In Re Columbia Medical Center of Las Colinas

In this mandamus case, we must decide whether a trial court abused its discretion by refusing to reduce a punitive damages award where such damages were statutorily capped as measured against an economic damages award. We hold that it did. In a previous appeal of this same underlying case, we rendered a judgment that reduced the amount of economic damages awarded. Columbia Med. Ctr. of Las Colinas, Inc. v. Hogue, 271 S.W.3d 238, 257 (Tex.2008). Although our judgment did not also expressly order a reduction of the award of punitive damages, it is what the statute requires. See Tex. Civ. Prac.…