NUMBER 13-10-00589-CV

COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG

IN RE: ASCENSION MARTINEZ, JR., INDIVIDUALLY

AND D/B/A RBR REAL ESTATE

On Petition for Writ of Mandamus.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Before Justices Yañez, Garza, and Benavides

Per Curiam Memorandum Opinion¹

            Relator, Ascension Martinez, Jr., individually and d/b/a RBR Real Estate, filed a petition for writ of mandamus in the above cause on October 21, 2010, seeking to compel the trial court to vacate an order granting a motion to compel answers to deposition questions.  Relator contends that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering him to produce net worth information based on “factually unsupported allegations of punitive liability.”  The Court requested and received a response to the petition for writ of mandamus from Jose G. Lopez, the real party in interest, and further received a reply brief from relator.

The Court, having examined and fully considered the petition for writ of mandamus, the response, and the reply, is of the opinion that relator has not shown himself entitled to the relief sought.  See Lunsford v. Morris, 746 S.W.2d 471, 472-73 (Tex. 1988), overruled on other grounds, Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 843 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding); In re Jacobs, 300 S.W.3d 35, 40-41 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2009, orig. proceeding); In re House of Yahweh, 266 S.W.3d 668, 673 (Tex. App.–Eastland 2008, orig. proceeding); In re Garth, 214 S.W.3d 190, 192 (Tex. App.–Beaumont 2007, orig. proceeding [mand. dism’d]); In re W. Star Trucks US, Inc., 112 S.W.3d 756, 763 (Tex. App.–Eastland 2003, orig. proceeding); Al Parker Buick Co. v. Touchy, 788 S.W.2d 129, 131 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, orig. proceeding); see In re CFWC Religious Ministries, Inc., 143 S.W.3d 891, 896 (Tex. App.–Beaumont 2004, orig. proceeding) (“Admirably, defendant concedes that because Relator’s pleadings included a request for exemplary damages, Relator is entitled to be provided with evidence of defendant’s net worth.”); see also In re Shaw, No. 13-10-00487-CV, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 8744, at *1 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi Oct. 27, 2010, orig. proceeding).

Accordingly, the stay previously imposed by this Court is LIFTED.  See Tex. R. App. P. 52.10(b) (“Unless vacated or modified, an order granting temporary relief is effective until the case is finally decided.”).  The petition for writ of mandamus is DENIED.  See id. 52.8(a).

                                                                                                            PER CURIAM

Delivered and filed the

22nd day of December, 2010.