In Re Ramon M. Diana v. the State of Texas
Court
Court of Appeals of Texas
Decided
June 23, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
44%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
NUMBER 13-25-00236-CV COURT OF APPEALS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG IN RE RAMON M. DIANA ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Silva, Peña, and Fonseca Memorandum Opinion by Justice Silva1 By pro se petition for writ of mandamus, relator Ramon M. Diana assails various orders issued in a family law case based on, inter alia, lack of jurisdiction and improper service. 2 We deny the petition for writ of mandamus. 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. When granting relief, the court must hand down an opinion as in any other case.”); id. R. 47.4 (distinguishing opinions and memorandum opinions). 2 This petition for writ of mandamus arises from trial court cause number 2022-DCL-02849 in the 444th District Court of Cameron County, Texas. We previously granted mandamus relief in favor of Diana in a separate original proceeding. See In re Diana, No. 13-24-00287-CV, 2024 WL 3221597, at *1 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg June 28, 2024, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.). Diana filed an appeal from other orders issued in this same trial court proceeding which is docketed in our appellate cause number A writ of mandamus is an extraordinary remedy available only when the trial court clearly abused its discretion and the party seeking relief lacks an adequate remedy on appeal. In re Ill. Nat’l Ins., 685 S.W.3d 826, 834 (Tex. 2024) (orig. proceeding). Alternatively, when “a trial court issues an order ‘beyond its jurisdiction,’ mandamus relief is appropriate because such an order is void ab initio.” In re Panchakarla, 602 S.W.3d 536, 539 (Tex. 2020) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam) (quoting In re Sw. Bell Tel. Co., 35 S.W.3d 602, 605 (Tex. 2000) (orig. proceeding)). In such circumstances, the relator need not show it lacks an adequate appellate remedy. See In re Vaishangi, Inc., 442 S.W.3d 256, 261 (Tex. 2014) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam); In re Sw. Bell Tel. Co., 35 S.W.3d at 605. The Court, having examined and fully considered the petition for writ of mandamus, the response filed by real party in interest Elvia Karina Diana-Cordova, relator’s reply, and the applicable law, is of the opinion that relator has not met his burden to obtain relief. Accordingly, we lift the stay previously imposed in this case. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.10. We deny the petition for writ of mandamus. CLARISSA SILVA Justice Delivered and filed on the 23rd day of June, 2025. 13-24-00111-CV. By separate memorandum opinion issued this same day, we have affirmed the orders subject to appeal in that case. See In re K.D., P.D., V.D., and E.D., Children, No. 13-24-00111-CV, 2025 WL _____, at *1 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg June 23, 2025, no pet. h.) (mem. op.). 2
Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 23, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Overview
In Re Ramon M. Diana v. the State of Texas is a significant case decided by the Court of Appeals of Texas on June 23, 2025. The case revolves around a petition for writ of mandamus filed by Ramon M. Diana, challenging various orders from a family law case, primarily on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction and improper service.
Key Legal Issues
- Jurisdiction: Whether the trial court had the authority to issue the contested orders.
- Service of Process: The validity of service in the underlying family law case.
- Mandamus Relief: The criteria for granting a writ of mandamus in Texas law.
Court's Decision
The Court of Appeals ultimately denied the petition for writ of mandamus, concluding that the relator, Ramon M. Diana, did not meet the necessary burden to obtain relief. The court also lifted a previously imposed stay in the proceedings.
Legal Reasoning
The court's decision was grounded in the principles governing writs of mandamus in Texas. A writ of mandamus is considered an extraordinary remedy that is only available when:
- The trial court has clearly abused its discretion.
- The party seeking relief lacks an adequate remedy on appeal.
In this case, the court referenced prior rulings, emphasizing that if a trial court issues an order beyond its jurisdiction, mandamus relief is appropriate because such an order is void ab initio. However, the court found that Diana failed to demonstrate that the trial court had acted outside its jurisdiction or that he lacked an adequate appellate remedy.
Key Holdings
- The petition for writ of mandamus was denied due to insufficient evidence of jurisdictional issues.
- The court lifted the stay previously imposed on the case.
Precedents and Citations
- In re Ill. Nat’l Ins., 685 S.W.3d 826 (Tex. 2024) - Discusses the criteria for mandamus relief.
- In re Panchakarla, 602 S.W.3d 536 (Tex. 2020) - Clarifies the concept of void orders.
- In re Vaishangi, Inc., 442 S.W.3d 256 (Tex. 2014) - Addresses the need for adequate remedies.
Practical Implications
This case underscores the stringent standards required for obtaining a writ of mandamus in Texas. Legal practitioners should note:
- The importance of establishing jurisdictional grounds when challenging trial court orders.
- The necessity of demonstrating a lack of adequate appellate remedies to succeed in mandamus petitions.
- The implications of service of process in family law cases, which can significantly affect the outcome of such petitions.
Overall, In Re Ramon M. Diana serves as a critical reference for understanding the complexities of mandamus relief in Texas family law, emphasizing the need for clear jurisdictional arguments and proper service procedures.
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Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 23, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools