Ex Parte Industrial Warehouse Services, Inc. (in Re: Chapman Wilson, as Administrator of the Estate of Janie Holt…

Summary

The court granted mandamus relief in part, holding that IWS established good cause for protecting confidential information and trade secrets in its bills of lading, but not for the information in its operations and safety manuals. The court also held that a protective-order movant need not submit supporting evidence when its assertions are sufficient to establish good cause, although the trial court may test those assertions through a hearing or in camera review. Separate writings by Justices Mendheim, Shaw, Bryan, and Wise contested portions of the court's treatment of the bills of lading and manuals.