in Re Betty Robinett and Donald Hall ( 2022 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-21-00649-CV
In re Betty Robinett and Donald Hall
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING FROM HAYS COUNTY
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Relators Betty Robinett and Donald Hall have filed a petition for writ of mandamus
challenging a temporary administrator order entered by the trial court on December 3, 2021. For
the reasons explained below, we conditionally grant mandamus relief.
BACKGROUND
This mandamus arises out of an heirship proceeding and suit for an estate
administration. On December 1, 2021, Stephen Hall filed an application for temporary
administration of the estate of Larry Rasco. Without hearing, the trial court on December 3, 2021,
granted the application for temporary administration and appointed Stephen Hall as temporary
administrator. As part of that temporary administrator order, the trial court ordered that Stephen
Hall would serve “without bond, conditioned as required by law.” Three days later, Relators filed
a motion challenging that appointment, which was set for hearing on December 14, 2021. The
trial court ultimately declined to rule on that motion, citing jurisdictional concerns. Relators now
seek mandamus relief, contending that the trial court abused its discretion by appointing Stephen
Hall without an evidentiary hearing and bond.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Mandamus relief is an extraordinary discretionary remedy available only when the
trial court abuses its discretion and relator has no adequate remedy by appeal. See In re K & L
Auto Crushers, LLC, 627 S.W.3d 239, 247 (Tex. 2021) (orig. proceeding); In re Prudential Ins.
Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135–36, 138 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). A court “abuses its
discretion if it acts without reference to guiding rules and principles such that the ruling is arbitrary
or unreasonable.” Brewer v. Lennox Hearth Prods., LLC, 601 S.W.3d 704, 717 (Tex. 2020).
Similarly, “a clear failure by the trial court to analyze or apply the law correctly will constitute an
abuse of discretion.” Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding).
Relators lack an adequate remedy by appeal because the appointment of a
temporary administrator is interlocutory and not subject to immediate appeal. Harris v. Taylor,
No. 01-15-00925-CV, 2016 WL 4055688, at *5 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 28, 2016,
no pet.) (mem. op.); see also In re Guardianship of Cady, No. 04-19-00588-CV,
2019 WL 5405902, at *1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Oct. 23, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.) (stating that
appointment of temporary guardian of estate is interlocutory because “it does not dispose of all
issues in or end a phase of the proceeding”). 1
1 The particular circumstances of the underlying proceeding emphasize the lack of remedy
available to Relators. Relators moved to challenge the appointment under Section 452.007 of the
Estates Code, but the trial court declined to rule on the motion because of concerns the trial court
no longer had jurisdiction over the probate proceeding after the mandamus petition was filed.
We note that once a mandamus petition has been filed, courts of appeals have the discretion
to stay all or portions of the underlying proceeding to maintain the status quo until the appellate
court can address the dispute encompassed within a petition. In re Kelleher, 999 S.W.2d 51, 52
2
ABUSE OF DISCRETION
Relators contend that the trial court abused its discretion in two ways: (1) by failing
to hold an evidentiary hearing before appointing the temporary administrator and (2) by failing to
set a bond amount.
First, Relators argue that that the trial court was required to hold an evidentiary
hearing before appointing the temporary administrator because they filed an opposition to that
appointment. Under Section 55.001 of the Texas Estates Code, “[a] person interested in an estate
may, at any time before the court decides an issue in a proceeding, file written opposition regarding
the issue.” Tex. Est. Code § 55.001. Relators are correct that such interested persons are entitled
“to process for witness and evidence, and to be heard on the opposition.” Id. But, based on the
record before us, 2 they did not file any “written opposition” to the appointment until they filed
their motion to reconsider three days after the appointment had already been decided. See In re
Estate of Crenshaw, 982 S.W.2d 568, 571 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1998, no pet.) (holding that
Section 55.001 applied because party objected before any executor had been appointed). The trial
court therefore did not abuse its discretion by appointing the temporary administrator without first
(Tex. App.—Amarillo 1999, orig. proceeding); see also Tex. R. App. P. 52.10(b) (authorizing
appellate court to “grant any just relief pending the court’s action on the petition”). A trial court
otherwise retains jurisdiction to take any action in the underlying proceeding (or at least, any action
outside the scope of temporary relief granted by the court of appeals), including but not limited to
actions that may resolve the very issues raised in the mandamus petition. See, e.g., In re Texas
Dep’t of Fam. & Protective Servs., No. 03-21-00505-CV, 2021 WL 5457234, at *1 (Tex. App.—
Austin Nov. 16, 2021, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.) (dismissing petition as moot because trial
court withdrew and superseded order at issue); In re Hursh, No. 03-21-00316-CV,
2021 WL 4876958, at *1 (Tex. App.—Austin Oct. 20, 2021, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.) (same).
2 We requested a response from the real parties in interest, but no response was filed. See
Tex. R. App. P. 52.4 (requiring that response “has been filed or requested by the court” before
granting relief). We therefore are left only with the universe of documents that Relators—but not
real parties in interest—believe are “material” to the claim for relief. See id. R. 52.7(a)(1).
3
conducting a hearing pursuant to Section 55.001 because there was no requirement for the trial
court to hold a hearing under that statute.
However, the trial court did abuse its discretion by appointing the temporary
administrator without bond. The Estates Code expressly requires that the order appointing a
temporary administrator “set the amount of bond to be given by the appointee.” Tex. Est. Code
§ 452.003(4). Moreover, the Estates Code requires that a party must enter into a bond unless they
meet one of a limited number of exceptions: (1) a will directs that no bond be required; (2) all the
relevant parties consent to not requiring bond; or (3) the appointee is a corporate fiduciary. See
id. § 305.101(a) (“Except as otherwise provided by this title, a person to whom letters testamentary
or of administration will be issued must enter into a bond before issuance of the letters.”). And
other statutory provisions require a hearing and evidence before “setting the amount of a bond.”
See id. § 305.152.
Based on the record before us, there is no evidence that the temporary administrator
met any of the exceptions to the bonding requirement, nor is there any indication that the trial court
undertook any evidentiary hearing regarding the bond amount. See Ayala v. Mackie, 158 S.W.3d 568,
573 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2005, pet. denied) (reversing an order appointing an administrator
because court failed to set bond); see also Tex. Est. Code §§ 305.101(a), .152. Accordingly, the
trial court abused its discretion by failing to follow the statutory requirements for setting bonds as
part of a temporary administrator appointment. See Tex. Est. Code § 305.101(a); see also Walker,
827 S.W.2d at 840.
4
CONCLUSION
We conditionally grant Relators’ petition for writ of mandamus and direct the trial
court to vacate its December 3, 2021 order appointing a temporary administrator. The writ will
issue only if the trial court fails to comply.
__________________________________________
Gisela D. Triana, Justice
Before Chief Justice Byrne, Justices Triana and Kelly
Filed: February 9, 2022
5