Supreme Court of Texas

In a mesothelioma suit alleging liability on the part of asbestos producers, petition for writ of mandamus reversing the denial of defendants' motions to dismiss on forum non conveniens grounds is conditionally granted where: 1) mandamus relief was available for the erroneous denial of a motion to dismiss for forum non conveniens; and 2) all relevant factors favored the conclusion that the action would be more properly heard in a forum outside Texas, and the trial court was therefore bound by statute to grant defendants' motions.

Appellate Information

• Argued 11/14/2007
• Decided 12/05/2008
• Published 12/05/2008

Judges

• Justice JOHNSON delivered the opinion of the Court.

Court

• Supreme Court of Texas

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Kay Andrews, Kurt Howard Kuhn, Virginia K. Hoelscher, Brown McCarroll, LLP, Austin, Laura A. Frase, Forman Perry Watkins Krutz & Tardy, LLP, Robert E. Thackston, Robert B. Gilbreath, Hawkins, Parnell & Thackston, LLP, Dallas, TX, for Relator., Charles S. Siegel, Amanda Lea Reichek, Waters & Kraus, LLP, Jay Eric Stuemke, Simon Eddins & Greenstone, L.L.P., Dallas, TX, for Real Party in Interest., Larry Funderburk, Funderburk & Funderburk, L.L.P., Houston, TX, for person interested in case-Acrowood., Lewis C. Miltenberger, Fort Worth TX, for person interested in case-Foster Wheeler., L. Hayes Fuller, III, Naman Howell Smith & Lee LLP, Waco, TX, for person interested in case-Goulds and Spence., Robert Wilkinson, Dogan & Wilkinson, Pascagoula, MS, for person interested in case-Guard Line., Dawn Marie Wright, Thompson & Knight, Dallas, TX, for person interested in case-Honeywell., Peter A. Moir, Quilling, Selander, Cummiskey & Lownds, P.C., Dallas, TX, for person interested in case-Owens Illinois., Alan P. Moore, Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom, L.L.P., Dallas, TX, for person interested in case-Tyco & Yarway., Brooke Hardie, Austin, TX, for person interested in case-Tyco Valves., Barbara Jane Barron, Mehaffy & Weber, Beaumont, TX, for person interested in case-Zy-Tech., Gary D. Elliston, for Amicus Curiae-Sterling Fluid & FMC Corp., Greg T. Kinskey, Fanning, Harper & Martinson, Dallas, TX, for Amicus Curiae-Yarway., Greg White, Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee LLP, Waco, TX, for Amicus Curiae-Goulds Pumps., Michael John Ramirez, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP, Dallas, TX, for Amicus Curiae-Crane Co., Manuel Lopez, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P., Houston, TX, for Amicus Curiae.