in Re Douglas Smith Custom Homes, LLC Douglas Eugene Smith and Akeeya Neal

Motion Granted; Petition for Writ of Mandamus Dismissed and Opinion filed May 4, 2021.

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

NO. 14-20-00741-CV

IN RE DOUGLAS SMITH CUSTOM HOMES, LLC; DOUGLAS EUGENE

SMITH; AND AKEEYA NEAL, Relators

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

WRIT OF MANDAMUS

269th District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 2020-00177 MEMORANDUM OPINION

On Monday, November 2, 2020, relators Douglas Smith Custom Homes, LLC; Douglas Eugene Smith; and Akeeya Neal filed a petition for writ of mandamus in this court. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221; see also Tex. R. App. P. 52. In the petition, relators ask this court to compel the Honorable Cory Don Sepolio, presiding judge of the 269th District Court of Harris County, to withdraw his October 2, 2020 order granting real party in interest’s motion to lift abatement. Because the parties have complied with the requirements of the applicable statute in this proceeding since the petition for writ of mandamus was filed, an order of statutory abatement will offer no relief to the parties. See Tex. Prop. Code § 27.004. Accordingly, this proceeding has been rendered moot and we must dismiss relators’ petition. See Reule v. RLZ Investments, 411 S.W.3d 31, 32 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, no pet.) (“If a judgment cannot have a practical effect on an existing controversy, the case is moot, and any opinion issued on the merits on the appeal would constitute an impermissible advisory opinion.”).

We order the petition for writ of mandamus dismissed.

PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Chief Justice Christopher and Justices Wise and Hassan.