILBERTO FALCON, PLLC 320 Lindberg Ave. McAllen, Texas 78501 Email: gilberto@gilbertofalconlaw.com

Roel “Robie” Flores FLORES ATTORNEYS AT LAW 3331 N. Ware Rd. McAllen, Texas 78501 Email: robieflores@att.net

Attorney Ad Litem:

Minerva Garza LAW OFFICE OF BALDEMAR GARZA AND MINERVA GARZA, PLLC 200 East Second Street Rio Grande City, Texas 78582 Email: garzalawoffice@aol.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Identity of Parties and Counsel…………………………………………………..…2

Index of Authorities……………………………………………………………...4, 5

Statement of Jurisdiction …………………………………………………………..6

Statement of the Case……………………………………………………………7, 8

Issues Presented…………………………………………………………………….9 A. Did the trial court clearly abuse its discretion when it granted a continuance of the trial, over Relator’s written and oral objections, when Real Party in Interest failed to show good cause? …………………………………….19-21

B. Did the trial court clearly abuse its discretion in granting a trial continuance, over Relator’s written and oral objections, to allow Real Party in Interest to conduct discovery outside the deadlines imposed by the Agreed Docket Control Order, when Real Party in Interest failed to show that she exercised due diligence in utilizing the procedures for discovery afforded by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure?.........................................................................20-25

C. Did the trial court clearly abuse its discretion when it granted a continuance of the trial, over Relator’s written and oral objections, to allow Real Party in Interest to conduct discovery outside of the deadlines imposed by the Docket Control Order?..........................................................................................26-28

Statement of Facts……………………………………………………………..10-14

Argument & Authorities……………………………………………………….15-28

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………..29-31

Prayer………………………………………………………………………….32-33

Certificate of Compliance………………………………………………………...34

Certificate of Service……………………………………………………………...35

Appendix………………………………………………………………………36-37

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Case Law Pages

Coker v. Coker, 650 S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex. 1983)……………………….15, 18, 26

CSR Ltd. v. Link, 925 S.W.2d 591, 596 (Tex. 1966)……………………………...15

Fritsch v. J.M. English Truck Line, Inc., 151 Tex. 168 (Tex. 1952)...........16, 17, 20

Gabaldon v. General Motors Corp., 876 S.W.2d 367, 370 (Tex.App.—El Paso, 1993…………………………………………………24

Gen. Motors Corp. v. Gayle, 951 S.W.2d 469, 477 (Tex. 1997)…………………16

In re Ford Motor Co., 988 S.W.2d 714, 721 (Tex. 1998)………………………...16

In re H & R Block, 159 S.W.3d 127, 132 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi 2004)……...16

In re Luna, 12-07-00185-CV (Tex.App.—Tyler, 2007)……………...16, 19, 21, 22

In re Prudential Ins. Co., 148 S.W.3d 124, 13536 (Tex. 2004) …………………15

In re Van Waters & Rogers, Inc., 145 S.W.3d 203, 210-11 (Tex.2004)……….....16

Johnson v. Fourth Court of Appeals, 700 S.W.2d 916, 917 (Tex. 1985)…………15

Lopez v. Munoz, Hockema & Reed, L.L.P., 22 S.W.3d 857, 861 (Tex. 2000)..18, 26

MCI Telecommunications Corp. v. Texas Utilities Elec. Co., 995 S.W.2d 647, 650-51 (Tex. 1999)………………………………………26

Nat’l Union Fire Ins., Co. v. CBI Indus., Inc., 907 S.W.2d 517, 520 (Tex. 1995)………………………………………………………...18, 26

Sanchez v. Duke Energy Field Services, Inc., No.

04-05-00926-CV, 2006 WL 2546365, at 2 (Tex.App.—San Antonio Sept. 6, 2006)…………………………...18, 26, 27

State v. Crank, 666 S.W.2d 91, 94 (Tex. 1984)……………………………….16, 20

State v. Wood Oil Distrib., Inc., 751 S.W.2d 863 (1988)…………16, 17, 20, 21, 25

Villegas v. Carter, 171 S.W.2d 624, 626 (Tex. 1986)………………………...16, 20

Verkin v. SW Cent 1, 784 S.W.2d 92 (Tex. App. 1990)…………………………..23

Wagner & Brown v. E.W. Moran Drilling Co., 702 S.W.2d 760, 769 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1986……………………………………...18, 26

Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992)……………………………..15

Statutes Pages

Tex. R. Civ. P. 247……………………………………………………17, 19, 24, 27

Tex. R. Civ. P. 251………………………………………………………..17, 19, 27

Tex. R. Civ. P. 252………………………………………………..17, 20, 21, 23, 24

STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION

This court has jurisdiction over this petition for writ of mandamus under

Section 22.201 and 22.221(b) of the Texas Government Code.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

The underlying case involves an Application to Appoint Dependent

Administrator of the Estate of Artemio Rios, deceased, and an Application to

Determine the Heirs of Artemio Rios, deceased. Both applications were filed by

Stephanie Rios, Relator and the biological daughter of Artemio Rios.

The cases originated in the County Court at Law, sitting as a Probate Court,

of Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas, in Cause No. PR-14-13 and Cause No PR-

14-16, both styled In the Estate of Artemio Rios, deceased.

Real Party in Interest Maria Adriana Flores filed a Petition for Intervention

for Determination of the Right of Inheritance on March 4, 2015, alleging to be the

common law wife of Artemio Rios, deceased. Relator disputes that a common law

marriage between her father and Real Party in Interest existed. Relator filed a

Demand for a Jury Trial solely on the issue of whether a common law marriage

existed between Real Party in Interest and Decedent. A Special Jury Trial was

scheduled for September 3, 2015.

Real Party in Interest filed a Motion for Continuance of the Trial on

September 1, 2015, on the ground that she had not yet had an opportunity to depose

Relator, her biological brother and heir to Artemio Rios, and a non-party. Relator

objected to those depositions on the ground that the discovery deadlines imposed by

the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, incorporated into the Agreed Docket Control

Order had expired and objected to the trial continuance by way of argument at the

hearing held on September 1, 2015 and the written Response and Objection to the

Motion for Continuance incorporated by reference into the oral argument. The trial

court granted a continuance of the trial, without a showing of good cause and due

diligence, and after several resets at the request of Real Party in Interest over

Relator’s objections.

Relator complains that Respondent clearly abused its discretion in granting a

trial continuance to allow Real Party in Interest to conduct discovery after the

expiration of the discovery deadline and disregarding the Agreed Docket Control

Order. Relator further complains that Respondent clearly abused its discretion in

opening the discovery period two (2) days before the scheduled trial date to allow

Real Party in Interest to take depositions of witnesses when Real Party in Interest

completely failed to exercise due diligence in conducting discovery during the

discovery period, in contravention to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the

Agreed Docket Control Order.

ISSUES PRESENTED

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In Re Prudential Insurance Co. of America
148 S.W.3d 124 (Texas Supreme Court, 2004)
In Re Van Waters & Rogers, Inc.
145 S.W.3d 203 (Texas Supreme Court, 2004)
Lopez v. Muñoz, Hockema & Reed, L.L.P.
22 S.W.3d 857 (Texas Supreme Court, 2000)
Coker v. Coker
650 S.W.2d 391 (Texas Supreme Court, 1983)
State v. Wood Oil Distributing, Inc.
751 S.W.2d 863 (Texas Supreme Court, 1988)
Verkin v. Southwest Center One, Ltd.
784 S.W.2d 92 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1989)
State v. Crank
666 S.W.2d 91 (Texas Supreme Court, 1984)
Wagner & Brown v. E.W. Moran Drilling Co.
702 S.W.2d 760 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1986)
CSR LTD. v. Link
925 S.W.2d 591 (Texas Supreme Court, 1996)
In Re H & R Block
159 S.W.3d 127 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2004)
General Motors Corp. v. Gayle
951 S.W.2d 469 (Texas Supreme Court, 1997)
Fritch v. J. M. English Truck Line, Inc.
246 S.W.2d 856 (Texas Supreme Court, 1952)
Johnson v. Fourth Court of Appeals
700 S.W.2d 916 (Texas Supreme Court, 1985)
In Re Ford Motor Co.
988 S.W.2d 714 (Texas Supreme Court, 1998)
Walker v. Packer
827 S.W.2d 833 (Texas Supreme Court, 1992)
Gabaldon v. General Motors Corp.
876 S.W.2d 367 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1993)
MCI Telecommunications Corp. v. Texas Utilities Electric Co.
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