The Dismissal

Energy Transfer LP and ETC Texas Pipeline, Ltd. filed a petition for writ of mandamus with the Fifteenth Court of Appeals. Rather than proceeding to a decision on the merits, the parties filed a joint motion to dismiss the original proceeding under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 42.1, which permits dismissal of appeals and original proceedings by agreement. The Fifteenth Court of Appeals granted the motion in a brief memorandum opinion issued February 6, 2025.

The per curiam opinion, authored by a panel consisting of Chief Justice Brister and Justices Field and Farris, states simply:

The parties have filed a joint motion to dismiss this original proceeding. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.1. The motion is granted.

We dismiss the petition for writ of mandamus.

What the Record Does Not Reveal

The memorandum opinion provides no information about the underlying dispute that prompted the mandamus petition, the specific trial court ruling being challenged, the identity of the trial court, or the reasons the parties elected to jointly dismiss the proceeding. Joint dismissals in mandamus proceedings typically occur when the parties reach a settlement, when the trial court vacates or modifies the challenged order, or when changed circumstances moot the controversy. Without access to the underlying record or the parties' joint motion, the precise catalyst for dismissal remains unknown.

Procedural Significance

While this dismissal offers no substantive legal guidance, it confirms that parties retain the flexibility to resolve mandamus disputes through settlement or other means even after filing extraordinary writs with the court of appeals. The brevity of the opinion reflects the routine nature of agreed dismissals, which preserve judicial resources and allow parties to resolve their disputes without creating binding precedent. The case serves as a reminder that many appellate proceedings conclude without published analysis of the underlying legal issues.