Chambers v. O'Quinn

Summary

The Supreme Court of Texas held that a prior denial of mandamus relief did not deprive the court of appeals of jurisdiction to review an order compelling arbitration in an appeal from a final judgment. The court reversed the dismissal and remanded for review of the arbitration order on the merits.

Holdings

1. An order compelling arbitration may be reviewed on appeal from a final judgment, even though the Texas Arbitration Act and Federal Arbitration Act do not provide for an interlocutory appeal from such an order.
2. A prior denial of a discretionary writ of mandamus, without comment on the merits, does not deprive another appellate court of jurisdiction to consider the matter in a subsequent appeal.

Questions Presented

1. Whether a Texas court of appeals has appellate jurisdiction to review an order compelling arbitration as part of an appeal from a final judgment.
2. Whether prior denials of mandamus relief without comment on the merits deprive a different appellate court of jurisdiction to review the arbitration order in a subsequent appeal.

Disposition

reversed_and_remanded