Court Case Summary
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In re Lowe's Companies, Inc. and Lowe's Home Centers, Inc.
Court & Date
- Court: Court of Appeals of Texas, Fourteenth District (Houston)
Date: May 18, 2004
Parties
- Relators (Defendants): Lowe’s Companies, Inc. and Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc.
- Real Parties in Interest (Plaintiffs): Rene and Sylvia Moreno
How the Injury Occurred
Rene Moreno was shopping in a Lowe’s store when a sink fell from an upper shelf. The sink had been dislodged by a Lowe’s employee, and it struck Moreno, causing his injuries.
Case Summary
- Rene and Sylvia Moreno filed suit against Lowe’s after the accident.
- During discovery, the Morenos requested access to a Lowe’s internal database that tracked accident and injury claims.
- Lowe’s objected, arguing the database was a trade secret and that the request was overly broad and not properly made under discovery rules.
- The trial court ordered Lowe’s to produce a witness for deposition and to provide access to the database.
- Lowe’s sought a writ of mandamus to block that order.
- The appellate court ruled:
- Lowe’s had not proven trade secret privilege for deposition testimony about the database.
- But the order to produce the entire database was overly broad and not properly requested.
- The court conditionally granted mandamus relief—ordering the trial court to vacate the portion requiring production of the database, but allowing deposition testimony to proceed.
In short: The case centered less on the injury itself and more on the scope of discovery in litigation, balancing the plaintiffs’ right to information with Lowe’s claim of trade secret protection.