In Re Masonite Corp.

in which Justice HECHT, Justice OWEN, Justice ABBOTT, and Justice CHEW,1 join.

We are asked to mandamus a trial judge who, in the face of the plaintiffs’ concession that venue was improper and the defendants’ properly pleaded and proven venue transfer motions, denied the motions but then “on its own motion” transferred hundreds of claims to multiple counties none of which were forums requested in the transfer motions. We conditionally grant the writ.

Hundreds of homeowners filed suit in Jim Hogg County against Masonite Corporation, Abitibi-Price Corporation, and MG Building Materials, Inc.…