in Re Christopher Wayne Holt ( 2021 )

NUMBER 13-21-00362-CV
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG
IN RE CHRISTOPHER WAYNE HOLT
On Petition for Writ of Mandamus.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Benavides, Longoria, and Tijerina
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Benavides1
By petition for writ of mandamus, pro se relator Christopher Wayne Holt seeks to
compel the trial court to (1) stay the underlying modification proceeding, (2) preferentially
set relator’s fourth amended motion for enforcement and order to appear for hearing, (3)
order the real party in interest Michelle Ann Fraze to personally appear, and (4) consider
and rule on relator’s motion.2 See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 157.061(a) (“On filing a motion
1 See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.8(d) (“When denying relief, the court may hand down an opinion but is not
required to do so,” but “[w]hen granting relief, the court must hand down an opinion as in any other case”);
id. R. 47.4 (distinguishing opinions and memorandum opinions).
2This case arises from trial court cause number 09-01754-D in the 105th District Court of Nueces
County, Texas. Relator has previously pursued other requests for relief in this Court. See In re Holt, No.
for enforcement requesting contempt, the court shall set the date, time, and place of the
hearing and order the respondent to personally appear and respond to the motion.”).
Relator has also filed a motion for emergency stay and temporary relief.
Mandamus is an extraordinary and discretionary remedy. See In re Allstate Indem.
Co., 622 S.W.3d 870, 883 (Tex. 2021) (orig. proceeding); In re Garza, 544 S.W.3d 836,
840 (Tex. 2018) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam); In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148
S.W.3d 124, 138 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). The relator must show that “(1) the trial
court abused its discretion, and (2) the relator lacks an adequate remedy on appeal.” In
re USAA Gen. Indem. Co., 624 S.W.3d 782, 787 (Tex. 2021) (orig. proceeding); In re
Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d at 135–36; Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833,
839–40 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts with
disregard for guiding rules or principles or when it acts in an arbitrary or unreasonable
manner. In re Garza, 544 S.W.3d at 840. We determine the adequacy of an appellate
remedy by balancing the benefits of mandamus review against the detriments. In re
Acad., Ltd., 625 S.W.3d 19, 25 (Tex. 2021) (orig. proceeding); In re Essex Ins. Co., 450
13-21-00231-CV, 2021 WL 3233866, at *1 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg July 29, 2021, orig.
proceeding) (denying relator’s petition for writ of mandamus seeking to compel various forms of relief); In
re Holt, No. 13-21-00009-CV, 2021 WL 317640, at *1 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Jan. 27, 2021,
orig. proceeding) (mem. op.) (denying relator’s petition for writ of mandamus seeking to compel the trial
court to vacate its order referring the underlying case to mediation, set relator’s motion for enforcement for
hearing, rule on relator’s motion for substitute service, and order the real party in interest to personally
appear in the proceedings below); In re S.J., No. 13-20-00543-CV, 2021 WL 921797, at *1 (Tex. App.—
Corpus Christi–Edinburg Mar. 11, 2021, no pet.) (mem. op.) (dismissing appeal for want of jurisdiction); In
re Holt, No. 13-20-00510-CV, 2020 WL 7063694, at *1 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Dec. 2, 2020,
orig. proceeding) (mem. op.) (denying relator’s petition for writ of mandamus seeking to set aside an oral
order holding relator in contempt, but suspending confinement, for violations of a previous order regarding
child custody and possession); In re S.H., No. 13-20-00247-CV, 2020 WL 6601602, at *1 (Tex. App.—
Corpus Christi–Edinburg Nov. 12, 2020, no pet. h.) (mem. op.) (dismissing as moot relator’s appeal of an
order denying his request to proceed as indigent because the trial court vacated the order subject to
appeal); In re Marriage of Holt, No. 13-20-00166-CV, 2020 WL 5582362, at *1 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–
Edinburg Sept. 17, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.) (dismissing relator’s appeal of an order on special exceptions
and a motion to strike for want of jurisdiction).
2
S.W.3d 524, 528 (Tex. 2014) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam); In re Prudential Ins. Co. of
Am., 148 S.W.3d at 136.
The Court, having examined and fully considered the petition for writ of mandamus
and the applicable law, is of the opinion that the relator has not met his burden to obtain
relief. Accordingly, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus, and we likewise deny
relator’s motion for emergency stay and temporary relief.
GINA M. BENAVIDES
Justice
Delivered and filed on the
22nd day of October, 2021.
3