Salley v. Houston Lighting & Power Co.

OPINION

COHEN, Justice.

Sybil Salley sued Houston Lighting and Power Company (HL & P), claiming it committed various torts and breaches of contract by disconnecting her electricity. The trial court dismissed the suit with prejudice as a sanction for failure to comply with a court order compelling production of documents.

The trial court granted a temporary restraining order against Salley on May 11, 1989, prohibiting her from contacting two potential witnesses. HL & P alleged, and one of Salley’s witnesses later testified in deposition, that Salley had threatened witnesses to make them commit…