Texas Department of Human Services, Burton Raiford, Glenn Williams and Janie Medina v. Ned Benson

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: October 27, 1993
• Docket: 03-93-00311-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT OF TEXAS,

AT AUSTIN



NO. 3-93-311-CV

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, BURTON RAIFORD, GLENN WILLIAMS, AND JANIE MEDINA,

APPELLANTS

vs.

NED BENSON,

APPELLEE

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 353RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT

NO. 92-04888, HONORABLE JERRY DELLANA, JUDGE PRESIDING

PER CURIAM

Appellee Ned Benson sued appellants, the Texas Department of Human Services, Burton Raiford, Glenn Williams, and Janie Medina (collectively the "Department"), in the district court of Travis County for damages resulting from the Department's disclosure of communications between it and Benson regarding the treatment of children in the care of persons whom Benson knew. The Department has appealed the trial-court order denying the Department's motion for summary judgment based on claims of immunity. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(5) (West Supp. 1993); City of Houston v. Kilburn, 849 S.W.2d 810 (Tex. 1993). Benson has filed a motion to dismiss the appeal as moot; ⁽¹⁾ we will grant the motion.

The trial on the merits in the cause underlying this appeal began on August 30, 1993. See Tex. R. App. P. 43(d); Coalition of Cities for Affordable Util. Rates v. Third Court of Appeals, 787 S.W.2d 946, 947 (Tex. 1990). On September 13th, the court signed a final judgment in favor of Benson. Because the matter has proceeded to trial and a final judgment, the appeal of the interlocutory order is moot. We grant Benson's motion to dismiss and dismiss the appeal.

Before Chief Justice Carroll, Justices Aboussie and B. A. Smith

Appeal Dismissed as Moot on Appellee's Motion

Filed: October 27, 1993

Do Not Publish

1. ¹ The Department has not responded to Benson's motion.