in Re: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Texas, L.P., Wal-Mart Associates, Inc., and Wal-Mart Stores Texas, LLC
Blanca Calderon filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart, alleging wrongful termination due to age discrimination or a worker's compensation claim. Following discovery disputes, the trial court, presided over by Judge Luis Aguilar, granted Calderon's motion to compel and denied Wal-Mart's motion for a protective order. Subsequently, Wal-Mart was found in contempt for non-compliance with discovery orders and assessed significant fines and attorney's fees. Wal-Mart petitioned for a writ of mandamus, challenging the contempt findings on grounds of inadequate notice and arguing that the discovery orders were overbroad. The Court of Appeals conditionally granted mandamus relief, vacating the contempt orders due to insufficient notice and ordering the return of paid fines, but affirmed the trial court's discovery order and sanctions related to attorney's fees.