In Re Brewer Leasing

This petition for writ of mandamus concerns discovery requests to produce financial records and tax returns. Relators, Brewer Leasing, Inc. (Brewer) and Texas Stretch, Inc., challenge the trial courts order granting the motion to compel production of documents filed by real party in interest, Marcus Bruce Patterson. We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by ordering the production of the financial records to show the net worth of the corporations. However, the court erred by ordering the production of the tax returns because Patterson did not show that the tax returns were necessary to show net worth in light of the other documents ordered produced. We deny the petition for writ of mandamus for the financial records, and grant it for the income tax returns.