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 but that he had conclusively proven the corporation's inability to pay the fine, rendering the contempt judgment invalid. The Court affirmed that a corporate officer can be held personally liable for a corporation's failure to obey a court order when the officer has the authority to compel compliance, yet the inability‑to‑pay defense excused Chambers. Justice Gonzalez dissented, arguing the writ should be denied, and Justice Enoch concurred, contending the order lacked the requisite specificity to support personal contempt liability.