In Re Alfredo Martinez, Russell Fritsch, Herbert Griffin, Robert Isaac Garcia, Justin Wells, Matthew White, Michael Mire, Michael E. Zapata, Dorcas Michelle Bentley, Donna Michelle McLeod, Richard Mann, Rodney C. West, and Ruy Lozano v. the State of Texas

Petition for Writ of Mandamus Denied and Memorandum Opinion filed May
30, 2024.

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

NO. 14-24-00264-CV

IN RE ALFREDO MARTINEZ, RUSSELL FRITSCH, HERBERT
GRIFFIN, ROBERT ISAAC GARCIA, JUSTIN WELLS, MATTHEW
WHITE, MICHAEL MIRE, MICHAEL E. ZAPATA, DORCAS MICHELLE
BENTLEY, DONNA MICHELLE MCLEOD, RICHARD MANN, RODNEY
C. WEST, AND RUY LOZANO, Relators

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
WRIT OF MANDAMUS
234th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 2017-42885

MEMORANDUM OPINION

On Thursday, April 11, 2024, relators Alfredo Martinez, Russell Fritsch,
Herbert Griffin, Robert Isaac Garcia, Justin Wells, Matthew White, Michael Mire,
Michael E. Zapata, Dorcas Michelle Bentley, Donna Michelle Mcleod, Richard
Mann, Rodney C. West, and Ruy Lozano filed a petition for writ of mandamus in
this court. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221; see also Tex. R. App. P. 52. In the
petition, relators ask this court to compel the Honorable Lauren Reeder, presiding
judge of the 234th District Court of Harris County, to vacate her April 4, 2024
order of severance.

Relators have not established that they are entitled to mandamus relief.
“[T]he res judicata effects of an action cannot preclude litigation of claims that a
trial court explicitly separates or severs from that action.” Sealy Emergency Room,
L.L.C. v. Free Standing Emergency Room Managers of Am., L.L.C., 685 S.W.3d
816, 823 (Tex. 2024). Thus, res judicata does not bar relators from pursuing their
severed claims, and relators have an adequate remedy on appeal. We deny relators’
petition for a writ of mandamus.

PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Wise, Spain, and Hassan.

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