Ex Parte Franklin D. Chambers

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court granted Franklin D. Chambers’ petition for a writ of habeas corpus, holding that the trial court’s contempt order was sufficiently specific to impose a personal duty on Chambers and that Chambers had conclusively proved International Business Search, Inc. was unable to pay the fine, rendering the contempt judgment void. The Court affirmed that a corporate officer may be held personally liable for a corporation’s failure to obey a clear order, and reversed the appellate court’s denial of the writ. Justice Enoch, concurring, argued the order lacked specificity, while Justice Gonzalez, dissenting, would have denied the writ.