In Re Sammy Lee Haynes, Individually and as Independent Othe The Estate of Sharon J. Haynes v. the State of Texas
CourtTexas Court of Appeals, 1st District (Houston)
Date FiledJuly 2, 2026
Docket01-26-00558-CV
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
Opinion issued July 2, 2026
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
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NO. 01-26-00558-CV
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IN RE SAMMY LEE HAYNES, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS INDEPENDENT
EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF SHARON J. HAYNES, DECEASED,
Relator
Original Proceeding on Petition for Writ of Mandamus
MEMORANDUM OPINION
On May 26, 2026, relator, Sammy Lee Haynes, individually and as
Independent Executor of the Estate of Sharon J. Haynes, deceased, filed a petition
for writ of mandamus challenging the trial court’s May 20, 2026 order denying
relator’s motion to abate or, alternatively, plea to the jurisdiction.1
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The underlying case is Sammy Lee Haynes, Individually and as Independent
Executor of the Estate of Sharon J. Haynes, Deceased v. Richard Alton Shuman, as
In its order challenged by relator, the trial court set the underlying case for a
jury trial on May 27, 2026. In connection with his petition for writ of mandamus,
relator also filed a “Motion for Emergency Stay.” In the motion, relator requested
that the Court stay all proceedings in the trial court, specifically, the jury trial setting,
pending this Court’s review of relator’s petition for writ of mandamus. On May 27,
2026, the Court requested a response to relator’s Motion for Emergency Stay from
real parties in interest, Richard Alton Shuman, as Independent Executor of the Estate
of R.L. Shuman, also known as Richard Leon Shuman, deceased, and Kurt Douglas
Fraser, as Independent Executor of the Estate of E. Marlene Shuman, deceased, and
stayed the trial court proceedings pending the response to relator’s motion. No
response was filed.
We conclude that relator has failed to establish that he is entitled to mandamus
relief, and therefore, the Court lifts the stay imposed by our May 27, 2026 order and
denies relator’s petition for writ of mandamus. We dismiss any pending motions as
moot.
PER CURIAM
Panel consists of Justices Caughey, Johnson, and Dokupil.
Independent Executor of the Estate of R.L. Shuman a/k/a Richard Leon Shuman,
Deceased, and Kurt Douglas Fraser, as Independent Executor of the Estate of
E. Marlene Shuman, Deceased, Cause No. 1242102, in the County Civil Court at
Law No. 4 of Harris County, Texas, the Honorable Manpreet Monica Singh
presiding
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