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Petitions for Writ of Mandamus Denied and Memorandum Majority and Dissenting Opinions filed April 28, 2020. In The Fourteenth Court of Appeals NO. 14-19-00845-CV NO. 14-19-00847-CV IN RE FACEBOOK, INC. AND FACEBOOK, INC. D/B/A INSTAGRAM, Relators ORIGINAL PROCEEDING WRIT OF MANDAMUS 334th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause Nos. 2018-69816, 2018-82214 NO. 14-19-00886-CV IN RE FACEBOOK INC. D/B/A INSTAGRAM, Relator ORIGINAL PROCEEDING WRIT OF MANDAMUS 151st District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2019-16262 MEMORANDUM MAJORITY OPINION Each plaintiff in the underlying cases is a minor who connected on Facebook or Instagram (collectively, “Facebook”) with individuals who forced them into human trafficking. The plaintiffs seek to hold Facebook liable for damages resulting from being victimized by trafficking. Facebook filed a Rule 91a1 motion to dismiss each plaintiff’s case against Facebook based on an immunity provision under a Federal statute known as the Communications Decency Act. See
47 U.S.C. § 230. Facebook filed two petitions for writ of mandamus in this court. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221; see also Tex. R. App. P. 52. In the first petition filed in our case numbers 14-19-00845-CV and 14-19-00847-CV, Facebook asks this court to compel the Honorable Steven Kirkland, presiding judge of the 334th District Court of Harris County, to set aside his May 23, 2019 orders denying Facebook’s Rule 91a motions to dismiss. In the second petition filed in our case number 14-19-00886-CV, Facebook asks this court to compel the Honorable Mike Englehart, presiding judge of the 151st District Court of Harris County, to set aside his October 4, 2019 order denying Facebook’s Rule 91a motion to dismiss. Facebook has not established that it is entitled to mandamus relief. Accordingly, we deny Facebook’s petitions for writ of mandamus. We also lift our stays issued on November 14, 2019, and November 19, 2019. PER CURIAM Panel consists of Justices Christopher, Spain, and Poissant. (Christopher, J., dissenting). 1 See Tex. R. Civ. P. 91a. 2
Document Info
Docket Number: 14-19-00845-CV
Filed Date: 4/28/2020
Precedential Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 4/28/2020