in Re Stephen Parten (Robert Hyams and Marivonne Hyams)

Opinion

Petition for Writ of Mandamus Denied and Opinion filed September 29, 2016.

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

NO. 14-16-00720-CV

IN RE STEPHEN PARTEN, Relator

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING WRIT OF MANDAMUS 334th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2015-40257

MEMORANDUM OPINION

On September 14, 2016, relator Stephen Parten filed a petition for writ of mandamus in this court. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221 (West 2004); see also Tex. R. App. P. 52. In the petition, relator asks this court to compel the Honorable Grant Dorfman, presiding judge of the 334th District Court of Harris County, to vacate his order signed on July 12, 2015 that disqualifies relator from serving as counsel for Plaintiffs Robert and Marivonne Hymas in the cause below.

To obtain mandamus relief, a relator generally must show both that the trial court clearly abused its discretion and that relator has no adequate remedy by appeal. In re Prudential Ins. Co., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135–36 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). We review a trial court’s decision on a motion to disqualify an attorney using an abuse of discretion standard. In re Sanders, 153 S.W.3d 54, 56 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). “In determining whether the trial court abused its discretion with respect to resolution of factual matters, we may not substitute our judgment for that of the trial court and may not disturb the trial court’s decision unless it is shown to be arbitrary and unreasonable.” Id.

Relator has not established that the trial court clearly abused its discretion.

Accordingly, we deny relator’s petition for writ of mandamus.

PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Jamison, McCally, and Wise.