in Re New Hampshire Insurance Company, Gallagher Bassett Services,Inc and Manuel Aragon
Relators New Hampshire Insurance Company, Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc., and Manuel Aragon sought a writ of mandamus against Judge Jaclanel McFarland after she denied their plea to the jurisdiction in a bad faith lawsuit filed by Catherine Penarugia. Penarugia's lawsuit stemmed from an alleged delay in handling her workers' compensation claim, despite an administrative decision extending her compensable injury. The relators argued Penarugia failed to exhaust administrative remedies. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals denied the petition, finding that the relators did not demonstrate the trial court abused its discretion. The court noted that a claimant is not required to seek review of undisputed issues, and the record lacked sufficient information to confirm if all issues were fully decided by the administrative body.