in Re: Whataburger Restaurants LP.

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS

EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

EL PASO, TEXAS

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IN RE: No. 08-10-00250-CV §

WHATABURGER RESTAURANTS, LP, AN ORIGINAL PROCEEDING §

Relator. IN MANDAMUS §

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MEMORANDUM OPINION ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS Relator seeks a writ of mandamus, arguing that the trial court applied the wrong standards in granting a motion for new trial based on juror misconduct. An order granting a new trial is subject to mandamus review if the trial court fails to specify the reasons for ordering the new trial. See In re Columbia Med. Ctr., 290 S.W.3d 204, 215 (Tex. 2009)(orig. proceeding)(“Broad statements such as ‘in the interest of justice’ are not sufficiently specific.”). But the merits of the grounds stated in the order are not reviewable by mandamus. See In re Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., ___ S.W.3d ___, ___, No. 08-09-00293-CV, 2010 WL 3787623, at *3 (Tex.App.--El Paso, Sept. 29, 2010, orig. proceeding).

In this case, the trial court complied with Columbia Medical Center by giving specific reasons for concluding that a new trial was warranted as a result of juror misconduct. Accordingly, the petition for a writ of mandamus is denied.

December 8, 2010 ANN CRAWFORD McCLURE, Justice

Before Chew, C.J., McClure, and Rivera, JJ.

Chew, C.J., not participating